Help!! First long range rifle. Issue with Vortex PST vs EGR rings and base

[WAC M TRAC M]

I had Savage custome build me a 7mag model 10.
Then I chose a Vortex Viper PST 6x24 50mm
I picked Evolution Gun Works 20moa tactical HD base
And their tactical HD rings

I finally get it all together and mount the scope myself . Everything looked great. I get to the range and my first shot is 4 ft high. I crank it on down and it turns out my 200yard zero is the very lowest my turret will go. I was happy with that cause it meant I would have maximum MOA for distance shooting.
Cranked all the way down the viper PST doesn't work properly. I can't see the whole circle in the scope. You get a weird reflection in the top of the scope and on low power its really bad.
I sent the scope back to Vortex and they sent it back and said nothing is wrong with it....grrr that makes me angry cause what's the point of having a 20 MOA base then.


Question is: do I need to go lower? That's my guess. The scope doesn't sit real high. I only have maybe 1/8 of an inch and my bolt will hit my scope I think. There is maybe a quarter inch clearance from the front objective of the scope to the bull barrel.

What should I do? Do y'all think my scope is bad?
I'll post pics if that will help.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I think it's the rail or at least start with that. EGW has had issues with their rails in the past (so I've been told). EGW supplies all of the rails and brakes to Savage BTW. I'm running the same setup on a 11-111 LRH with no issues.

Pull the rail and mike the back end (at the end) and the front end (at the end). at 20 MOA there should be an appreciable 0.015-0.020 difference between the rear and front. Per chance are the rings canted as well? I'm not familiar with EGW rings, I use Warne. You need to check the rail to chamber mounting screws anyway. Mine came with 2 screws tight and 2 loose and no threadlocker at all. Took the rail off, cleaned the mating surfaces and reinstalled using threadlocker and a torque wrench BTW.

You want the objective to ride as close to the barrel as possible. My objective is less than 1/8" above the barrel and the ocular to bolt handle is close but not uncomfortably close.

 

[geargrinder]

Are you turning the turrets the right way? Should be clockwise, like you are tightening the turrets into the scopel.

Start with the most simple fixes first.

 

[bruce_ventura]

After you check the base, move on to the barrel. On high volume production rifles the barrel can be mounted on the receiver crooked. You could easily have 10-12 MOA of alignment error on top of the 20 MOA in the base.

With the base removed, place a 24" steel ruler across the side of the receiver and measure the gap between the end of the ruler and the barrel at about 18" from the receiver. Then repeat with ruler on the opposite side and on the top. If the three measurements are not the same value, the barrel was installed in the receiver crooked.

If the barrel is pointed up, switch to a zero or 10 MOA base.

 

[bassin93]

wac.. had prettymuch the same results with the one i had, even at one full rev from either end the scope picture was not right. i took mine back and traded it on a mark 4.
its nothing you are doing wrong

 

[SidecarFlip]

wac.. had prettymuch the same results with the one i had, even at one full rev from either end the scope picture was not right. i took mine back and traded it on a mark 4.
its nothing you are doing wrong

However, toi err on the side of probability, check all the components first. EGW has been noted to be less than stellar in the past.

Never thought about barrel to receiver alignment. Not something I'd consider but worth considering,

 

[WAC M TRAC M]

Yes I turned them the right way. Going to measure my base and make sure it's on right.

 

[bigngreen]

Hit up the search box in the upper right hand corner, I think I recall someone else having this issue and there was some along the lines of the PST being bottomed out at that angle that it does not like.

 

[rinodods]

I had the same issue with the PST. When you get near the end of travel you won't be able to get a full view. That is by Vortex's own admission as designed. There is nothing to stop internal travel from going so far that the tube actually blocks part of the view. Doesn't seem to hurt anything but sure makes you think something is very wrong.

 

[WAC M TRAC M]

I think the guys at Vortex did something to my scope cause I checked everything over and re mounted the scope. I bore sighted it and I have a whole revolution on the elevation knob before it bottems out. Going to the ranch right now to shoot. We'll see.

If this works I'm still not impressed with the scope it still doesnt work right on low power. I think I could get a shot off but thats not what I payed a grand for. I think it could cost me a shot in a low light situation.

 

[WAC M TRAC M]

Ok it still shot high so I'm going to need to change something. I'm going to go with new rings. I have medium height on there now. Guess I'll go with low rings.

Question: if I want my zero higher, do I need to move the scope lower? My guess is the lower the scope the higher the zero will get.

 

[bruce_ventura]

Lowering the scope will only help if the bases you have are different heights. Try reversing them (front with back). If that doesn't help, re-read this thread. Everything else you need to do has already been posted.

 

[WAC M TRAC M]

Problem solved!!

Thanks Bruce you saved me lots of time and money. Kept my rings and went with a regular base (no moa) and the gun zeros with 46 moa to spare yet I can still get a full circle on low power.

The gun is new so I spent a fortune on ammo and tried 6 brands. Rem Scirooco, Nosler Accubond, Hornady GMX, Berger VLD, Barnes TSX, Nosler Partition.

The Accubonds cut a tiny 1/2 in. hole at 200 yards. So my first elk will hopefullybe taken with a 160gr Accubond. gun)

 

[bruce_ventura]

I have a Savage 25 that has the barrel canted to the left. Even still it shoots small groups. Go figure.

Glad it worked out for ya.

Keep your optics clean. Good luck hunting. Send pictures.