Rifle Scopes Scope mounting?

[jvencius]

I had to flip a coin deciding to post this here or in the semiauto rifle subforum but it's more optics-centered than weapon-centered so here goes. I'm getting closer to finishing my SPR build and now that I have both optics and a mount, some questions have come up. Re: a SPR in general, I like the concept a great deal but the execution of that idea in the form of the Mk.12 doesn't quite work for me so I've done a few things different to suit what I want to do with it vs. having a part-for-part clone.

Either way, I've bought a Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9 (thanks, Scott @ Liberty Optics) and a Larue LT-104 mount for it. I've very lightly mocked up mount/scope positioning while not tightening the screws too much (don't own a proper torque wrench yet) and to get proper eye relief, given that I shoot with my nose just barely touching the charging handle, I have the scope so far forward in the mount that the magnification adjuster is nearly touching the rear ring. I experimented with moving the mount forward a few slots while making sure both clamps were on the receiver and not bridging between the receiver and rail and then I was able to have the scope more centered between the rings but I didn't think you were "supposed" to have the mount positioned like that. I could always buy a SPR-E mount but that's an expense I would prefer not to have, especially since the regular SPR mount isn't returnable anymore. So, to get to my questions before I Loctite/torque the screws down:

(1) Is it OK to have the scope positioned so far forward in the mount vs. having the turrets centered between the rings?

(2) Assuming both clamps are on the receiver and not one on the receiver/one on the rail, is it OK to have the mount bridging those two components?

 

[jvencius]

Re: Scope mounting?

Here's a shot of the scope/mount as it sits now:

 

[jvencius]

Re: Scope mounting?

Not on the same topic, but a related question re: scope mounting--is there a general guideline for where to place the rings when mounting a scope on a Picatinny base, i.e. the Seekins base on my Rem700 build? In a couple different place I've read you're supposed to have the cross-bolt up against the forward edge of the slot but that's not really what I'm curious about. When I go to actually torque things down (yes, I do have a proper torque wrench), should I try and have the rings centered between the turrets and the objective/eyepiece bells or should they be spread as far/as near as I can get them?

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Re: Scope mounting?

Bravo for the use of the torque wrench! I'm not sure what the prevailing wisdom is for positioning, but I have rifles with the rings centered, and I have rifles with at least one of the rings touching the eyepiece bell, and I haven't noticed any difference with the performance of the optics. One certainly has more aesthetic appeal, but from a functional standpoint, I'm not sure if it matters.

Excellent question, I look forward to learning something on this one.

Mark H.

 

[jvencius]

Re: Scope mounting?

After I posted yesterday, I found a .pdf on Badger's site since I'm using a set of their rings and they recommended spacing rings as far apart as possible. I'll have to experiment with that to make sure I can still rotate the magnification ring and have proper eye relief before I torque things down...

 

[LongArm]

Re: Scope mounting?

I try to get the rings to the outer area of the scope when mounting. I do not touch the bell or any other object than the tube. However I make sure I can move the rings and scope at least 1 or 2 slots on the rail if I need to or I change stocks.

Just remember that the scope does not need to be level to the rifle. The reticle needs to level with the world/target. I always use a torque wrench. I got it cheap and it may not be exactly to spec but it is closer than me mongo'in the allen or torx wrench.

Do not let the mounts touch the forearm rail it will screw with your accuracy bad. It will not hurt anything to mount the rings at the end of the action/receiver. Just mount the scope on the action/receiver. It will also not hurt to have your scope closer to one side of the rings than the other side. I like'm centered but that is not a must or a requirement. If you are shooting prone and have a collapsible stock you may need to move it out.

 

[SICARIO]

Re: Scope mounting?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LongArm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I try to get the rings to the outer area of the scope when mounting. I do not touch the bell or any other object than the tube. However I make sure I can move the rings and scope at least 1 or 2 slots on the rail if I need to or I change stocks.

Just remember that the scope does not need to be level to the rifle. The reticle needs to level with the world/target. I always use a torque wrench. I got it cheap and it may not be exactly to spec but it is closer than me mongo'in the allen or torx wrench.

Do not let the mounts touch the forearm rail it will screw with your accuracy bad. It will not hurt anything to mount the rings at the end of the action/receiver. Just mount the scope on the action/receiver. It will also not hurt to have your scope closer to one side of the rings than the other side. I like'm centered but that is not a must or a requirement. If you are shooting prone and have a collapsible stock you may need to move it out. </div></div>

^^This. Keep the mount on the receiver and adjust scope to fit your eye. It does "look" better to have it centered, but not essential to the accuracy of the rifle.