Rifle Scopes Sharing optics between rifles

[Jinx703]

Is it possible without constantly having to sight it in?

I’m new to .22lr competitions. They split between bolt and semi and I’m considering running the Semi Saturday and bolt Sunday. Is it possible to use the same scope on both rifles? Or is that going to cause too many variables?

I wouldn’t have time or availability to sight it in between matches. But with the cost of scopes I can’t afford to buy two $3,000 scopes.

Is a QD actually able to retain its zero being swapped back and forth?

Thank you!

 

[patriot07]

No - do not plan on moving a scope without re-sighting the gun. It might be close and somewhat repeatable, but it's not going to be dead on for comp-level accuracy every time.

 

[wade2big]

Not gonna happen OP. You will always have to rezero.

 

[trob_205]

Like said before you’ll always have to rezero. Personally I would look into the manufactures that have the same reticle across their lines. Nightforce, Vortex, Sig to name a few. Get a tango 6 and a tango 4 with same reticle. Or Find a razor Gen 2 with EBR2C and get a 5-25 PST with EBR2C. Nightforce you might have more than 3K into two scopes but you choose the higher end scope and then run a SHV F1.

That or take advantage of the offset zero functions on your ballistic software, or depending on the companies turrets you could have different zeros marker under the cap on the turret (Vortex L-Tec turrets would be very easy to do this with)

 

[SRPowah]

If you use a quality mount on the exact same rifle every time, I have personally retained sub-moa return to zero. It was close enough that I couldn't see the difference in my 1/2-3/4moa groups with a LaRue and Bobro mount. As soon as you try and slap it on another rifle that may have a thinner or thicker rail, it all goes out the window and then may not even repeat when moved back to the correct firearm. Don't waste your time.

Or exactly as @trob_205 said, run similar optics. I run a NF ATACR Mil-R reticle on all 3 of my rifles: 4-16 ATACR, 4-14 SHV, and a 2.5-10 NXS.

 

[Raptor005]

I have a razor HD mounted in a Bobro mount with two locking levers, which floats between two rifles. I have run a couple tests with removing the scope and re-mounting it on my 6.5 CM and it has held < 3/4 MOA every time. The tests include the following:
-5 shot group, remove scope completely, remount scope, 5 shot group. Result: zero held dead on. This was repeated with 4 groups of 5 shots in one range trip without a single group having a zero shift.
-5 shot group where I removed the scope completely between each shot. Result: 3/4 MOA. This was repeated twice without a zero shift.

My other rifle (308) has the same result. The zero shift between the two rifles is exactly 5 MIL in lateral shift. Since I dont use my wind adjustment often, this is a simple adjustment to make (except when you adjust the wind age the wrong way...). Note: both rifles have a 20 MOA base and the velocity isn't wildly different, which is why the vertical shift between them in negligible.

Hope this helps, as I was skeptical about getting a QD mount on a precision rifle, but I cant afford multiple scopes at these prices. Very pleased with this configuration.

 

[patriot07]

Bottom line - IMHO, if you have to pay a range fee every time you need to move a scope, I'd buy multiple scopes. I have no interest in driving a half hour round trip and paying $20 plus ammo every time I need to switch. But if you can go out on your back porch and confirm zero, then a single scope configuration makes way more sense.

 

[OzzyO20]

My Accuracy Intentional is a switch barrel gun. I have to re-zero with every caliber swap. It's very little, but inevitable. Getting this to work between two receivers is impossible.

 

[brianf]

do the saturday and sunday matchs favor a bolt for one and a semi for the other.
if not take a fraction of the $ needed to buy a new high dollar optic and upgrade one of the rifles

of buy a used lower dollar optic
we dont need big time scopes for 22lr shoots.
you can get a used sightron for way under 1000 and have a very competitive scope

 

[gr8fuldoug]

For a 22lr use an Athlon Midas TAC

 

[beetroot]

This came up on another thread the other day and you can successfully switch the scope around.

You need to decide which rifle is your primary rifle, and zero the scope for that rifle.
When putting moving it to your other rifle you will have to zero it again and take note of those adjustments, and use the zero offset on your ballistics calculator to allow for the elevation.

You could use the zero offset for windage too, but you'd be better off to just adjust the scope for that rifle and just hold for wind.

 

[wade2big]

This came up on another thread the other day and you can successfully switch the scope around.

You need to decide which rifle is your primary rifle, and zero the scope for that rifle.
When putting moving it to your other rifle you will have to zero it again and take note of those adjustments, and use the zero offset on your ballistics calculator to allow for the elevation.

You could use the zero offset for windage too, but you'd be better off to just adjust the scope for that rifle and just hold for wind.

There is no gaurantee that the original zero would be the same when remounting back on the original rifle.

 

[SRPowah]

This came up on another thread the other day and you can successfully switch the scope around.

You need to decide which rifle is your primary rifle, and zero the scope for that rifle.
When putting moving it to your other rifle you will have to zero it again and take note of those adjustments.

I had too much variation when switching an optic between 2 different rifles, and then amplified that variance when I painted the AR. No where close to repeatable zeros. I own a Desert Tech, I know the zero offset game. Fine for minute of man, but not sub-minute. It was consistently sub-moa when removing and reinstalling on the same rifle though.

Now if someone were to run 2 similar custom actions, MAYBE it would work fine.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

OP, I'm guessing you're talking about the matches at Peacemaker? One thing you could do is take your other rifle with you and after the match on Saturday, go into one of the bays, switch the scope, and zero real quick.

 

[lestersurv]

Want to KNOW about scope swapping?
ONLY Way To KNOW is to Do It Yourself....

Best tool I ever bought for general gunsmithing work and maintenance was a Bushnell 74-3333 boresighter/collimator. The expanding arbors aren't the greatest design, but the tool works, and the grid (collimator) allows much diagnostic evidence to be gathered for understanding scope and mount system dynamics.

About the best platform for scope swapping is the AR 15/10 flatop receiver. As long as your barrel is mounted on a true basis to receiver shoulder; (barrel shoulder concentricity and precision ground mate surface of barrel extension), you have a reliable index to work from. Basically, the A2 rail is a picatinny pattern of uniform dimension on all flatops, just longer for AR-10s. Using your collimator you can verify that scopes mounted & sighted on first rifle will align on same vertical grid line on 2nd rifle. Might be some issues if you can't remove flashider or brake before doing your testing. Also WILL BE issues should your brake or hider interferw w/bullet exit.

So... Once verify your vertical alignment on both weapons w/same scope and mount, you can test at the range. Ideally, your zeros on each weapon will have very close vertical index, but horizontal will differ due to distance of the zero and Ballistic Coefficient of the bullet and velocity. Another great reason to keep a Log Book... To assure as many variables can be eliminated, use a inch lb torque wrench to torque all scope system fasteners, and the same mount position for each ring or mount set.

Got an integral rail receiver on both bolt rifles you want to swap between? Most won't. Lots more variables to solve for on bolt rifles than the AR system; maybe not "more", but much wider range of accepted tolerances due to receiver size and mount placement variations. Lots will depend on your base system. I have found consistency with Win 70 LA & SA actions when using picatinny rails of identical mfr, and Weaver style mounts. There are also important variations with Express and classic SA receivers (classic compact) which do not have picatinny rails available from any recognized mfr.

With a tool like the Bushnell 74-3333, you have means to isolate problems on a great many elements of your rifle system. Weak link (there's always one) is the expanding spud system. Tasco did make a boresighter with specific bore diameter arbors, but I've never used a Tasco. Redfield might have offered one with bore specific arbors, iirc.

Lots of interesting opportunities for scope-swapping, just need the diagnostic tools to do so and verify repeatability.

Even more interesting is the opportunity, through precision handloading, to taylor the ballistic path of all rifle ctgs you shoot/load for to close ballistic performance. Use bullets with close as possible Ballistic Coefficiency and taylor velocity to same level. Essentially, you'll be shooting the same ballistic curve for all your rifles.

If you don't do your own gunsmithing and handloading, the whole equation of rifle performance is just never revealed.