The world tilts to the left... through my scope

[davere]

I'm very new to long distance stuff. I've been working on getting my rifle set up, etc. I believe I have it fit to my LOP, the scope positioned correctly fore/aft, and gotten the cheekpiece adjusted, etc. I think. The training on this site has been awesome in helping with that! (well, on the Scout site still, but you know what I mean).

The issue I'm having is... Sometimes, everything seems to tilt to the left when I'm looking through the scope. The reticle. The world. Everything. I've confirmed that the reticle is level vs the scope rail, and to a level positioned downrange. So, I'm pretty sure it's me, and not the gear. Less frequently, my head is in a different position or something, and everything is level, or close to it.

The stock is a Manners T4A, and I've pushed the cheekpiece all the way to the right (I'm right handed), thinking that the problem is caused by laying my head over to the right to get my eye behind the scope. That seems to help some, but the problem is still there. I also saw this problem (to a greater degree) on a different rifle earlier in the year - that rifle had an LOP that was too long, and I thought perhaps I was in a bad position due to that.

I don't think this is unique to me (I hope it's not), I just haven't stumbled across the answer, yet? It can be really disorienting to experience

 

[lash]

It may be that your scope is too low to the barrel or your cheek piece on the T4A is too high. Try to get more straight on to the scope by giving yourself a less lay-down-on-the-stock position that looks into the scope with your head more square to the rifle and scope. When I first started using a good scope on a T4A, I found myself scrunching down on the stock trying to get the clear picture and it was unnatural. I since dropped the cheek piece and found a much more natural view through the scope.

Reading on the internet can make you think that you need the absolutely lowest rings that will fit your scope to your rifle, but that is not always the case and people's cheeks are shaped differently. Find what works comfortably for you and then do that. Remember the saying that you should be able to set yourself up on your rifle and close your eyes, get comfortable, then open your eyes and you should be looking through your scope at your target. If you are not, then you need to adjust. Adjusting your rifle and scope system to you, the shooter, is the most important part of setting up your rifle.

 

[davere]

Thanks, lash - I think my ring height is prolly good to go (Vortex AMG in Harkins medium rings - lows would work with that scope). I'll try lowering the cheekpiece, and see about getting into a more "head up" position.

 

[tnichols]

Your world is crooked. Loosen your world mounting screws, adjust, and re tighten. Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Sheldon N]

I remember having the same experience at first. You get used to it and eventually it looks. normal.

 

[AIAW]

A bubble-level (preferably scope tube mounted) also helps keep this sensation in check while ensuring your reticle is also level to gravity.

 

[oinco]

any chance you have astigmatism? that'll do it.

 

[davere]

tnichols - that was good for a laugh... ha ha

AIAW - there's a level built in to the rear ring on Harkins Rings. It was really ancillary to the rings themselves, and I'm finding I can't see it at all from behind the rifle, unless I pick my head way up off the gun. So... a new bubble level is in order.

oinco - pre-LASIK, I had really minor astigmatism in my left eye, but that should be corrected for now, in theory. My right (dominant) eye didn't really have any.

So... work on being more head-up, and spend more time behind the gun. Get a level I can see with my left eye. Hope it's not some weirdness with my eyes (which it shouldn't be, in my case).... (And make some positional adjustments to the world? )

 

[vh20]

Your world is crooked. Loosen your world mounting screws, adjust, and re tighten. Sorry, couldn't resist.

I was going to say, stop watching mainstream-media on TV through your scope.

 

[BearNaked]

any chance you have astigmatism? that'll do it.

That explains why mine does the same thing them. Always thought it was weird. Then again, the voices in my head keep saying it's all normal to have those thoughts. Just kidding.


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[2ndamendfan]

Look at what AIAW is saying. The scope does NOT need to be level to the rail on the rifle. It needs to be level to gravity. The barrel is round, the bullet is round. Gravity is the force acting on the bullet. Look at the blogs frank has a good article on this. That is why the level should be scope tube mounted. The level should be level to the retical. Then with the scope slightly loose in the rings get be hind the rifle in your most natural position (straight behind of course) as frank says in the blog no one really holds a gun level naturally. Then level the scope to your natural hold. So that it is perpendicular to thee force of gravity. A string or 4ft level at 100 yards is going to help.

 

[2ndamendfan]

Watch this. He never once talks about the rifle being level. it is all about the scope/reticle being level.

 

[davere]

2ndamendfan - understood... To be fair, though, two of the levels he discusses in that video are rifle levels and not scope levels. Wouldn't hurt to try canting the rifle - my view through the scope now seems to have a good deal more than the 2 degrees of tilt that Frank talks about in his post - maybe that will get better when I tilt the rifle to me, rather than the other way around? Worse thing I lose is the time to set it back up to level/level, so...

 

[TheGerman]

This is obviously a feature of your scope adjusting for spin drift.

 

[davere]

I think I've worked most of it out. I made (what felt like) a tiny position shift - moved the cheekpiece down ever so slightly, and was then able to shift just a tiny bit more behind the rifle. After adjusting the scope to fix the eye relief, things seem to be better. I see just a tiny bit of tilt, but maybe just a degree or two, not the 10-15 I was seeing before.

It's kind of impressive how such tiny little things add up behind the gun.

 

[seanh]

Assuming the scope is mounted properly either A, get a coach or B get a 3 way adjustable butt plate