A little advice--please!

[timl]

Went out to shoot my new TC encore on Sat. It has a leup. 3.5-10, mark 4 rings, and a cheap base I picked up at bass pro. I'm about 8" low at 100yds, and my scope is out of vertical adjustment! I know I can get burris rings with the offset inserts, but I really like the mark 4 rings. Could the base be the problem? Any thoughts, advice, or any other info will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Coyboy]

I would suspect the base. You could elliminate the scope and rings by mounting on a gun with a quality base, and see if all is well.

 

[Buffalobob]

If it is a one peice base then you can shim under the front of the base to raise it up. As much as you will need to raise it I would guess you will run out of thread on the front base screws and need to get longer ones. If you are on good terms with a gunshop they will let you rake through the jar of screws for what you need. They will get so much fun out of watching you try to find the right screw with the right thread that they probably won't even charge you (and just how would I know that /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif).

One other thing to do is to remove the base and put it one backward if possible and see if the scope goes the other way. This will tell you it if is the gun or the base that is goofy.

 

[abinok]

Gotta shim the rear of the base to raise the poi /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Buffalobob]

U R right.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Chugiakbilly]

Gotta shim the rear of the base to raise the poi /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Before shimming try adjusting your vertical elevation turret first. Being that low it sounds like you have turned it the wrong way. To see, 1: bed your rifle in a notched cardboard box with the cross-hairs centered on a bulls-eye 25 to 50 feet away. 2: with-out moving the rifle turn your elevation screw and see if the horizontal 'hair moves down on the target. If so, position the 'hair on the center of the bulls-eye. 3: Now move the target into a safe line of fire and fire 3 shots from 25 feet aiming at the center of the bulls-eye. Then place the rifle back into the notched box and position the cross-hairs on the center of the bulls-eye, now with-out moving the rifle turn your cross-hair turrets until they are centered on the bullet holes. If this solves your problem your rifle will be on paper at 100 yards and your scope shouldn't need much adjustment to bring it to dead-center on target. If this fails, have a 'smith check your rifle to be sure you have the correct base. Several actions require 2 piece bases due to height problems. Not all can use a 1 piece base which also makes it easier to shim if needed. Be sure to mount the scope by using a 1" or 30mm range rod to insure the base saddles are aligned which will prevent twisting or bending your scope tube. Most 'smiths will also lap your rings to assure trueness also. Hope this works out for you. Keep your powder dry.gun)

 

[BearDog]

I had a similar incident the first time I tried mounting a scope. I was using a 2 piece Leupold STD system, and whatever I did the first time, royally F'd it up. Before going through the effort of shimming, reset your scope (turn it all the way in one direction, count the clicks to the opposing extreme, and half that going back) and remount your scope. Make sure all the screws on rings have equal tension, and the gaps are equal all the way around. Then re-bore sight it. I had a sneaking suspicion that the first time I mounted my scope I either did a poor job mounting the rings, or a horrid job bore sighting. Then take her to the range and go through your normal sighting in progression.

If you try remounting the scope and bore sighting it again, and your'e still hitting 8" low at 100, I would just upgrade your base. I think it would be worth it to upgrade the base, especially since you've already dropped some cheese on the Leupold set up. I personally don't like to McGyver anything on my gun. If it doesnt work, it goes back to the store.