[mtnbkr]

I installed Leupold bases (Dovetail/adjustable) on a Winchester Mod 70 Featherweight (6.5x55). On the initial sight-in, I was shooting cheap Yugo loads (Ingman 139gr) at 25yds. I had to crank the elevation all the way up to get the gun on the paper and close to POA. This is only the 3rd scope I've ever installed on a centerfire rifle and I've never run into this problem. Any suggestions? Can it be crappy ammo? What else could be wrong? The gun, scope, mounts, and rings are all new.

I need help

with the gun smartaleck

Thanks,
Chris

[HSMITH]

That is definately not right at all. Do a search on scope mounting. I posted my version of the right way to do it, so you could add my username and narrow it down some. My way is much more time consuming than others, but no one has ever been able to find a fault in it other than possibly being overkill (it IS NOT! LOL).

Sounds almost like you got two rings of differing heights, or the base is not down on the rifle tight.

[echo3mike]

Let me see if I understand your post... you've installed a scope on your rifle, and to get on paper you now have no more "UP" elevation (as in the ele knob is all the way out / CCW)...Ja oder nien?

What kind of scope is it, and was the scope optically centered before you mounted it? You can have the erector tube bind inside the scope housing if both ele and windage adjustments aren't centered prior to installation. A little extreme for this situation, but a possibility.

It's a standard (vs a base w/ additional ele machined into it) base? Everything down tight? (Stupid question time): is the base installed in the right direction (i.e. you didn't put a LH base on an RH rifle)?

Before you pull everything apart, I'ld try centering the erector tube and then try different ammo. If that doesn't work, I'ld look at the mounts like HSMITH said (although I'm not a big fan of locktite on the rings). Shims under the base or reversing the rings may affect the situation to your benefit, but a little more investigation is probably in order.

Interesting...

S.

[mtnbkr]

Yup, that's the situation. At 25yds too!

The scope is a Leupold VX-1 2-7x33. Rings and bases are Leupold. Dunno if they are LH or RH, never heard of such a thing, nor did I see that option when I ordered them. They're standard bases and are screwed down tight. The rings are "low" rings. I installed the front base with the dovetail hole pointed back. I took the new scope out of the box and mounted it on the gun.

I checked the rings/bases. They look like identical height pieces on each end. I certainly didn't get a mismatched set.

This is very frustrating. Everything is brand new. This is my first new rifle/scope combo.

Chris

[Art Eatman]

It sounds as though there is something wrong in the height of one or both of the bases. Could be in packaging, more likely than in the manufacturing...

Or it's just the wrong bases were selected in the first place.

I really doubt it's the ammo--or, at least I've not heard of that sort of weirdness. A bent barrel is possible but not likely--but at least I've heard of that. :confused:

Art

[cratz2]

I had a similar situation with a Savage 10FP one time. The rear base was too high. I couldn't raise the elevation enough to get 2" high at 100 yards. It looked right, but certainly was not. It was close enough that with the tops off both rings, there was no rocking of the scope.

I'm pretty sure the rear base is the same on Model 70 and on the Savage rifles... Could be a bad batch.

I guess it could also be mismatched rings but I think there would be enough of a different that that would be pretty obvious. Maybe not... never tried it.

[Kingcreek]

Sounds VERY familiar.
I had the same problem with a Model 70 featherwt in .243 and leupold scope, bases and rings.
Not sorta the same, xactly the same.
I cut a little strip of aluminum from a nearby old milwaukee can and installed it as a shim and it centered perfectly. still in there and that was yeas ago.
I don't have the explanation for the problem, just the solution.

[echo3mike]

Hmm...O.K... Really can't see Leupold messing up with ring packaging, but...

I'll stick with my original suggestions: center the erector tube and then get some factory ammo (is there such a thing for a 6.5X55?) and check it again. I agree with Art that ammo is probably low on the list of possibilities, but it'll identify and eliminate the possibility just the same. Then you can move onto the mount.


Just because I love the view of my own written word, to center the erector tube you'll need to put the scope in a fairly solid structure like a vice. Since you've already mounted the scope, that'll do. Turn the WINDAGE knob all the way IN (CW) . Look through the scope, and as you're adjusting the knob OUT (CCW), start counting clicks when the reticle starts moving. Stop counting when the reticle stops moving. Devide the total number of adjustment clicks by two, then adjust the knob BACK IN to that number of clicks. Write this number down. Then do the same thing for the ele knob. If you need to remove the scope for whatever reason, you can easily adjust the W/E knobs to center the tube without going through this hassle again.

Regardless of the problem's origin, it's a good idea to center your scope. It'll help with your zeros and will let you know just how much ele you have left.

Yeah, try the different ammo...then you can try shimming the base or replacing it if that doesn't help. And don't get discouraged...half the fun of this game is the "well...***??? How-did-that-happen" moment.


S.

[mtnbkr]

I'll try recentering the scope and starting over (yes, there is factory 6.5x55 from Federal and Winchester, I'm sure there's more).

I "eyeballed" the mounts and rings. If there is a difference in height, it's not immediately visible to the naked eye.

The gun started out shooting about 2 FEET low at 25yds. How bent would the barrel need to be or how mismatched would the rings/bases need to be in order to put it this far off?

If I can't find a definate physical problem, I'm going to try the shims before I start sending stuff back.

Chris

[mtnbkr]

Crap. I think I figured out the problem. When I reversed the front mount to get the rings close enough, that put the end of the mount right under the scope's bell. Barely, but enough to lift the scope up off the front ring by 1/16", if that. Dammit!!! I should've noticed this when I was putting it together. It wouldn't have been a problem with med or high rings, but the low rings were too low.

It's not clear in the directions, can I reverse the orientation of the rear base? It's not a dovetail base, it's the adjustable one. If not, I'm going to need the next taller rings. I prefer the lower ones.

:banghead: :banghead: :cuss:

Chris

[HSMITH]

Measure that rear base, as long as it is not tapered you will be OK. You can also relieve the front base where it is hitting. Been there and done that stuff, I like the lowest possible mount myself.

It is also a good thing that is not a hard kicking boomer gun, the scope would have died.

[Kingcreek]

Sorry, I guess it was a different problem afterall. Mine never shot 2 ft low. Max elevation brought mine to within 2 inches low at about 25yrds.
Glad you figgered it out!