Long range rifle takes a beating

[jdmecomber]

I wanted to touch base and see if anyone has experienced this. My rifle Mcmillian Stock, NF Steel Base, S&B PM2 Rifle Scope. This rifle took a plane flight and rode about 500 miles on rough rocky Alaskan Mtn trails. We would ride to glassing points and spend hours at each point. The rifle rode on the front of the quad mostly inside an eberlestock backpack with the rifle above the pack. Constantly moving around and maybe touching occasionally the front of the quad rack. I know one morning it was hitting pretty good I didn't notice the gun had shifted.

When I got home, I checked my zero. It was 1 moa low. What are some thoughts on this?

 

[gillettehunter]

It happens. You'll often see a place to check your zero when you travel to a destination to hunt. I ALWAYS take the time to verify zero when I travel. The goons handling luggage, especially for overseas travel, are not kind. Beating a rifle/scope around can change your zero so its a good practice to check it before you hunt.
Bruce

 

[Pdvdh]

I expect my rifles' POIs to change after receiving any solid thumps, bumps, jars, and impacts. I shoot to test and confirm POI as soon as possible after the rifle has been thumped. If it held POI, I smile. If it didn't, I re-zero and move on.

And I don't have any cheesy scope mounting equipment...

 

[aaronoto]

What kind of rings are you running?

 

[BWB]

Shifty Bender

 

[jdmecomber]

What kind of rings are you running?

I have heavy duty Barrett Rings No Gap

 

[jdmecomber]

It kind of upsets me. If you're a long range hunter, and the hunt I was on, I have to check it every morning !!!!

I hope there was just some weird settling issue and not a scope/mount/torque issue

 

[Pdvdh]

I've had scope bumps change POIs with my backpacking rifles, which have BAT HR receivers with integral scope rails. Seekins scope rings. Hard to get more robust than that. I go way out of my way to prevent harsh bumps and jars to my rifles. Otherwise, it's back to checking the rifle zero again.

 

[WildRose]

I wanted to touch base and see if anyone has experienced this. My rifle Mcmillian Stock, NF Steel Base, S&B PM2 Rifle Scope. This rifle took a plane flight and rode about 500 miles on rough rocky Alaskan Mtn trails. We would ride to glassing points and spend hours at each point. The rifle rode on the front of the quad mostly inside an eberlestock backpack with the rifle above the pack. Constantly moving around and maybe touching occasionally the front of the quad rack. I know one morning it was hitting pretty good I didn't notice the gun had shifted.

When I got home, I checked my zero. It was 1 moa low. What are some thoughts on this?

Completely understandable after a trip like that. That's why you should always check your zero when you arrive at camp.

 

[WildRose]

It kind of upsets me. If you're a long range hunter, and the hunt I was on, I have to check it every morning !!!!

I hope there was just some weird settling issue and not a scope/mount/torque issue

If you're going to abuse it, you're going to have to.

ATV racks are really hell on rifles because of both the vibration and impact.

 

[JJMoody]

Great info here. I for one wouldn't have thought a great quality setup would shift like that. I get you want to check zero afterwards, solid advice. I wonder how many guys riding around on a quad think about the vibrations etc having that much affect on a setup.

 

[WildRose]

Great info here. I for one wouldn't have thought a great quality setup would shift like that. I get you want to check zero afterwards, solid advice. I wonder how many guys riding around on a quad think about the vibrations etc having that much affect on a setup.

A well padded soft case can save you a whole lot of problems.

 

[jdmecomber]

A well padded soft case can save you a whole lot of problems.

I think if I ever do that again, I will just strap the pelican case on the quad.

 

[Hatrick]

I wanted to touch base and see if anyone has experienced this. My rifle Mcmillian Stock, NF Steel Base, S&B PM2 Rifle Scope. This rifle took a plane flight and rode about 500 miles on rough rocky Alaskan Mtn trails. We would ride to glassing points and spend hours at each point. The rifle rode on the front of the quad mostly inside an eberlestock backpack with the rifle above the pack. Constantly moving around and maybe touching occasionally the front of the quad rack. I know one morning it was hitting pretty good I didn't notice the gun had shifted.

When I got home, I checked my zero. It was 1 moa low. What are some thoughts on this?

JD, When ever I come back from a trip I always go to the range and check 0 before I clean it and put it away. Sometimes it is not right. I don't remember bumping it. With my luck I am usually glad we both made it home in one piece.