unlevel scope bases

shortround73 · September 2, 2000, 03:42 PM

What are the causes of having unlevel scope bases. What has to be done to correct this.

k in AR · September 2, 2000, 08:33 PM

Need more info, like what gun are you having a problem on, brand of rings, bases, etc.

Some rifles require special rings, some rings actually have a side that must face forward, etc...

If you have the right items, & them installed right, you may simple need to lap them to correct a slight error in alignment. For anymore than a slight problem you need to return the rings & get an other set, or better yet try a different brand.
Just my 2 cents here, but some also will suggest shimming the lower base. However, for my taste this should be the last resort. Anything under a mount is an open invitation to looseness later. Hope this helps, k

shortround73 · September 3, 2000, 02:04 PM

The rifle is a Century Arms .270 (mauser action). rings are weaver. What do you mean by lapping. Plan on changing to leupold.

Badger Arms · September 4, 2000, 01:11 AM

Use Burris Signature Rings. They have ball-joint inserts that automatically correct for any misallignment. Check out:

http://www.burrisoptics.com/signaturerings.html

George Stringer · September 4, 2000, 06:04 AM

Shortround, if they are radically different you probably have the wrong bases installed. The ones you need by Weaver are #45 rear and #46 front. These compensate for the difference in the front and rear of the receiver. If it's just slightly out of level there could be burrs on the screw holes under the bases. If so remove by using a larger drill bit. Insert the point in the hole and chamfer it by turning the bit with your hand. George

shortround73 · September 4, 2000, 01:03 PM

George, are the bases stamped with the number so i can tell if i have the right bases.

George Stringer · September 4, 2000, 01:33 PM

If they are Weaver bases the numbers will be on the top of the rail. That's Weaver brand, not just Weaver style. George

shortround73 · September 5, 2000, 05:52 PM

George, I have #KS50 and #KS51. Does it make a difference if you use the same bases from the same scope company ie. leupold bases w/leupold scope etc.

Badger Arms · September 5, 2000, 11:15 PM

Sounds like Kwik-Site bases. I do also believe that these are the right ones but that's from memory. It's likely that you have one of three problems already discussed. A burr sticking up on the receiver or base. A poorly or improperly machined receiver. Just enough normal misallignment to make a difference.

My vote is that you just buy the Burris Signature rings and don't worry about it. Make sure the bases are seated, tight, and locktited though first. Another advantage to the Burris Rings is that they have plastic inserts that won't put scope-rings on your scope.

George Stringer · September 6, 2000, 07:41 AM

Shortround, this is something I should have asked at the beginning. How out of level is it? Sometimes rings will be designed for one to be higher than the other like Ruger rings but usually both will be the same height. George

George Stringer · September 6, 2000, 07:42 AM

Shortround, this is something I should have asked at the beginning. How out of level is it? Sometimes rings will be designed for one to be higher than the other like Ruger rings but usually both will be the same height. It realy doesn't matter if the rings and scope are the same brand. George

shortround73 · September 6, 2000, 06:45 PM

Well George to tell you i just used a carpenters level to check for level. It seems that the bases are level from the front base to the rear base. However when i took the level and placed it facing left to right on each base the front base is level the rear base is off and vice versa.

George Stringer · September 7, 2000, 07:42 AM

Shortround, I was under the impression that they were off front to rear. If there are no burrs around the edges of the holes one pair of holes is off center. George

DeBee · September 7, 2000, 11:10 AM

shortround-

Just a possibility here: You may have flexed your action by overtightening one of the action screws...

Had a similar problem before and just couldn't wrap my brain around it... Take the action out of the stock and try again.

shortround73 · September 8, 2000, 06:37 PM

Well if one is off-center, how do yall fix it. Do yall just redrill and tap new holes?

Badger Arms · September 8, 2000, 08:12 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by shortround73:
Well if one is off-center, how do yall fix it. Do yall just redrill and tap new holes?[/quote]

No, there won't be enough room and your gun will be weaker and end up looking like swiss cheese. All of your problems can be soved with Burris Signature Scope Rings. No new holes, no swiss-cheese receiver. In truth, EVERY TWO PIECE SCOPE BASE IS UNEVEN. It's a matter of degrees of unevenness. The Burris rings will correct for windage also if it's off-center.

------------------
God made us in his own image.
Thomas Jefferson made us free.
John Browning made us equal.

Without Browning, we might not know about the other two...

shortround73 · September 8, 2000, 09:27 PM

thanks guys for all the info. Good hunting.

shortround73 · September 10, 2000, 11:54 PM

OK what kind of thread lock should i use.

George Stringer · September 11, 2000, 08:00 AM

Shortround, on the rings nothing. For the base screws just a drop or two of epoxy will hold them forever. If you need to remove them the heat from the tip of a soldering iron or heated screwdriver will soften the epoxy. George

shortround73 · September 11, 2000, 08:02 PM

Thanks George. Leupold recommended that i use super high rings. Is there any way to avoid that using 50mm obj.

September 2, 2000, 03:42 PM	#1
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	What are the causes of having unlevel scope bases. What has to be done to correct this.

September 2, 2000, 08:33 PM	#2
k in AR Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: Arkansas USA Posts: 436	Need more info, like what gun are you having a problem on, brand of rings, bases, etc. Some rifles require special rings, some rings actually have a side that must face forward, etc... If you have the right items, & them installed right, you may simple need to lap them to correct a slight error in alignment. For anymore than a slight problem you need to return the rings & get an other set, or better yet try a different brand. Just my 2 cents here, but some also will suggest shimming the lower base. However, for my taste this should be the last resort. Anything under a mount is an open invitation to looseness later. Hope this helps, k

September 3, 2000, 02:04 PM	#3
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	The rifle is a Century Arms .270 (mauser action). rings are weaver. What do you mean by lapping. Plan on changing to leupold.

September 4, 2000, 01:11 AM	#4
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,700	Use Burris Signature Rings. They have ball-joint inserts that automatically correct for any misallignment. Check out: http://www.burrisoptics.com/signaturerings.html

September 4, 2000, 06:04 AM	#5
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Shortround, if they are radically different you probably have the wrong bases installed. The ones you need by Weaver are #45 rear and #46 front. These compensate for the difference in the front and rear of the receiver. If it's just slightly out of level there could be burrs on the screw holes under the bases. If so remove by using a larger drill bit. Insert the point in the hole and chamfer it by turning the bit with your hand. George

September 4, 2000, 01:03 PM	#6
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	George, are the bases stamped with the number so i can tell if i have the right bases.

September 4, 2000, 01:33 PM	#7
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	If they are Weaver bases the numbers will be on the top of the rail. That's Weaver brand, not just Weaver style. George

September 5, 2000, 05:52 PM	#8
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	George, I have #KS50 and #KS51. Does it make a difference if you use the same bases from the same scope company ie. leupold bases w/leupold scope etc.

September 5, 2000, 11:15 PM	#9
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,700	Sounds like Kwik-Site bases. I do also believe that these are the right ones but that's from memory. It's likely that you have one of three problems already discussed. A burr sticking up on the receiver or base. A poorly or improperly machined receiver. Just enough normal misallignment to make a difference. My vote is that you just buy the Burris Signature rings and don't worry about it. Make sure the bases are seated, tight, and locktited though first. Another advantage to the Burris Rings is that they have plastic inserts that won't put scope-rings on your scope.

September 6, 2000, 07:41 AM	#10
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Shortround, this is something I should have asked at the beginning. How out of level is it? Sometimes rings will be designed for one to be higher than the other like Ruger rings but usually both will be the same height. George

September 6, 2000, 07:42 AM	#11
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Shortround, this is something I should have asked at the beginning. How out of level is it? Sometimes rings will be designed for one to be higher than the other like Ruger rings but usually both will be the same height. It realy doesn't matter if the rings and scope are the same brand. George

September 6, 2000, 06:45 PM	#12
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	Well George to tell you i just used a carpenters level to check for level. It seems that the bases are level from the front base to the rear base. However when i took the level and placed it facing left to right on each base the front base is level the rear base is off and vice versa.

September 7, 2000, 07:42 AM	#13
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Shortround, I was under the impression that they were off front to rear. If there are no burrs around the edges of the holes one pair of holes is off center. George

September 7, 2000, 11:10 AM	#14
DeBee Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 1999 Posts: 408	shortround- Just a possibility here: You may have flexed your action by overtightening one of the action screws... Had a similar problem before and just couldn't wrap my brain around it... Take the action out of the stock and try again.

September 8, 2000, 06:37 PM	#15
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	Well if one is off-center, how do yall fix it. Do yall just redrill and tap new holes?

September 8, 2000, 08:12 PM	#16
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,700	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by shortround73: Well if one is off-center, how do yall fix it. Do yall just redrill and tap new holes?[/quote] No, there won't be enough room and your gun will be weaker and end up looking like swiss cheese. All of your problems can be soved with Burris Signature Scope Rings. No new holes, no swiss-cheese receiver. In truth, EVERY TWO PIECE SCOPE BASE IS UNEVEN. It's a matter of degrees of unevenness. The Burris rings will correct for windage also if it's off-center. ------------------ God made us in his own image. Thomas Jefferson made us free. John Browning made us equal. Without Browning, we might not know about the other two...

September 8, 2000, 09:27 PM	#17
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	thanks guys for all the info. Good hunting.

September 10, 2000, 11:54 PM	#18
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	OK what kind of thread lock should i use.

September 11, 2000, 08:00 AM	#19
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Shortround, on the rings nothing. For the base screws just a drop or two of epoxy will hold them forever. If you need to remove them the heat from the tip of a soldering iron or heated screwdriver will soften the epoxy. George

September 11, 2000, 08:02 PM	#20
shortround73 Member Join Date: July 7, 2000 Posts: 37	Thanks George. Leupold recommended that i use super high rings. Is there any way to avoid that using 50mm obj.