Rifle Scopes What's the practical value of optically centering

[D.A.T]

Is the best reason to check to see if you base/rings are all jacked up?

If you have your adjustments maxed out low and right and mount your scope the same as you mount it with it centered your still going to have to adjust the turrets to get the same POI with a certain distance. Is this correct? What am I not understanding if this is wrong.

 

[shootist2004]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

idealy you want to do all your work in the center of the scope cause that where its the clearest. also if you start in the middle you have lots of travel up, down and sideways
(if I understand your question)

 

[D.A.T]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

If everything is mounted up correctly shouldn't zeroing the scope take you back to the center area?

 

[DavidAR10]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: D.A.T.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If everything is mounted up correctly shouldn't zeroing the scope take you back to the center area?</div></div>

That's only when your TASCO is mounted on your
Wally World 40Watt Plasma pole.

 

[cega]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

In general terms the idea of optically centering your scope is to maximize erector travel. US Optics has a good video on how they suggest doing it as well as an explanation as to the benefits.

Take a look here to see it:

http://www.usoptics.com/video/centerhi.wmv

Hope that helps.

 

[tipper]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: D.A.T.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If everything is mounted up correctly shouldn't zeroing the scope take you back to the center area? </div></div>

The more Mil or MOA adj the scope has makes it easier to stay in the working center of scopes adj.
If you are going to shoot 100-1000yd range, you would set scope up with enough base cant to get you a 500-600yd zero at the working center of scope.
It is best to set your scope up with the working center of adj that you will be shooting.

 

[E. Bryant]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

Probably the single best reason for optically-centering a scope is to save yourself some time and ammo when obtaining a zero. If your buddy twirled the knobs a couple revolutions while you were showing off your new toy and you show up at the range 30-40 MOA away from zero, then it'll take more effort than if you started with a centered scope.

There is a lot of value to combining this process with a boresighter, too. It's always nice to find a mounting issue before chucking several rounds downrange.

 

[Arbiter]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Eric Bryant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Probably the single best reason for optically-centering a scope is to save yourself some time and ammo when obtaining a zero. If your buddy twirled the knobs a couple revolutions while you were showing off your new toy and you show up at the range 30-40 MOA away from zero, then it'll take more effort than if you started with a centered scope.

There is a lot of value to combining this process with a boresighter, too. It's always nice to find a mounting issue before chucking several rounds downrange.</div></div>

Some might say that if you're foolish enough to let idiots screw around with your scope, you deserve more than just a few extra minutes re-zeroing.

 

[FrozenRopes]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

For me it's a check to make sure my rings and mount are good-to-go.
I add it into the process of mounting a scope just to make sure there is noting strange going on with my equipment.
You can check the elevation travel to make sure you'll have enough for your application. Even though it won't be exact and most of the time you'll have more than enough. It will give you a ballpark idea to even go forward with that mount or get a 20moa.
Might also save time hunting down issues before sight-in.

But to be honest. If you have wisely chosen a brand new scope, quality rings and mounting, and a quality rifle, you probably won't see any issues and this process might be just a waste of time for you. Properly bore sighting will work just fine.

With that said I'll still keep doing it just for piece of mind.

 

[sawhornsoff]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

Nice to have the windage centered as that will allow you use of more elevation. If you are off to the left or right extreme, you won't get all the elevation out of the scope.

Also if the elevqtion is not centered, hopefully you are off sp hat you get more elevation.

 

[NoExpert]

Re: What's the practical value of optically centering

How much off center (windage) is considered too much? I thought I once read you ideally want less than 5 MIL's but I can't remember.