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Started By
Message
rifle scopes holding zeros
Posted on 1/14/25 at 9:45 pm
Posted on 1/14/25 at 9:45 pm
this seems to be a recent issue for me. have 2 rifles, 1 in .300 win, and other in .17 hmr. that both ahve shot off (around 2"-3").
last time i took both to the range was ~ 10-15 years ago but was hitting sub 1" groups at 100yds.
i suppose it could be a factor with the wind (moreso the .17 than the .300) but my general question was, how often do you guys check your zeros, and how often do they remain what they were?
one is a bushnell and other is nikon scope.
last time i took both to the range was ~ 10-15 years ago but was hitting sub 1" groups at 100yds.
i suppose it could be a factor with the wind (moreso the .17 than the .300) but my general question was, how often do you guys check your zeros, and how often do they remain what they were?
one is a bushnell and other is nikon scope.
15
Posted on 1/14/25 at 9:47 pm to Warwick
I shoot mine prior to gun season each year and if on the off chance the scope gets bumped or something along the way I’ll shoot it before taking it out again. I also shoot paper with it from time to time which isn’t exactly checking for zero but you obviously know if it’s off doing so
Posted on 1/14/25 at 9:48 pm to Warwick
You haven’t shot them in 10 years?
Have they gotten dropped or banged up?
Is your zero off left to right or elevation?
Same ammo as you used 10 years ago? Same grain bullet?
Have they gotten dropped or banged up?
Is your zero off left to right or elevation?
Same ammo as you used 10 years ago? Same grain bullet?
Posted on 1/14/25 at 10:00 pm to Warwick
quote:
how often do you guys check your zeros,
Before the season and any time I drop them.
quote:
how often do they remain what they were?
Depends. Not all scopes are created equal in this regard. If you've been hunting with them for 10-15 years without checking them I'm surprised they were only off that much.
Posted on 1/14/25 at 10:21 pm to Warwick
there are many variables...
-temperature can impact zero (if you zero in winter and shoot with same "zero" during the summer there can/will be a shift)
-ammo (different lot #'s, bullet weight/type, etc.)
-the shooter, especially if you do not shoot regularly is almost always the culprit.. (body position/cheek weld, etc., etc.maybe slightly different than when the last "zero" was last established) will be the most likely cause of a zero "shift"..as its more likely the shooter than a true mechanical shift.
dont overthink it, go shoot and adjust accordingly
-temperature can impact zero (if you zero in winter and shoot with same "zero" during the summer there can/will be a shift)
-ammo (different lot #'s, bullet weight/type, etc.)
-the shooter, especially if you do not shoot regularly is almost always the culprit.. (body position/cheek weld, etc., etc.maybe slightly different than when the last "zero" was last established) will be the most likely cause of a zero "shift"..as its more likely the shooter than a true mechanical shift.
dont overthink it, go shoot and adjust accordingly
This post was edited on 1/14/25 at 10:23 pm
Posted on 1/14/25 at 10:32 pm to Warwick
quote:
one is a bushnell and other is nikon scope.
There's your problem
Posted on 1/15/25 at 5:26 am to Strannix
Posted on 1/15/25 at 7:08 am to Warwick
Is your groups 2-3” or are you off being dead on that much?
I check my rifles before the season and more often than not, sometime during the season. But I hunt a lot.
I check my rifles before the season and more often than not, sometime during the season. But I hunt a lot.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 7:20 am to Warwick
I never take mine to the range after it’s on. Haven’t shot at a range in 5plus years since I put my new scope on. Until I miss a does face I don’t plan to change anything. Unless I would drop it off course.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 7:33 am to Warwick
How are you mounting them? I love the scope drop testing and nightforces and trijicons but my personal experience has been scope problems seem to go away with quality rings torqued and loctited to spec, even with cheap scopes.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 7:55 am to Warwick
If both rifles didn’t group well, it’s likely the shooter. Have a friend, who’s a good shot, shoot them and see how he does.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 8:17 am to bigbuckdj
quote:
scope problems seem to go away with quality rings torqued and loctited to spec
This. If you've dropped several hundred on a rifle and several more hundred on a scope (and for some of you several hundred on Sitka gear), buy a damn $50 Wheeler kit.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 8:48 am to Warwick
Best advice I can give you is to get a quality hard case for storage and travel.
My zero holds pretty true for years.
Minor adjustments every year but I have a Leupold with nice rings.
My zero holds pretty true for years.
Minor adjustments every year but I have a Leupold with nice rings.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 9:00 am to The Levee
Posted on 1/15/25 at 9:26 am to The Levee
quote:
Minor adjustments every year but I have a Leupold with nice rings.
Get a trijicon in some good rings and get rid of the adjustments all together.
It sounds ridiculous, but since I've put an SWFA on my main rifle I haven't had to touch the zero. Several seasons, several drops, a 2 week backpack hunt, even took it off and put it back on once. Have not touched the zero. Still DEAD on. Not close to on, EXACTLY dead on.
I don't recommend an SWFA to anyone because they have huge obnoxious turrets and if you aren't going to dial they are a pure liability, i got a good deal on mine. The point is a truly reliable scope does not ever require tweaking and really doesn't even require checking. Its life changing.
So many people are living with wandering zeros and don't even know it. Doesn't really even matter for most people in louisiana. Just know that you don't have to live with it if you don't want to. Get a trijicon accupoint, and you can drop your rifle out the stand straight on the scope and know you can still take a 200 yard shot immediately after without worry, it will still be zeroed.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 9:38 am to 257WBY
Posted on 1/15/25 at 9:52 am to 257WBY
quote:
A post from 24hourcampfire
This is great! Thanks!
Posted on 1/15/25 at 9:54 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
SWFA
What is this?
Posted on 1/15/25 at 10:01 am to The Levee
Rifle scope
Seems like that mostly come in fixed power and are considered high quality at a good price.
Seems like that mostly come in fixed power and are considered high quality at a good price.
Posted on 1/15/25 at 10:04 am to 257WBY
Since my rifle has held zero and shot consistently prior, I recheck zero by aligning the bore and crosshairs on an object at 100yds, etc. no ammo wasted.
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