DIY zero stop for SWFA 5-20?

[Thebigbaby]

Anyone know or have a link to provide guidance? Can’t find anything so far in the interwebs.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

I haven't tried this yet, but plan to attempt using epoxy as a zero stop on my SWFAs. Lots of release agent on the turret cap and degrease the turret itself then apply a small bead where I want the turret to stop. Good idea or impending disaster? We'll see when I get around to trying it.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I say disaster. Why go through all those mental gymnastics when there’s a guy on eBay that sells a nylon shim kit for $20?

 

[Thebigbaby]

I say disaster. Why go through all those mental gymnastics when there’s a guy on eBay that sells a nylon shim kit for $20?

Can u post the link please? I didn’t have any luck finding a 5-20 kit.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Can u post the link please? I didn’t have any luck finding a 5-20 kit.

Well I opened my mouth and can’t find his eBay page. I did find his PayPal info. You can send payment with the note just like I did and they’ll show up a few days later.

 

[Thebigbaby]

Well I opened my mouth and can’t find his eBay page. I did find his PayPal info. You can send payment with the note just like I did and they’ll show up a few days later.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I wonder when he quit making them?

 

[RyanT26]

You might check with @pods8 (Rugged Stitching) .

Thread 'SWFA zero stop shims'

May 16, 2025

The sale posting tends to get buried and I'd like to solicit feedback from those who have received their sets already but don't want to keep bumping that. Sounds like some folks are just doing trial and error with the set, which is fine it provides alot of height adjustment potential. But I'm genuinely curious and wanting to confirm the labeled measurements are lining up fairly close on others scopes.

Classified link for shims

For those that have received their sets and tried to match up the labeled shim stack height versus what they measured was needed on their scopes (mils from...

• pods8 (Rugged Stitching)
• Replies: 31
• Forum: Optics

 

[Thebigbaby]

You might check with @pods8 (Rugged Stitching) .

Thread 'SWFA zero stop shims'

May 16, 2025

The sale posting tends to get buried and I'd like to solicit feedback from those who have received their sets already but don't want to keep bumping that. Sounds like some folks are just doing trial and error with the set, which is fine it provides alot of height adjustment potential. But I'm genuinely curious and wanting to confirm the labeled measurements are lining up fairly close on others scopes.

Classified link for shims

For those that have received their sets and tried to match up the labeled shim stack height versus what they measured was needed on their scopes (mils from...

• pods8 (Rugged Stitching)
• Replies: 31
• Forum: Optics

Negative ghost rider.

 

[Johnwell]

Well how much tooling do you have access to?

I was planning on making one at some point on the lathe, then surface grinding or milling till it was exactly .5 mil below zero, but I imagine most people don’t have access to either of those.

Assuming you have no tooling, I’d go with bearing shims. I measured the inside of my turret, it’s 30mm so you could get a couple packs of shims from McMaster Carr and be in business. Not sure how much clearance the turret has when it’s run down, but the part numbers are 98089A234, 98089A274, 98089A315, 98089A358, 98089A402, 98089A144, and 98089A467 for 22x30 shims. They range in thickness from 0.1mm to 2mm, so I’m sure you’d only have to get like two thicknesses to make it work. Maybe 1mm and .1mm? That’d give you all possible thicknesses from .1-27.5mm (they come in packs of 25).

I checked the fit with a 0.5mm one we had in hand at work; you may have to sand the outside just a hair or it might be tight in the turret.

 

[Shortschaf]

Thanks @Johnwell's that is a great idea. I didn't think of bearing shims that small. Far better sounding than sanding down nylon washers to fit

Only thing Ill add to the conversation is that mcmaster parts and shipping can be ludicrous expensive, so searching Amazon for a bearing shim set might be cheaper

 

[Johnwell]

Thanks @Johnwell's that is a great idea. I didn't think of bearing shims that small. Far better sounding than sanding down nylon washers to fit

Only thing Ill add to the conversation is that mcmaster parts and shipping can be ludicrous expensive, so searching Amazon for a bearing shim set might be cheaper

Good call on Amazon or somewhere else to save money. Wasn’t thinking about that. You could also get cheaper shims even on McMaster if you are okay with carbon steel.

I was thinking too, if you were okay with the shims having some clearance in the turrets to move around; you could go with 1-1/8” or 28mm OD shims, then you wouldn’t have to sand anything. Those sizes come in a few other materials too; brass, PFTE, aluminum, etc.

 

[jml49]

I have a Sightron S-Tac and on the Long Range Hunting forum there is a post of drilling and tapping a 6-32 hole for a set screw. Idid it on my scope and it works good, not sure if it would work on your scope.

 

[Thebigbaby]

I have a Sightron S-Tac and on the Long Range Hunting forum there is a post of drilling and tapping a 6-32 hole for a set screw. Idid it on my scope and it works good, not sure if it would work on your scope.

Can you provide the link please?

 

[jml49]

I am a computer idiot, but its on Len Backus' Long Range Hunting forum, the post is " easy at home zero stop for Sightron S-Tac and SIII and not the pvc ring " and its posted by codyadams, hope that helps

 

[BBob]

I am a computer idiot, but its on Len Backus' Long Range Hunting forum, the post is " easy at home zero stop for Sightron S-Tac and SIII and not the pvc ring " and its posted by codyadams, hope that helps

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/easy-at-home-zero-stop-for-sightron-s-tac-and-siii-and-not-the-pvc-ring.301867/

 

[jml49]

Thank you, if it works for you flip your turret upside down and drill your pilot hole with the drill bit just touching the inside sidewall of the turret then when you run tap in from top the tap will just touch thin side walls.

 

[Thebigbaby]

@jml49 I like it, thank you!