Help! I can’t get my windage to adjust enough on my new scope!

[horsemen61]

Hello all


Ok here is the deal I recently purchased a
Leupold VX-3i EFR Target Rifle Scope 6.5-20x 40mm Custom Dial System (CDS) Adjustable Objective Fine Duplex Reticle Matte

to place upon my new savage .223 bench rifle

The issue I am having is, that I can’t get it to adjust the last say inch to the left so it will center punch the bullseye!

A friend looked at it and just made matters worse he turned the dial the wrong way and it is now 4 inches to the right I know he was trying to help but dang it.

So anyone got any ideas on why the scope turret will turn but not change the poi?
How to fix it as well?

 

[horsemen61]

The elevation is just fine I just can’t get it to move left enough and the directions speak of a zero stop not sure what that is or how it works any info on that would be much appreciated

 

[748]

One of my friends is a scope Nazi, he mechanically zeros the scope then some how laps, shims, shoots it at the range, shims it some more to it to get it on paper at 100yds with no adjustment.
I have yet to witness this sorcery in person.

 

[Bill M.]

First you need to determine the problem. Scope or mounts? Can you slip another scope on to it and see where that one is pointed? I think the most likely explanation is that the mounts are crooked and you have run out of windage adjustment. I use the Redfield mounts with windage adjustment built into the mount. So maybe look at mounts. And scopes do work better when mounted so that you are near the center of the adjustment range.

 

[tbs]

When all is said and done, you'll find it's a mount problem / rifle problem. Get a set of Burris Signature rings with inserts. They have additional inserts for 20moa, 10moa, 5moa which allows you correct for this problem.

 

[horsemen61]

First you need to determine the problem. Scope or mounts? Can you slip another scope on to it and see where that one is pointed? I think the most likely explanation is that the mounts are crooked and you have run out of windage adjustment. I use the Redfield mounts with windage adjustment built into the mount. So maybe look at mounts. And scopes do work better when mounted so that you are near the center of the adjustment range.

I think it’s the scope I have complete confidence in the gentleman who did the install

 

[LiveLife]

I think it’s the scope I have complete confidence in the gentleman who did the install

I have mounted over 10 scopes using various mounts and same scope can have way different point of aim and range of adjustment depending on the mount used.

My guess is it's the mount and you could shim it or try a different mount.

 

[shoobe01]

Note that tbs (at least) said "mount or rifle." Many of us have seen top brands absolutely drill mount hole in the wrong place, so a very good set of mounts, properly installed will not point the right way. I'd assume that far before I'd assume the scope dials in adjustments, but is somehow tilted to the side internally.

(And this isn't just scopes. I have had to return or wrench on guns with irons that were mis-timed so headspaced fine, etc. but wouldn't hit as the front sight on the barrel was tilted off-axis. QA failures happen).

I would also not say I have "complete confidence" in any mounting unless it included boresighting the actual scope. That's the first mounting QA check to assure their work is good as it's all for naught if the whole system doesn't work.

 

[cdb1]

The issue I am having is, that I can’t get it to adjust the last say inch to the left so it will center punch the bullseye!

Judging from the above statement I don’t believe the issue is related to rings, bases or the receiver being drilled and tapped off-center.

A friend looked at it and just made matters worse he turned the dial the wrong way and it is now 4 inches to the right I know he was trying to help but dang it.

Judging from this info it doesn’t sound to me like a zero stop issue because the scope won’t go back to the original POI that was only an inch off.

In addition I bought a VX-3 1.75-6x32 five years ago. When I mounted it the windage turret wouldn’t move POI either right or left. And when twisted, stuff that looked like dandruff came out of the turret. Sent it to Leupold, it came back fixed. So I lean more to the idea of the windage turret being defective.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I put a new set of Leupold adjustable bases and rings on my rem 700. The rifle shot 12" left, ran out of adjustments, the scope was on the rifle zeroed perfectly with the weaver bases. Changed them back to the weavers and rezeroed fine. I found out later that the front base was tight and was twisting the front slightly. I left the weavers on it.

 

[entropy]

I have mounted over 10 scopes using various mounts and same scope can have way different point of aim and range of adjustment depending on the mount used.

My guess is it's the mount and you could shim it or try a different mount.

I've mounted a lot more scopes than that, and I 99% agree it's the mount. The other possibility is your zero stop is not secured, and adjusting that all day won't change anything then. (Though usually the screw falls out at some point.) If it is the mount, the obvious solution would be a Redfield-type mount. Be sure to mechanically zero the scope before shooting, and start with a large target at 25 or 50 yards. I use 30"x30" sheets of kraft paper, same stuff I use for shotgun patterning, and stick the 4" bulls on for aiming points. Then when the scope is close to dialed in, I switch to the Redfield-type targets, like in my avatar.

BTW, you don't have to shout.

A zero stop is a repeatable 'starting point' that you set once the W or E is on. The dial of the turret unscrews, and you put the '0' on lined up with the line on the turret base. It is used primarily by ground hog shooters and snipers, who regularly shoot at targets at varying long distances. Once it is set for, say 600 yards, one can shoot at 1000 until it is hitting, then note how much W and or E is required to hit at that distance, (E) in that wind (W). Instead of using "Kentucky Windage", you now have a repeatable W&E setting for that range and that wind.

 

[LoonWulf]

I dont think ive ever seen a zero stop on the windage turret?

If your hitting the end of travel, count your clicks BACK to the other side. that will tell you if your scopes got the correct amount of adjustment, it you come up short scope problem, correct its likely mount or receiver issues.

If your not hitting the end of travel and its just not adjusting, its a scope issue, send it back.

 

[Ks5shooter]

This^^^^^^^^^ rule out what you can before sending scope back.

 

[MEHavey]

Before doing anything else...

Stand in back of the rifle looking slightly down on the scope and out along the barrel.
*** Is the scope/tube actually physically aligned with the barrel ? ***
or is the scope looking slight left of where the barrel's pointing?

 

[daniel craig]

Make sure your scope is mounted inline with the barrel. Sometimes people crank things down too tight and you can actually bend the scope.

If you’ve got to it scope cranked all the way to one direction and it’s still not enough, (provided your scope isn’t broken) something is messed up with the mount.

While it does happen it’s not all that common, with a decent quality scope that you’ll ever need to adjust windage to the stopping point (unlike on the elevation), thus if your scope ain’t broken it’s the mounting of the aforementioned that’s messing you up.

 

[tlf65]

I had the same problem when changing scopes a few years ago, scope just would not adjust to center. I was using the existing rings so I switched back to the old scope and bullseye. So the new scope they sent me works great.

 

[jmorris]

Did you get leupold rings and base to go with their scope?

If so they are adjustable for windage. Loosen one side and tighten the other and it will move in the direction of the one you backed out.

 

[Hookeye]

Ive had two Leupolds that ran out of windage. My first one, purchased new in '78 or so. Sent it back, they replaced it, a
Vari x ii 3-9x AO

Another around '95. A new 4-12x w AO. They fixed that one. Something to do w the AO assembly.

Two bad out of two dozen. Both bought new, windage issue. Both AO.

It happens.

But yeah, check the rings and bases, and rifle itself. Usually the problem lies there
Seen that a bunch working in a shop

Then of course theres the install errors.
Thats another thread topic.

Have seen mismachined rings and bases.
One pair of Ruger rings bad, one Burris. One set of Weaver bases drilled off center.

Three. Out of hundreds.
Is rare IMHO, but happens.
Why i use a 1" bar to check before dropping in an aluminum tube of glass

 

[cdb1]

Many people do not like Leupold STD. rings and bases, in fact many really can’t stand them.

They are never my first choice but I have used them a couple of times strictly because of the coarse windage adjustment in the rear base. It enabled me to get a scope bore sighted and sighted in whereas the alternative was sending a firearm back, and the owner didn’t want to, he wanted to shoot.

There are other ways to do it easily now, the Burris system comes to mind first, but if a receiver is drilled and tapped off-center then it’s either back to the manufacturer or use a system like Leupold or Burris.

My first inclination is always send the rifle back if new or under warranty, which is what I did with one rifle. I did not on another rifle though. It’s a Remlin 336W and for the first couple of years it wore a Fullfield II 2-7x35. I decided to upgrade the glass and bought a VX-3 1.75-6x32. There wasn’t enough windage or height adjustment to sight it in. I called Leupold and the rep said that particular scope had pretty limited adjustment compared to most others. I looked at the specs and he was right. The issue then became sending the rifle back because really close inspection showed it was drilled and tapped at a left angle.

The rifle was exceptionally accurate for a lever gun. I was afraid sending it in to be fixed would have an adverse affect on accuracy. I didn’t try to figure out the elevation issue.

After mounting the VX-3 on another rifle to make sure it was working okay. I ordered a one piece Leupold STD base and rings, one piece base because I needed to shim for elevation. It worked out great, that was in 2015.

I only have one other rifle with Leupold STD. and that’s my 700 ADL .270. When setting it up many years ago that’s what my gunsmith said to use, it’s always worked fine.

 

[MEHavey]

Many people do not like Leupold STD. rings and bases, in fact many really can’t stand them

What's their problem with them?

 

[jmorris]

What's their problem with them?

If we ever hear back from the op, we might learn one reason but some others might be, that you can’t hang as much stuff off them as a weaver rail, they don’t look as cool and you can’t get them in QD mounts (at least not the windage adjustable ones).

There are some cases where they don’t allow proper scope placement either, as there is only one option where the rings can be, where with a weaver one can often move them further back or forward on the action.

 

[cdb1]

I also hear stories of them breaking, it’s never happened to me but I know it’s happened. Someone will come along with an example.

 

[rkittine]

I have seen a lot of factory rifles where the mounting holes are not really lined up correctly. I am a big fan of the Burris Signature Z rings with the inserts too. You can make up for a lot of misalignment on your mount, control your MOA level and keep ring marks off your scope while eliminating the need to lap the rings etc. I have them on all my rifles but two, which I am using Davidson Rings and Bases and they work fine on my 1,000 yard rifles and give me a way to change over to 300/600 or 800 yard shooting while keeping the cope in the middle range of its adjustment.

Bob

 

[horsemen61]

Been busy with work hoping to look it over tomorrow night!

 

[ksalmi72]

I had a similar issue and it turned out one of the the scope ring bases wasn't seated properly onto the receiver. We came to the conclusion it wasn't fully seated by establishing the rear base sat slightly taller according to our calipers. Odd considering the front and rear base are identical. As wierd as it sounds given the bottom of the bases are concave and the receiver is round, we loosened the base screws and settled them back on the receiver and tightened them. It was just fine after that. Kind of a freak thing I guess. Everyone wants to point fingers at the scope but there are multiple links in this particular chain that have to be correct, not just the scope.