I typed an extremely detailed and thorough post, as I was cursoring over to post, my computer BSOD'd and reset. It's messed up, both literally and figuratively.
Long story short, last fall bought a new 700 AAC-SD. While waiting for NICS, had the older gentleman "gunsmith" @ LGS install a scope mounting setup on my rig, a base & rings etc. He said if I could afford it he'd give me the "better" option, a whopping $30 basic Leupold 1 piece 700 base and basic Leupold medium 1" rings.
On Cyber Monday I bought a Nikon Monarch 5-20x44mm SF BDC scope from Dick's Sporting Goods for $397. I like it very much; however, I know most on here won't and it's certainly not a showpiece. I COULD have bought a showpiece scope up to $2000. I chose to give myself a high value-for-dollar scope and my father a Saiga 12 and complete setup for it for Christmas. So I am happy with my decisions but sometimes wish I had a showpiece of course.
I could not get it boresighted when I installed it. Not even CLOSE. Assuming I did something wrong or my cheap boresighter sucked, I took advantage of DSG customer service policies and they mounted it for free. The very very knowledgeable young man really a college "kid" couldn't get it boresighted either (and thy have a heavy duty awesome boresighter). He said it wasn't even close, was totally out of left and either up or down adjustment extremely soon and it wasn't close to being sighted. Concluded it was faulty and DSG's team of mgr's very very nicely eagerly worked to get me another one for free for the same ridiculous price.
When it came 2 weeks later, it also was unable to boresight. The same kid had called me in to do it, still couldn't get it to work, and he sheepishly said, "You seem really smart at this stuff, way more than anyone here, but... did you do this yourself? Maybe install the scope base or rings wrong?" I explained it was done by the old gunsmith at my LGS and he said, let's try something. Walked right over to the wall of scope products and accessories, grabbed a new set of 2 piece 700 mounts and new rings, and installed them. It was Weaver and Leupold bases and rings or Leupold and Weaver I forget. They are basically two small sections of picatinny rail, fore and aft. We then mounted it, and like 3 clicks had it dead on. So...we concluded, bad set of rings/base or bad installation but, since we messed with it and still couldn't work, we figured it had to be a bad base.
Now fast forward, I was looking for some technical info on my AAC-SD, I came across a detailed review that mentioned how it has a higher receiver in the front than it does in the back, and therefore you need special scope mounting hardware. You could see it clearly on the picture, then on my real rifle, higher receiver fore of the bolt than aft.
So what is the deal here? Why would it be higher in the front, and what is the remedy? I am quite satisfied NOW with my Scope and bases/rings...but someday would like to go upgrade to premium/super premium ($1000-$1500 maybe, higher I would describe as ultra-premium) and would like the scope base and rings to reflect that...most people have high #'d MOA bases that are one piece, long picatinny rails... what can I do and what is the deal with the wierd receiver size?
and lastly, am I cool for now with the two piece, two mini-sections of picatinny rails as the bases? I am no trained sniper, but just someone dedicated to learning and perfecting the art one day at time for fun and defense.
ThANKS all I know a bit long but I wanted to make sure the total situation and info was presented.
Long story short, last fall bought a new 700 AAC-SD. While waiting for NICS, had the older gentleman "gunsmith" @ LGS install a scope mounting setup on my rig, a base & rings etc. He said if I could afford it he'd give me the "better" option, a whopping $30 basic Leupold 1 piece 700 base and basic Leupold medium 1" rings.
On Cyber Monday I bought a Nikon Monarch 5-20x44mm SF BDC scope from Dick's Sporting Goods for $397. I like it very much; however, I know most on here won't and it's certainly not a showpiece. I COULD have bought a showpiece scope up to $2000. I chose to give myself a high value-for-dollar scope and my father a Saiga 12 and complete setup for it for Christmas. So I am happy with my decisions but sometimes wish I had a showpiece of course.
I could not get it boresighted when I installed it. Not even CLOSE. Assuming I did something wrong or my cheap boresighter sucked, I took advantage of DSG customer service policies and they mounted it for free. The very very knowledgeable young man really a college "kid" couldn't get it boresighted either (and thy have a heavy duty awesome boresighter). He said it wasn't even close, was totally out of left and either up or down adjustment extremely soon and it wasn't close to being sighted. Concluded it was faulty and DSG's team of mgr's very very nicely eagerly worked to get me another one for free for the same ridiculous price.
When it came 2 weeks later, it also was unable to boresight. The same kid had called me in to do it, still couldn't get it to work, and he sheepishly said, "You seem really smart at this stuff, way more than anyone here, but... did you do this yourself? Maybe install the scope base or rings wrong?" I explained it was done by the old gunsmith at my LGS and he said, let's try something. Walked right over to the wall of scope products and accessories, grabbed a new set of 2 piece 700 mounts and new rings, and installed them. It was Weaver and Leupold bases and rings or Leupold and Weaver I forget. They are basically two small sections of picatinny rail, fore and aft. We then mounted it, and like 3 clicks had it dead on. So...we concluded, bad set of rings/base or bad installation but, since we messed with it and still couldn't work, we figured it had to be a bad base.
Now fast forward, I was looking for some technical info on my AAC-SD, I came across a detailed review that mentioned how it has a higher receiver in the front than it does in the back, and therefore you need special scope mounting hardware. You could see it clearly on the picture, then on my real rifle, higher receiver fore of the bolt than aft.
So what is the deal here? Why would it be higher in the front, and what is the remedy? I am quite satisfied NOW with my Scope and bases/rings...but someday would like to go upgrade to premium/super premium ($1000-$1500 maybe, higher I would describe as ultra-premium) and would like the scope base and rings to reflect that...most people have high #'d MOA bases that are one piece, long picatinny rails... what can I do and what is the deal with the wierd receiver size?
and lastly, am I cool for now with the two piece, two mini-sections of picatinny rails as the bases? I am no trained sniper, but just someone dedicated to learning and perfecting the art one day at time for fun and defense.
ThANKS all I know a bit long but I wanted to make sure the total situation and info was presented.
