rifle scope adjustment
- Thread starter CNJP
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Sounds like you have it mounted sideways. I did this one time and had the same results. It was really frustrating until I figured out what happened.
airedaleman
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Sounds like there's "cross talk" in the scope's adjustments, that is any movement in a given direction (left or right) causes some displacement in the opposite ( up or down) direction and vice versa. Not uncommon in early scopes and inexpensive latter day scopes, too. What are you working with?
What type of scope? I've seen some that were marked UP and RIGHT on both adjustment dials so they can use the same dials on both windage and elevation knobs. (Burris) It is also possible the wrong dials were placed on the scope during assembley. Not really a problem as long as you know about it.
Of course you probably have your scope mounted 90 degrees off. Which isn't really a problem either unless you have long range dots on the reticle. Some folks mount that way on purpose to give more clearance over the loading/ejection port on right handed rifles.
Of course you probably have your scope mounted 90 degrees off. Which isn't really a problem either unless you have long range dots on the reticle. Some folks mount that way on purpose to give more clearance over the loading/ejection port on right handed rifles.
CNJP:
Usually, a scope mounts with one turret on top, and one turret on the right side. The turret on top, usually has two arrows on the indicator disk, and the letters "U" and "D" (Up / Down). The side turret, usually has two arrows on the indicator disk, and usually has the letters "L" and "R" (Left / Right). Ergo, if you are adjusting the top turret to the direction "L", you probably mounted it in error. Loosen the rings, and rotate the scope clockwise 90 degrees. Retighten the rings and zero it.
A photo would help.
Geno
Usually, a scope mounts with one turret on top, and one turret on the right side. The turret on top, usually has two arrows on the indicator disk, and the letters "U" and "D" (Up / Down). The side turret, usually has two arrows on the indicator disk, and usually has the letters "L" and "R" (Left / Right). Ergo, if you are adjusting the top turret to the direction "L", you probably mounted it in error. Loosen the rings, and rotate the scope clockwise 90 degrees. Retighten the rings and zero it.
A photo would help.
Geno
gamestalker
member
I mounted one out 90 degree's years ago, it drove me nuts for about 15 minutes, which was when I realized what I had done.
GS
GS
Scopes are not perfect. Very few of them adjust perfectly in my experience. It takes an expensive scope to get totally separate control over windage and elevation. I have $450 scopes that won't do it and they are a highly respected brand (Weaver). They are still excellent scopes but when I adjust the windage I get movement in the elevation too. It's not a lot of movement but it's there.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
That right there is just pretty darn odd in my experience over 50 years of both cheap & expensive scope use.
Just about any of them anymore should pass a simple 'Box Test' of adjusting them 1" right, then 1" down, then 1" left, then 1" Up again.
When you get done shooting groups after each adjustment?
You should have four groups, and the bullet holes in the last one should be on top of the first one.
And you should be right back where you started.
rc
Just about any of them anymore should pass a simple 'Box Test' of adjusting them 1" right, then 1" down, then 1" left, then 1" Up again.
When you get done shooting groups after each adjustment?
You should have four groups, and the bullet holes in the last one should be on top of the first one.
And you should be right back where you started.
rc
Field Tester
Member
Nope. I'm going to go with everyone else and say the most probable situation is that the OP mounted the scope incorrectly.
Thanks for your reply. My scope is a 10+ year old Bushnell made in Korea. I've never had any trouble with adjusting the POA before. It is mounted correctly on the rifle meaning the windage dial is on the side and the elevation dial is on the top.
My thinking is that it is broken unless there is some procedure to get the adjustment dials back to working independently.
CNJP
My thinking is that it is broken unless there is some procedure to get the adjustment dials back to working independently.
CNJP
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I have had a few old scopes that acted like that when adjusting them.
The problem is dried out lube on the reticule mounting system.
The cure is to make an adjustment.
Then bang the rifle butt on the ground a couple of times (like recoil would do) to settle everything in place.
Once you get past sighting them in like that, they always continued to hold zero just fine.
rc
The problem is dried out lube on the reticule mounting system.
The cure is to make an adjustment.
Then bang the rifle butt on the ground a couple of times (like recoil would do) to settle everything in place.
Once you get past sighting them in like that, they always continued to hold zero just fine.
rc
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