So I recently took my Remington 700 with vortex viper 6-20-44 chambered in 7mm rem mag out shooting sighted it in at 100 yards got half inch groups got home noticed the scope was exactly level to the rifle really close but looking straight at it could see it was off alittle releveled the scope to the rifle took it out a few days later with a buddy checked the accuracy at 125 yards and was shooting high about 6 inches and right 6 inches I can’t figure out if the scope being turned alittle threw my shot off or the bumpy ride rifle riding shotgun with me threw it off please help if you can.
Rifle Scopes Leveling the scope after sight in.
- Thread starter Hurley69
- Start date
You zeroed the scope with the rife setup a certain way and between shooting sessions you changed something, so your results should have been different (and they were).
If the scope wasn't level then you were probably canting the rifle when you zeroed it (so the reticle would be horizontal). When you leveled the scope you didn't need to cant the rifle for the reticle to level so that would lead to a change in point of impact.
If the scope wasn't level then you were probably canting the rifle when you zeroed it (so the reticle would be horizontal). When you leveled the scope you didn't need to cant the rifle for the reticle to level so that would lead to a change in point of impact.
So my shots being off 6 inches high and 6 inches right you think could’ve just been from leveling the optic not from bouncing around in my lap in the truck?
If you scope is off 6 inches from bouncing around in your lap then you have other issues, ie loose mount, rail, or bad scope. I went hunting in Louisiana this year and had to fly to get there. Both guns were still dead nuts accurate when I went to check them before hunting. Now I’m sure the airlines are a little harder on luggage than being on your lap in a truck.
That’s my thought it was just barely off level could barely tell just by looking at it and the rifle and I got bounced around pretty good going threw washes and some pretty rough terrain. It’s got me stressed out I don’t want to have to go rezero my rifle every time I go out.
Instead of wringing your hands here speculating about what might cause this or that, go take positive action to learn what is going on.
If I were you I'd tear the whole setup completely apart, including removing the bases from the rifle. Put it all back together carefully, using a torque wrench to tighten the base and ring screws. I would use medium strength thread locker on the base screws ONLY. No thread locker on anything else, just correct torque. Make damned sure the scope is level using a level (not just eye balling it). Then re-zero your rifle.
If your zero wanders after that, there's something wrong with your scope assuming you know how to shoot.
Oh yeah, everyone always gets half inch groups...................
If I were you I'd tear the whole setup completely apart, including removing the bases from the rifle. Put it all back together carefully, using a torque wrench to tighten the base and ring screws. I would use medium strength thread locker on the base screws ONLY. No thread locker on anything else, just correct torque. Make damned sure the scope is level using a level (not just eye balling it). Then re-zero your rifle.
If your zero wanders after that, there's something wrong with your scope assuming you know how to shoot.
Oh yeah, everyone always gets half inch groups...................
With a viper you never know if it's you or the scope. Throw it in the trash and replace with scope that doesn't have a failure rate to rival Russian fighter jets at an airshow.
