What do you use to level the reticle?

[Msgt William Toprock]

The levels I have are to make sure the rifle level for long range shots. I also have a scope mounting kit to help ensure that the scope rings are in line with each other without creating tension on the scope barrel.

 

[Arkansasdad]

If your rifle barrel is not aligned with the spine straight up or down all of this is moot. I have seen very few factory rifles that have the spine aligned correctly. You need to align the scope to the barrel not the receiver. The only consideration for scope alignment to the receiver is muscle memory for long shots.

 

[Old Rooster]

Mram10us you asked what do I use a rifle vise for.
To hold the rifle still for scope mounting,cleaning and if something needs lapping that is where I do it,any repairs,pillar bedding rifle or just action bedding,to remove action from stock for any work like adjusting triggers,replace triggers.
A neighbor had a rough spot on his Savage bolt raceway and I was able to put it in the vise and lapp the raceway and got it smooth as a Savage can be.
I also use the vise to keep rifle still while checking headspace with go no go guages.
I have lapped many barrels on that rifle vise.
My neighbor borrows it to clean his rifle and his wife's rifle as well as both kids.
I have limited space unless I go to the garage which is pretty cold right now so a vise gives me a solid holding spot for my rifles.
When I was younger I worked Monday-Friday at me regular job and evenings and weekends I worked for a gunsmith and had a home made vise to hold rifles for many gunsmithing things.
I need one but many has never owned one.
Old Rooster

 

[7magcreedmoor]

This tool aligns the scope reticle vertically over the bore so you don't have POI drift shift down range.
With the tool installed align the reticle over the bore by tilting the rifle slightly left or right. the align the reticle to a plum bob. Works really well.
https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...ers/vertical-reticle-instrument-prod6097.aspx
View attachment 164097

This is also my method. Followed by a tall target tracking test.

 

[FlyGuy11]

Use a plumb bob.

 

[Mram10us]

Mram10us you asked what do I use a rifle vise for.
To hold the rifle still for scope mounting,cleaning and if something needs lapping that is where I do it,any repairs,pillar bedding rifle or just action bedding,to remove action from stock for any work like adjusting triggers,replace triggers.
A neighbor had a rough spot on his Savage bolt raceway and I was able to put it in the vise and lapp the raceway and got it smooth as a Savage can be.
I also use the vise to keep rifle still while checking headspace with go no go guages.
I have lapped many barrels on that rifle vise.
My neighbor borrows it to clean his rifle and his wife's rifle as well as both kids.
I have limited space unless I go to the garage which is pretty cold right now so a vise gives me a solid holding spot for my rifles.
When I was younger I worked Monday-Friday at me regular job and evenings and weekends I worked for a gunsmith and had a home made vise to hold rifles for many gunsmithing things.
I need one but many has never owned one.
Old Rooster

Definitely worth it if you use it for that much

 

[Stgraves260]

I use the wheeler Pro. I put the bar level on a pic rail. Then put the barrel level on. Once those two match up I put my scope on and put the bar level on my scope cap and match it to the barrel level.

 

[OFFISHN]

Tag. Good info. I'll post my method later. It's a combination of three I have read here. If only to 300 yards do what makes you feel good, after that you need to be spot on.

 

[Stgraves260]

 

[Stgraves260]

There is a lot to do when leveling and mounting a scope properly. I fixed this for a friend who had Cabela's and some other place mount and level his scope. I'm not a fan of the scope rings but this is what he wanted. I like to use 20 MOA pic rails and Better rings. The Leopold PRW rings work great and are only around $55 a set.

 

[Stgraves260]

Tag. Good info. I'll post my method later. It's a combination of three I have read here. If only to 300 yards do what makes you feel good, after that you need to be spot on.

Yes sir. It was hard to explain. Hope the photos helped.

 

[DocB]

This was an informative thread with a beneficial exchange of methods of leveling a scope until it devolved into a ****ing contest. That's why we can't have nice things.
DocB

 

[DocB]

Dang Rule #4! Lol
DocB

 

[KY_Windage]

Use a plumb bob.

Yup, that is the only tool I need. Mine is a 1/2" pipe fitting tied on heavy, dark line that I chalk intermittently for visibility in the scope. When I can crank up 30 moa and shoot a group that is exactly vertical over the control group, I'm done. Gadgets will you close, but then so does my eye (making the reticle point at the center of the bore).

When I've got the scope on straight I install a scope level to allow me to make sure that I always keep the scope level when shooting.