Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Long Range Scopes and Other Optics
"broken" scopes...
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="green 788" data-source="post: 104134" data-attributes="member: 3781"><p><strong>Re: \"broken\" scopes...</strong></p><p></p><p>Thanks guys. </p><p></p><p>Bart, yes, the box test that many folks like to do on a scope when they first mount it goes something like (variations exist, of course)... Dial the scope to zero at 100 yards. Then dial 10 MOA left and fire a group. Then dial 10 MOA up and fire a group, then dial 20 MOA right and fire a group, then 10 MOA down and fire a group, then dial 10 MOA left, which should put you back on your 100 yard zero and fire another couple shots to confirm. </p><p></p><p>If the scope will be used on a 1000 yard rifle, you would want to increase the vertical size of the box accordingly. This could mean dialing left 10 MOA, then up as high as 40 MOA (to get to a 1000 yard zero). You'd need a BIG target board to do this at 100 yards, of course. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif</p><p></p><p>Some scopes will track well enough to make a pretty good "box" shape. None I've ever seen were perfect, but this is likely owning in many cases to the accuracy of the rifle.</p><p></p><p>You could also simply use a scope collimator to see if the crosshairs point to where you dial them. However, at some extreme adjustment points, the erector won't hold zero well under the recoil of the rifle. So I prefer to actually shoot paper to be sure...</p><p></p><p>I call my own variation of the box test the "Tall T test." My own feelings are that all you really need to do is start with a 100 yard zero and then dial all the way up to your highest (longest range) zero point. Fire a group there. Then go left 10 MOA, and then right 20 MOA, firing groups at each of those points. You should have a very elongated "T" shape. If the windage is working well at the highest point of erector travel, it should be working just fine at all points below there. This saves time, ammo, and does the same thing as a box test--in my opinion.</p><p></p><p>I think it's a good idea to run the turrets of a new (or even an old) scope end to end several times before trusting its adjustments. Sometimes grease gets sticky, or there may be machining marks on bearing surfaces which need to be worn down by repeated movement. The erector spring or springs may need some flexing from extreme to extreme before they'll settle in to a predictable pressure pattern.</p><p></p><p>I think it's very important to run the turrets end to end on a scope at least every six months or so. If you do this regularly--and certainly when the scope is new, you may find that the "sticky erector" gremlin doesn't come to visit you. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Lots of scopes seem to need a shot or two to shake the erector to its new zero after you make an adjustment. If you run the turrets in, and keep the grease and the bearing surfaces excercised, repeatability will be much improved, even on cheaper scopes.</p><p></p><p>Dan</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="green 788, post: 104134, member: 3781"] [b]Re: \"broken\" scopes...[/b] Thanks guys. Bart, yes, the box test that many folks like to do on a scope when they first mount it goes something like (variations exist, of course)... Dial the scope to zero at 100 yards. Then dial 10 MOA left and fire a group. Then dial 10 MOA up and fire a group, then dial 20 MOA right and fire a group, then 10 MOA down and fire a group, then dial 10 MOA left, which should put you back on your 100 yard zero and fire another couple shots to confirm. If the scope will be used on a 1000 yard rifle, you would want to increase the vertical size of the box accordingly. This could mean dialing left 10 MOA, then up as high as 40 MOA (to get to a 1000 yard zero). You'd need a BIG target board to do this at 100 yards, of course. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Some scopes will track well enough to make a pretty good "box" shape. None I've ever seen were perfect, but this is likely owning in many cases to the accuracy of the rifle. You could also simply use a scope collimator to see if the crosshairs point to where you dial them. However, at some extreme adjustment points, the erector won't hold zero well under the recoil of the rifle. So I prefer to actually shoot paper to be sure... I call my own variation of the box test the "Tall T test." My own feelings are that all you really need to do is start with a 100 yard zero and then dial all the way up to your highest (longest range) zero point. Fire a group there. Then go left 10 MOA, and then right 20 MOA, firing groups at each of those points. You should have a very elongated "T" shape. If the windage is working well at the highest point of erector travel, it should be working just fine at all points below there. This saves time, ammo, and does the same thing as a box test--in my opinion. I think it's a good idea to run the turrets of a new (or even an old) scope end to end several times before trusting its adjustments. Sometimes grease gets sticky, or there may be machining marks on bearing surfaces which need to be worn down by repeated movement. The erector spring or springs may need some flexing from extreme to extreme before they'll settle in to a predictable pressure pattern. I think it's very important to run the turrets end to end on a scope at least every six months or so. If you do this regularly--and certainly when the scope is new, you may find that the "sticky erector" gremlin doesn't come to visit you. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Lots of scopes seem to need a shot or two to shake the erector to its new zero after you make an adjustment. If you run the turrets in, and keep the grease and the bearing surfaces excercised, repeatability will be much improved, even on cheaper scopes. Dan [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Long Range Scopes and Other Optics
"broken" scopes...
Top