Advanced Marksmanship slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

armymedic.2

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Jan 23, 2008
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so i have checked verified and checked again every part on my rifle and scope that is flat. I hung a plumb line and checked my vertical crossahir, i have done everything.

The scope and gun are both level, but man does it look off when i am shooting. Been shooting a long time, but never actually used levels to set everything. I guess the way i hold a rifle is quite canted without that little bubble on my scope telling me to keep it centered.

looks like it is leaning down left, then just for yucks i put my left cheek on the rifle from otherr side and i would swear it was leaning down right. I believe the bubble but man does it feel weird

This is just an observation, not a question.
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

I frequently use my ACI and say there is absolutely no way it is right.

Background/foreground terrain along with your head slightly angled on the rifle can play havoc with how you perceive things through and not through the scope.

Just like an IR pilot, trust your instruments and keep your focus on the controls.
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

I have been fighting the same thing. I finally purchased a bunch of bubble levels for each of my precision rifles. When the bubble says its level, things seem way off.

This is really f'ing up my chi.
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

All a bubble level tells you is that the cant of your rifle matches where it was when you installed the bubble. Ideally, the centerline of your scope and the centerline of your barrel should lie in the same vertical plane. A gizmo like this will allow you to get them there:

p2891000001.jpg


This is an EXD vertical reticle, available at Neconos and Brownells and elsewhere.

Use the verticle reticle to confirm your crosshairs and both of the centerlines agree, then install your bubble level. Then when your bubble is level, you <span style="text-decoration: underline">know</span> it's right.
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

fred, yeah i know it is all level... the bubble on my scope was installled last and correctly.

it's just "messing with my chi" lol
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fred_C_Dobbs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">All a bubble level tells you is that the cant of your rifle matches where it was when you installed the bubble. Ideally, the centerline of your scope and the centerline of your barrel should lie in the same vertical plane. A gizmo like this will allow you to get them there:

p2891000001.jpg


This is an EXD vertical reticle, available at Neconos and Brownells and elsewhere.

Use the verticle reticle to confirm your crosshairs and both of the centerlines agree, then install your bubble level. Then when your bubble is level, you <span style="text-decoration: underline">know</span> it's right. </div></div>

How does that gizmo work?
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

The lower "V" sits on your barrel and the upper "V" sits on your scope. You then level the gun with the attached bubble level and check your crosshairs on your scope against something like a plumb bob.
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

I ran into the same exact problem once I started using a bubble level and making sure my firearm was setup right.

Trust the bubble. The Holands is the best bubble level on the market. You can see the level while looking through your scope.

Before I used a bubble with the bad habit of cant that I had picked up over the years once I started shooting long rang I always had windage and drop data issues. Not anymore. My long range shooting has really gotten alot better and my drop data is spot on. It's a slow process but the can't should go away

good luck.
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

I am a lefty by nature, but I am right eye dominant. I wasnt able to keep both eyes open until I switched over to my right side. Now that I have both eyes open the reticle appears perfectly level.
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

I use a plumb line to line up the butt pad screws in the rest; then rotate and lock the scope tube when the horizontal reticle wire is perfectly parallel with the house siding across the road.

It's actually very accurate.

Greg
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

yeah greg, there are a million ways to skin that cat ain't there? i used your method (except the butt pad screws......good idea) to check my other level work. it is and was all spot on.

just looks funny......in a real general sorta way lol fargo
i am starting to get used to it now, though i still know it looks weird i am learning to trust it is where it needs to be
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

LOL....I thought I was the only one. I would drive myself crazy using every technique possible to make sure everything was level but as soon as I got behind the scope it seemed canted to me.

Like the other poster said, trust your instruments.
 
Re: slanted crosshairs (well they appear that way) Obs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ring</div><div class="ubbcode-body">watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COoXVpGfXQE&feature=player_embedded

the scope lvl trick is nice... </div></div>
Great video - taught me a couple of neat tricks that now look obvious. But I didn't think of them until I watched that video.

Before watching it my procedure was: level the rifle (putting a bubble level on Picatinny rails and/or on the lower half-rings), then put the scope on and adjust its position, then level it (putting a bubble level on top of the flat elevation dial), then mount the bubble level. Then verify with the plum bob. Then tighten everything up.