Scope sideways?

[Ari]

Are you suppose to mount the scope so that the elevation knob is pointed up and the windage knob is pointed to the right? Is it possible to mount the scope so that I can have my Windage(sp/term?) pointed up instead of pointed to the right? Hope this noob makes sense. Basically what I'm asking is is there a rite and wrong way to mount a scope? Besides having to remember that the windage and elev knobs are now reversed is there anything wrong with this set up, or is it basically silly? TIA

 

[Navy joe]

The first way you stated is correct, but if your way gets you good hits then it's not silly. It will work fine with a symmetrical reticle like a duplex, any kind of post and stadia or rangefinding reticle and you would have to mount it the right way.

 

[Ari]

okay

Okay, I see, well thank you sir for your response!

 

[Jim Watson]

I have seen rifle-mount-scope combinations that required the scope to be rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise. The windage knob pointed up (used for elevation adjustment) and the elevation knob pointed left (used for windage adjustment) so as to keep ejected brass from hitting the windage knob or cap and falling back into the action. There is a brand of scope made with the windage on the left side of the tube to avoid this without confusion on the adjustment markings.

 

[zahc]

You can do it if a low mounted scope interferes with your fingers on the bolt handle too.

 

[Steve Smith]

a problem

Most scopes I've had had a lot of elevation movement going up, but little down when mounted. Big surprise, huh? Well, if you turn that 90 degrees, you'll have a lot left but little right.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

I hadn't thought about the limit on "down" adjustment. I always thought they came from the factory in the middle of the adjustment range.

I'd have some difficulty with the adjustment hints stamped on the knobs: L-Down, R-Up, D-Right, U-Left. Or something like that.

I have one rifle where the bolt is very close to the scope when open, fortunately the bolt handle opens behind the scope adjustment knob.

Regards.

 

[Navy joe]

I thought of that Steve, then I thought of how few casual rifle shooters and hunters actually dope their scopes in for wind. Usually those knobs get touched when zeroing and not much else. Being a lefty I've thought of this, would be really nice to have a turret adjustable Leupold with the windage on the left.

 

[Ari]

that's exactly my reason

I bang my thumb up against the windage knob when I open up the bolt. Now I just have to find zero again! Which was absolutely perfect when I first got the rifle! Anyone else know of a good way besides the ol' shoot and see method with out a bore sighter?

 

[Navy joe]

Bag the gun down in a rest, remove the bolt and look thru the bore centering it on a suitable size bullseye. Without moving the gun, adjust the crosshairs until they match the same point the gun is centered on. re-check thru the bore. Shoot and see. Start at 25 yds so you get on paper the first shot. I cheat and start at 100, but I'm usually within 8 inches with this ghetto boresighting.

Alternately, take it to your local gun shill and pay them to boresight it.

 

[Steve Smith]

I thought of how few casual rifle shooters and hunters actually dope their scopes in for wind.

Really?



(mumble mumble) dadgum (mumble) 100 yard shooters (mumble mumble)

 

[Navy joe]

Yes Steve, that's the problem, 100 yard gunners. I'm not yet any excuse for a rifleman, but I do hit the target, never used more benchrest than a sandbag occasionally and actually practice my worst (offhand) most often. Funny, there is never a crowd on the 200 yd line at the local range, even though there are only six spots. I always have a place. Of the group of shooters I see, 100 yds is a real stretch for most, and getting on target usually requires them a spotter to call their hits in the dirt. I don't think we need to intrude and introduce some finer point like windage until they get a little firmer grasp on basic shootin' concepts. Your lane neighbor quits when you shoot better 100 yd groups than he with a handgun tho.

 

[Steve Smith]

Well, I was just playin, I don't mean no harm!

 

[Navy joe]

I was agreeing with you, not getting ruffled. I strive to be better and only shoot at 100 yds because that is all that is easily available. I just think the general level of rifle competence is way low.

Hopefully Ari will rise above that and when he runs out of windage he will figure out how to mount the scope where it needs to be while still clearing things.

Shot 86/100 tonight indoors on a 1000in rifle target A offhand, so obviously I need more practice. No wind indoors either thankfully.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I find target type knobs actively counterproductive in a rifle i might have to defend my life with (which is every rifle i own), because they get knocked around and i lose my zero.

I like scopes that just have normal scope caps and coin slot adjustmet because they don't get adjusted unless i take the cap off and do it myself.

 

[Steve Smith]

I was agreeing with you, not getting ruffled.

Dude, I knew that! No worries, mate!

86/100 huh?

I shot a 3x600 Any rifle/any sight match (60 shots at 600 yards) on Sunday. With my AR Service Rifle (iron sights). Finished thrid overall, first Service Rifle, and only four points behind 1st place...and he had a scope on a bolt action! 579-17x out of 600 and one 20 shot string was in a dead snowstorm! Heh...who says you need a scope???!!!!