Scoping two similar rifles.

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I've heard quite a few rumors from where I'm at about taking two run-of-the-mill rifles, for example, say Remington 700 BDL in .30-06. Both are close in production, say xxxxx89 and xxxxx90, essentially brother's, one came off the line immediately after the other.

Now say you buy a Leupold scope. Doesn't matter the model, they're a good brand through-out.

Using the same ammunition, i.e. SMK 180gr. dosage over typical powder charge, with both rifles having the same barrel twist rate, barrel length, same everything, essantially two rifles eft bone stock, how they came from the factory with the same options; Would you be able to use one scope for both of the rifles?

Could you zero-in on one rifle, and hold zero on the other and still hit your point of aim?

It's a little rumor I've heard going around here, and I'm not too terribly experienced to disclaim it for a couple buddies who have asked me. Any thoughts?

 

[Jim Watson]

No.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

And I know there are some minor variances in the manufacturing process, and I believe they would have enough of a difference to affect the point of aim of the other rifle by having a different point of impact. But I'm not sure.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I didnt think so

 

[courtgreene]

I believe what he's looking for isn't THAT they won't likely be the same, but WHY they won't likely be the same. That way he (or she, sorry, I don't know which it is) can tell these people. I am also not an expert, and others are more knowledgable, but you're right that in the manufacturing of rifles things are not identical. If you research how rifling is done you can instantly see that any two rifles that are identical is, if not impossible, completely coincidental. Same goes for the manufacture of the barrels themselves. Additionally, there is no guaranty that screws are turned down to the exact same levels. Even if all of that were the same, without a quick detach mechanism designed to do so, removing, switching, and remounting the scope will result in a POI that is different from where it was before the scope was removed... which is why one must re-zero after removal of a scope. Some one who knows more than me, go ahead.

 

[bentongunclub]

Not gonna happen.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I'm a he, I do understand there are differences, and that's why I figured it wouldn't work.

But, as far as the why goes, I could use it to further back up my disclaim.

 

[gathert]

The two guns cannot be perfectly exactly completely the same. Therefore the POI will be different for both rifles. It may be close, but they will be different. The barrels may not be touching their respective stocks in the same place and any other little detail can make them different. Plus individual harmonics will be different so theres that too.

 

[Ramone]

No.

BUT!

the dope will likely be close.

 

[Zak Smith]

When I swap scopes between AI rifles, , they are usually within 0.5 mrad of the same POI at 100 yards.

 

[wally]

When I swap scopes between AI rifles, , they are usually within 0.5 mrad of the same POI at 100 yards.

0.5 mrad = 1.8" at 100 yards. Within the variation of using a different brand of ammo. This could be good enough or not.

I'm not sure what an AI rifle is, however.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

So we're still in the middle ground here, but leaning towards a no.

 

[Zak Smith]

It's not a run of the mill rifle, and I don't consider the zero to be the same.. but in some cases it would be close enough.

 

[Sam Cade]

I'm not sure what an AI rifle is, however.

Very, very fine rifles.

http://www.accuracyinternational.com/

 

[gamestalker]

If they both did hold the same zero, it would be one of those one in a million things. But in general, no.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I wouldn't expect it work and you would need to check. Who knows, maybe the would be close enough. This past weekend I took my 30-06 Rem 700 out for some 100 yard work. It was zero'd at 200 yards with one particular brand of ammo. At 100 yards, with two other brands of ammo which had different bullet weights, POA/POI is close enough that the scope wouldn't need to be rezero'd. Of couse, this is different than your question. Try it and see what happens.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Wouldn't be able to. I don't own any Remingtons. And if I did, it'd be their 700 SPS tactical. That's about it.

Plus, unless I'm ordering straight from the factory, it'd be quite difficult to get sequential numbers.

 

[cal74]

Run of the mill factory rifles even with consecutive serial numbers still will have components that came off the line at different times.

The action doesn't follow the barrel and the barrel nor action were followed by the trigger group or stock

Everything comes together somewhere along the line and is put together, than maybe one was put together right before 5:00 on Friday and the other one was put together 1st thing Monday Morning.

If any of us had any choice, none of us would ever want anything put together at quitting time

 

[BrocLuno]

Try it and see? If they are close enough, you might be able to shim the bases so they could be within an inch or two.

But why two rifles and only one scope?

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

It was a question of one of my buddy's that was sparked because of a rumor going around where I live that if you get two of the same rifles, with same options and sequential numbers, one scope will work for both without readjustment.