Leupold 6.5x20 Adjustment Accuracy

[Reelamin]

I am looking for input on my scope. This scope has not been adjusted other then a few clicks today to get it zeroed and on the paper previously. I am still load testing...but wanted to see if it tracked correctly and the reticle was true with the bore. Just trying to see if I may be over reacting to how it tracks.

Rifle is purely a hunting gun that has to ride in a full scabbard on a horse horizontal under a stirrup. I also pack it when walking. It weighs 10.4 lbs fully ready to hunt with ammo, sling, and bipod.

Scope - Leupold Vari X III 6.5x20 with target knobs.
Rifle - 300RUM

Load..the load I used is a solid -1.000 performer of a 165gr at 3600fps.

Picture 1:
How I shoot her during load testing. When I find the load I want and sight her in it will be fully rigged and shot prone and over my back pack. I had shot it just over 80 rounds with no scope adjustments as I am working on loads. So it should have been settled in I would think.

Picture 2:
The overal view of the target with the alternative rounds fired. The first one starts at the junction and the other ends up where a full turn on the turret ends up. I measured 16" from center of group to center of group.

Picture 3:
This is the bottom aiming point. I only marked the first two shots as it settled in after that and stayed consistent.

Picture 4:
This is the top group with a full turn on the adjustment. It should have been 15" but seemed they repeated better then the bottom group.

Is this normal...or do I have some stuff wrong? Would appreciate any input from those who have twisted in adjustment on a Leupold. No...I can not afford to buy a new scope.

Oh yeah...this is intended to be a 1000+ yard rifle.

 

[grit]

15 X 1.047 = 15.75". So, 16" roughly is spot on. Leupold tends to have a little backlash. Try dialing past a few minutes and back down to final correction. You always want to finish in a tightening direction. This should eliminate the crosshairs "settling in".

 

[Reelamin]

15 X 1.047 = 15.75". So, 16" roughly is spot on. Leupold tends to have a little backlash. Try dialing past a few minutes and back down to final correction. You always want to finish in a tightening direction. This should eliminate the crosshairs "settling in".

Thanks...will try that...can't wait....should be ready to run her out to 1k on Sunday!

 

[Longbullet]

I have the same scope on my 300RUM. The turrets on the scope are solid. One thing I did have a problem with was the eye piece lock ring. If the lock ring isn't tight your reticle will move around slightly. I never reliezed it made a differance until it was on my high recoiling 300RUM w/out a muzzle break. Haven't had any problems after I lok-tited the eye-piece lock ring.

 

[rooster740]

I have the same scope on my 300RUM. The turrets on the scope are solid. One thing I did have a problem with was the eye piece lock ring. If the lock ring isn't tight your reticle will move around slightly. I never reliezed it made a differance until it was on my high recoiling 300RUM w/out a muzzle break. Haven't had any problems after I lok-tited the eye-piece lock ring.

Several years ago I bought a brand new vari-x II for $100 because a guy at the range would not listen to me that this was his problem. Scope went from shooting a 3 inch group, to the next day shooting a 3/4 MOA group, to the next day making me a hundred bucks on a resale!

Also that scope with target knobs will drive you crazy in a saddle scabbord, if you can even get it in there. I bought a new 6.5 x 20 with the side focus for my saddle gun project, and used it last year. It sucks is my opinion on that lump under your leg. I have two of the same scope as you and I usually have that gun on a pack horse or my other saddle horse. I usually do not go anywhere with just one horse. If you kill something then you top pack the target knobs, it works great.

I have found mine to be pretty consistant. One is on a 300 RUM the other on a 308 Win.