Leveling the Reticle: How to Question

FISMA

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For the hunters out there, how do you level your reticle in the vice only, while shouldered only, or a combination of the two.

For hunting, I have always shouldered the rifle, and then leveled a bit from there. Maybe a degree or two, definitely not more than 5 degrees.

I get that the scope needs to be over the barrel and that being a bit off is fine close up but bad far off. There's a nice visualization here.

I'm just wondering what the hunters have to say. I can already imagine what the long range shooters are saying.:rolleyes:

Anyone have a link that shows poi vs cant at 100, 300, and so on?

Lullymore24

FISMA wrote: »

For the hunters out there, how do you level your reticle?

I could understand how the long distance shooters and bench rest lads would level in a vice. It makes sense to level that way if you are going to shoot that way.

But how about those of us that shoot from the shoulder off of sticks, bipod, tripod, or hand?

For hunting, I have always shouldered the rifle, and then leveled from there.

Rational being to try and keep the shouldering position as natural as possible. With that said, I have put a lot of time, effort, and consideration in to the shouldering of firearms.

I noticed that many of the rifles I leveled in the vice, when shouldered, were no longer leveled. Considerably off.

It made sense to level close to my shooting position, as opposed to trying to adapt my shooting position to the perfect level.

Have I overlooked something? Is my assumption correct?

Again, keep in mind that this is for hunting applications, let's say less than 400ya. I bet I would have problems at long ranges 1000ya +, but inside of 3 or 400?

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cookimonster

Don't know about others but anything I've read or done with setting up scopes on my rifles has always been done from a level plain. With the latest addition I used a work mate, and sand bags to achive a level postion for the rifle. I use a spirt level to check the rifle and then align the vertical cross hair on a plum line hanging at a distance. I also have plumbed lines marked on a garden wall.
By the way I check if the cross hairs are centered by rotating the scope on the plumb line.
IMO if you level your optics from your shoulder you will introduce some cant that will effect POI.
The only thing I set up for my body shape is eye relief and focus which I tend to do for prone position.

clivej

Here's one I made

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70446850&postcount=76


Also this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f82DOPW5DJw

There was another method I have seen where a small level is clamped to the rifle barrel and leveled up, then another level is put across the top scope turret. This way you have both levels in view at the same time so no errors.

garv123

If you level it using your eye by throwing it up to your shoulder and then zero it off the bipod or vice the vertical cross hairs wont be perfectly level and when you zero say you are bang on centre for windage but 2" high. Them 8 clicks down will make the windage be off slightly for your next shot.

Cass

A hunting rifle really should be set up the same as a target rifle. Now if you are not a target shooter does not make a difference. Perfectly leveled scopes are essential for accurate shooting.

Garv covered it well by saying it's about getting the best out of your scope/rifle by doing it right as the smallest discrepancy at the scope/rifle dcan cause a big miss at longer distances.

FISMA wrote: »

Anyone have a link that shows poi vs cant at 100, 300, and so on?

A good read on accurateshooter.com. It's target orientated, but the effects are the same whether shooting at paper or game.

dogcityroller

Ezridax wrote: »

A hunting rifle really should be set up the same as a target rifle. Now if you are not a target shooter does not make a difference. Perfectly leveled scopes are essential for accurate shooting.

Garv covered it well by saying it's about getting the best out of your scope/rifle by doing it right as the smallest discrepancy at the scope/rifle dcan cause a big miss at longer distances.

FISMA wrote: »

Anyone have a link that shows poi vs cant at 100, 300, and so on?

A good read on accurateshooter.com. It's target orientated, but the effects are the same whether shooting at paper or game.

Plus 1 on this , it doesn't matter if you shot off the shoulder or any other position your scope has to either levelled to the action or barrel to eliminate " cant" . You ll never notice it at close range but go out to say 600 yards and you will really see it come into play.