Scope alignment help

chrisb38002 · January 29, 2012, 04:47 PM

I have a savage model 12 in 308 that I recently installed a Warne 1-piece rail (20 MOA) and a Nightforce Benchrest scope on. I am using Leupold rings. My problem is when I sight in, me windage alignment (crosshairs) is way right of the point of impact. I am less than 1.5 rotations of the knob away from max to the right to get on center at 100yds.
All screws were torqued correctly during installation, and I can't find anything that looks out of line. Any ideas??

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

amamnn · January 29, 2012, 05:08 PM

Have you lapped the rings?

chrisb38002 · January 29, 2012, 05:27 PM

No. I thought about that, but didn't have the equipment available at the time. Could it make that much difference? I centered the crosshairs in the scope before I mounted it. I had to adjust at least 15" at 100 yds to get it on target.

BruceM · January 29, 2012, 09:14 PM

Why would you lap the rings if you don't have an alignment problem to begin with? I assume that the rings were checked for alignment before the optics were attached because there is more to mounting a a scope than just slapping it in the rings & tightening the screws. The lapping is done after the check, not before and only if there is some sort of problem. It is not SOP and shouldn't be. It's a procedure used to correct a specific issue.

Bruce

4runnerman · January 29, 2012, 09:19 PM

My guess is a bad scope?. I had 2 of them in the last 5 years. I was told when a scope is put together,that the crosshairs some how have to be centered before the turrets are mounted . Some times a scope is put together with the cross hairs being over to one side or the other,which causes a extreame adjustment to get them centered again. Don't know if thats believable or not,but i did not question it, I just took it back and got a new one,problem solved for me.

chrisb38002 · January 29, 2012, 10:04 PM

Thanks for the replies so far. I would hope that the crosshairs on a scope of this price and reputation would be put together correctly. Guess the next step is to have it checked out by a smith.

Sport45 · January 29, 2012, 10:11 PM

I'd switch the rings front/back and see if it makes a difference.

Also see if there's any play with the rail mounting screws. Loosen all of them and see if the rail will adjust a bit the direction it needs to go.

hoghunting · January 30, 2012, 01:12 AM

Replace the rings with the Burris Signature Zee rings with the polymer inserts. You may need an offset insert kit, but it will align the scope to the barrel and correct your problem.

madcratebuilder · January 30, 2012, 10:49 AM

Don't lap anything yet.

Quote:

I'd switch the rings front/back and see if it makes a difference.

+1

Quote:

Replace the rings with the Burris Signature Zee rings with the polymer inserts.

Another good suggestion.

If you have another scope, install it in the same rings and see if it's off to the right. If it is then the rail may not be perfectly plumb with the bore (most likely). Then the solution is Zee rings.

Highly unlikely the Nightforce is defective, but it may be.

Clifford L. Hughes · January 30, 2012, 01:12 PM

cgrisb38002:

Redfield and Leupold make windage adjustable bases for your rifle. All you need to do is mount the base and center the cross hairs in the scope. Center the cross hairs by running the windage knob all the way to one side and then count the number of clicks that it takes to reach the other side. Turn the windage back half the total clicks and you cross hairs are centered.

Adjust the windage in the base to bring the cross hairs on center. I did this by bore sighting. From my kitchen I could see a telephone pole and I bore sighted on one of its insulators. If you have a rifle that you can't look down the you will need to use a bore sighter.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

oneoldsap · January 30, 2012, 05:47 PM

I recently worked on a 7600 Rem. that wouldn't bore sight . Three different scopes yielded the same results . Installed Millett Angle-Loc rings , and lined it right up , what I like aboul the Milletts is they adjust front and back , so you can move the whole scope to line up with the bore !

chrisb38002 · February 4, 2012, 04:52 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. I took everything back apart and started over. After installing everything again, same results. However, after switching the rings front to back, that seemed to do the trick. I haven't shot it yet, but by bore sighting, it looks like the scope is back to center.
Not sure what would cause that, must be something with the rings.
Thanks again for all the suggestions. That's why I love this site.

hooligan1 · February 4, 2012, 07:57 PM

That Nightforce scope cost a few extra bucks, and if it were me, I'd invest in the Wheeler scope mounting kit, right at 120.00, and it offers everything that you could need to straighten that sucker out man.

January 29, 2012, 04:47 PM	#1
chrisb38002 Member Join Date: August 28, 2005 Posts: 18	Scope alignment help I have a savage model 12 in 308 that I recently installed a Warne 1-piece rail (20 MOA) and a Nightforce Benchrest scope on. I am using Leupold rings. My problem is when I sight in, me windage alignment (crosshairs) is way right of the point of impact. I am less than 1.5 rotations of the knob away from max to the right to get on center at 100yds. All screws were torqued correctly during installation, and I can't find anything that looks out of line. Any ideas?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

January 29, 2012, 05:08 PM	#2
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	Have you lapped the rings? __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

January 29, 2012, 09:19 PM	#5
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	My guess is a bad scope?. I had 2 of them in the last 5 years. I was told when a scope is put together,that the crosshairs some how have to be centered before the turrets are mounted . Some times a scope is put together with the cross hairs being over to one side or the other,which causes a extreame adjustment to get them centered again. Don't know if thats believable or not,but i did not question it, I just took it back and got a new one,problem solved for me. __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

January 29, 2012, 10:11 PM	#7
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	I'd switch the rings front/back and see if it makes a difference. Also see if there's any play with the rail mounting screws. Loosen all of them and see if the rail will adjust a bit the direction it needs to go. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

January 30, 2012, 01:12 PM	#10
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	cgrisb38002: Redfield and Leupold make windage adjustable bases for your rifle. All you need to do is mount the base and center the cross hairs in the scope. Center the cross hairs by running the windage knob all the way to one side and then count the number of clicks that it takes to reach the other side. Turn the windage back half the total clicks and you cross hairs are centered. Adjust the windage in the base to bring the cross hairs on center. I did this by bore sighting. From my kitchen I could see a telephone pole and I bore sighted on one of its insulators. If you have a rifle that you can't look down the you will need to use a bore sighter. Semper Fi. Gunnery sergeant Clifford L. Hughes USMC Retired Last edited by Clifford L. Hughes; January 30, 2012 at 01:14 PM. Reason: left out a word

January 29, 2012, 05:27 PM	#3
chrisb38002 Member Join Date: August 28, 2005 Posts: 18	No. I thought about that, but didn't have the equipment available at the time. Could it make that much difference? I centered the crosshairs in the scope before I mounted it. I had to adjust at least 15" at 100 yds to get it on target.

January 29, 2012, 09:14 PM	#4
BruceM Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2006 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 285	Why would you lap the rings if you don't have an alignment problem to begin with? I assume that the rings were checked for alignment before the optics were attached because there is more to mounting a a scope than just slapping it in the rings & tightening the screws. The lapping is done after the check, not before and only if there is some sort of problem. It is not SOP and shouldn't be. It's a procedure used to correct a specific issue. Bruce

January 29, 2012, 10:04 PM	#6
chrisb38002 Member Join Date: August 28, 2005 Posts: 18	Thanks for the replies so far. I would hope that the crosshairs on a scope of this price and reputation would be put together correctly. Guess the next step is to have it checked out by a smith.

January 30, 2012, 01:12 AM	#8
hoghunting Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2006 Posts: 1,559	Replace the rings with the Burris Signature Zee rings with the polymer inserts. You may need an offset insert kit, but it will align the scope to the barrel and correct your problem.

January 30, 2012, 05:47 PM	#11
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	I recently worked on a 7600 Rem. that wouldn't bore sight . Three different scopes yielded the same results . Installed Millett Angle-Loc rings , and lined it right up , what I like aboul the Milletts is they adjust front and back , so you can move the whole scope to line up with the bore !

February 4, 2012, 04:52 PM	#12
chrisb38002 Member Join Date: August 28, 2005 Posts: 18	Thanks for all the suggestions. I took everything back apart and started over. After installing everything again, same results. However, after switching the rings front to back, that seemed to do the trick. I haven't shot it yet, but by bore sighting, it looks like the scope is back to center. Not sure what would cause that, must be something with the rings. Thanks again for all the suggestions. That's why I love this site.

February 4, 2012, 07:57 PM	#13
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	That Nightforce scope cost a few extra bucks, and if it were me, I'd invest in the Wheeler scope mounting kit, right at 120.00, and it offers everything that you could need to straighten that sucker out man. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.