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Posted: 7/11/2006 10:42:37 AM EDT
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I mounted a Leupold VXIII 3.5-10X40 on my flat top AR yesterday, and ran out of adjustment in the scope before zero. Close as it would go was 10" high @ 100yds, and approximately 1" left at the same. (here's the part where I get my ass kicked) I used Millet Angle Locs, the ones designated for the AR flat top. (yes, I ran out of windage adjustment even with them) The scope was far too high in my opinion anyhow, so it doesn't hurt my feelings to need to try something else. Is it just the crappy rings, or is there another possibility? What's a better option for something lower, and not too pricey, that'll actually work? (I just hunt, so I won't be jumping out of airplanes, or using the gun as a prybar) |
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I use a one-piece ArmaLite mount on my A4. I like it very much, but please note that I do not remove and remount the scope, it stays there. I believe you may have a problem with your setup. You should be able to get the scope zeroed with what you have. Leupold makes great scopes and Millett is a reputable company. Perhaps you are doing something wrong during the installation. If you have a gun vise or some sort of rifle rest to hold the rifle steady and horizontal while you work, this will be a lot easier. Remove the upper from the lower and take out the bolt carrier. Put the upper on the rifle rest or on the table. Next remove the scope from the rings (do not mix the ring pieces) and center the scope adjustments. You can do this by going from one stop to the other counting the clicks and then coming back by counting half the number of clicks. Do that for windage and elevation. Next mount the lower half of the rings on the flatop where you want them to be in relation to you and to the scope. Once they are located properly, finger tighten them only and then place the scope on the rings. If you have a one inch wood dowel, you could use that to make sure the rings are straight. Make sure the scope does not bind or seem to be wanting to bend. That would be a bad thing. Next place the top half of the rings where they need to go and finger tighten them also. At this point, everything should be mounted and you should be able to make adjustments with a little effort. Now look through the barrel at the fartest spot in the house (or through a window across the street without scaring the neighbors) and then without moving anything, look through the scope and see where the crosshairs are located. It should be very close, if not directly on the spot at which your barrel is pointing. If it's really close, you are cooking. If it's quite a bit off, you may want to check the rings (and make sure your centered the crosshairs on the scope as described above.) By quite a bit I would say a foot or more for say 50 yards. If the barrel and the scope seem to agree nicely, proceed to tighten everything but make sure your tighten the screws a little bit at a time and in a nice rotation so that you don't end up tightening all one one side or the other. Keep checking constantly as you tighten to see if the scope moves away from where the barrel is pointing. I did forget to mention that you also want to make sure the scope is properly horizontal before you tighen, but I'm sure you knew that already. If you have done everything properly you should be on paper and very close to zero when you get to the range. If you cannot get the scope to the same point the barrel is pointing, you definitely have a problem. Hope this helps a bit. |
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Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I'm interested to see the ArmaLite mount. Like you, I have no intention nor need to remove the scope. I'll go take a look for it. Good to hear a positive comment on the Millet rings. I've had great luck with them on many rimfires and a few big game rifles over the years personally, but assumed they wouldn't make the grade here on the forum, from some of the other opinions I've read here about mounts and rings. My bad. I do use a solid horizontal rest when mounting scopes, and you're right about how much help it is. However, I certainly could have made a mistake that I'm unaware of during intalation. (I'm not a stranger to mounting scopes or sighting in, but most of my experience is with brown guns). I sure didn't find anything wrong when I rechecked everything, but who knows. Since I didn't care much at all for the height, and greatly desire something lower, I've already returned the Millets to the store. But, I'll come back and reread your advice when I find a more suitable set of rings/mount. I'm studying the Brownells catalog now, thinking around .75" would be more appropriate in height. Thanks again for the generous help. I'll be using it soon.  |
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