How close is too close? (Scope mounting question)

[InGobwetrust]

My new scope is mounted and ready to go but I’m a little concerned about how close it is to the barrel. There is daylight between them but just barely! Having seen slo-mo videos of scopes and rifles flexing under recoil I don’t know if damage to either is a valid concern?

 

[Rob5589]

Too close for me.

 

[JohnnyB]

Wow, that is close! Too much so for my taste.

 

[JoeDirt]

Links to the videos? Scopes are pretty ridged and so is the camber of your barrel. I would shoot it.

You might move your scope forwards a 1/4" and that should leave you with enough room.

 

[Curmudgeon]

If you wanted to add flip-up lens covers at some point, clearance could be an issue.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Go to the next higher ring, possibly 2 sizes higher.

 

[jimh406]

Probably 1/4 inch to leave room for scope covers.

 

[keystone112]

I think it’s too close.

Does the bolt hit the scope when you cycle it?

 

[MallardSX2]

Too close for me. I would raise it on up.

 

[sndmn11]

If that were clearance on flip up caps I'd be ok with it. Otherwise, I'd shoot it and leave it if nothing weird happened.

 

[KenLee]

If a folded dollar slides under, I'm good with it.
I'd be tickled to death with that mounting height.

 

[InGobwetrust]

If that were clearance on flip up caps I'd be ok with it. Otherwise, I'd shoot it and leave it if nothing weird happened.

No, the bolt clears just fine.

 

[keystone112]

If the bolt clears, and your hand doesn't drag on the scope when you cycle it, you may be fine.

The closest one I ever had I could only fit a business card between the objective bell and the barrel. I ended up switching the mount as I wasn't happy with the forward to rearward positioning.

More importantly, when I ejected a spent piece of brass, it was banging off of the windage turret cap. That was the deal breaker.

 

[Wrench]

More important question is...

How's your cheek weld?

 

[InGobwetrust]

More important question is...

How's your cheek weld?

The cheek weld is perfect. I checked it at 3X and 12 X to be sure.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

That's too close, you will damage your optic. Next size higher will be fine.

 

[Wrench]

The cheek weld is perfect. I checked it at 3X and 12 X to be sure.

That's the most important part for me. Perhaps you can slide it forward a fuzz and still maintain your eyebox. If not, I'd run it. Even if you have to take a quadrant out of a flip cap to install it.....we try to get perfect cheek weld and eyebox and it looks like you're there.

 

[Wrench]

There's truth in the optic flexing under recoil, but it is not going to move 20 thousandths.

 

[Only Shooters]

I’d definitely say that is too close. Also I would ask why you are inclined to run such a low mount?

 

[KenLee]

I’d definitely say that is too close. Also I would ask why you are inclined to run such a low mount?

"Low as you can get it" has always been the goal for me on hunting rifles without monte carlo stocks. Better cheek weld and don't have to hunt the reticle for fast shots on moving game.