Scope level - in the field

[mustelid_master]

At what distance does using the level make a difference? I shot the rokslide 100 yard hunting rifle test recently at 100yds, and found myself using precious time looking at my rifle's level. At what distance does looking at the level rather than "eyeballing" it begin to matter?

 

[wind gypsy]

At what distance does using the level make a difference? I shot the rokslide 100 yard hunting rifle test recently at 100yds, and found myself using precious time looking at my rifle's level. At what distance does looking at the level rather than "eyeballing" it begin to matter?

Question is too broad to answer without knowing how much the rifle would be canted, distance, and size of target. Definitely dont need to be looking at bubbles at 100 yards though since POA should match POI if zeroed there.

Frank Galli insists people are capable of knowing when a reticle is plumb anyway. That aint the case for me at all. So maybe some folks have a better level in their brain than others..

This table does a better job of showing possible error than I can answer.

 

[mustelid_master]

Question is too broad to answer without knowing how much the rifle would be canted, distance, and size of target. Definitely dont need to be looking at bubbles at 100 yards though since POA should match POI if zeroed there.

Frank Galli insists people are capable of knowing when a reticle is plumb anyway. That aint the case for me at all. So maybe some folks have a better level in their brain than others..

This table does a better job of showing possible error than I can answer.

That answers the question, I know I can't tell whether or not the rifle and scope are level.

 

[Nine Banger]

Frank Galli insists people are capable of knowing when a reticle is plumb anyway. That aint the case for me at all. So maybe some folks have a better level in their brain than others..

Not the case for me either...I'm dubious at the claim.

It seems like "level" and "plumb" can also be an illusion at times based on perspective and viewing position.

Isn't this the purpose of an adjustable butt pad? It seems like an incomplete thought to settle in on your own cant and being satisfied...seems like the further you get out the more this decision will haunt you.

 

[wind gypsy]

Not the case for me either...I'm dubious at the claim.

It seems like "level" and "plumb" can also be an illusion at times based on perspective and viewing position.

Yeah, i question what my level is telling me on a flat range half the time. Get me in broken terrain and there is no way in hell i know what plumb is.

 

[mustelid_master]

You really realize how bad you are when you're shooting in trees. I have a tendency to plumb the reticle with the trees. Lots of crooked trees out there...

 

[Nine Banger]

You really realize how bad you are when you're shooting in trees. I have a tendency to plumb the reticle with the trees. Lots of crooked trees out there...

Yeah...or taking for granted a door jamb is level when you're setting up a rifle indoors...I used to do that...works out to 2-300 yards.

Now I set up with levels and make pencil marks and do a tall target test. I don't level again if an adjustment is needed. I go off the pencil mark as an index for turning the scope a tiny amount for centering in shots at 840 yards which is the farthest I can shoot here.

 

[Marbles]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I ordered a MKM machining bubble this morning! Looks like a good setup, I really like the looks of the flatline ops and might buy one for my other rifle and compare the two.

I really like the MKMs, have them on all my scopes.

for torque settings are we just using whatever we torqued the scope rings too for bubble level on the tube?

The MKM has 10 in.lbs printed on it, screw is a lot smaller than those in the scope rings I have too.

This relies on your reticle being square to your action.

The other thing I like about a level on the scope is remounting or adjusting the scope in the rings becomes very easy. Level the action, then just use the already trued level on the scope as the reference when tightening the rings.

Yeah, i question what my level is telling me on a flat range half the time. Get me in broken terrain and there is no way in hell i know what plumb is.

I have sworn my level got knocked out of true shooting in the mountains, only to go home and check it and find it is still true to the reticle.