Scope Mounting SNAFU

[Saluki91]

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer.

I recently tried to mount a new scope on my Kleingunther K15, but quickly found myself outside of my comfort zone.

The rifle has Talley bases and Talley fixed rings. Prior to me succumbing to the urge to mess around, the gun shot beautifully with its “old” scope. Save your breath with the “Then why did you screw with a good thing?” I have beaten myself up enough already.. Anywho… I don’t think my issue is equipment related, as the system worked before I involved myself.

The issue revealed itself when I attempted to zero the new scope. As I do with all my optics, I bore sighted the rifle at the 25yd bench, then adjusted the reticle to get as close to the bore sight as possible. Unfortunately, the scope ran out of vertical travel long before it ever got close to the bore sighting. I verified that the dials were resting in their mid-point, then tried agin… same result. The reticle was six inches high at 25 yards!

My first thought was that the rings had elevation “built in” (like a 20 MOA rail), and that I had switched the front and back rings. However, Talley makes no mention of this in any of their literature. They appear to be standard rings.

So… what in the world did I do, and how do I undo it?

Thanks again!

 

[WeiserBucks]

What scope? Does it have a zero stop?

 

[Saluki91]

What scope? Does it have a zero stop?

Sig Sierra 3 BDX… no zero stop.

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[jkdrgn]

Two quick thoughts, make sure the objective bell isn't hitting the barrel, causing the scope to sit high in the front ring. Second, when you're bore sighting, you'll turn the dials in a direction that isn't always intuitive, if the reticle is higher on the target than the bore is pointing, you'll turn the elevation turret "up" to correct it.

 

[jkdrgn]

Oh, I re-read your post, you're not just bore sighting, but shooting it too? Dang, that's all that came to mind.

 

[Saluki91]

Two quick thoughts, make sure the objective bell isn't hitting the barrel, causing the scope to sit high in the front ring. Second, when you're bore sighting, you'll turn the dials in a direction that isn't always intuitive, if the reticle is higher on the target than the bore is pointing, you'll turn the elevation turret "up" to correct it.

Thanks - both good suggestions. Plenty of clearance on the bell, and turrets are moving correctly.

I’m wondering if it may be a lemon scope…?

 

[JMundy84]

Is the scope you had on before the same tube size as the new one? Maybe put it in the new mounts and see if you still have the same problem. That would tell you if it's a mount issue.

Edit it looks like you didn't change the mounts just the scope my apologies.

 

[wpeach1912]

Something is messed up and I tend to believe it’s in the rings/bases/or rifle itself. Did you significantly step down in tube size? Where in the elevation travel is the zero on the previous scope? I don’t think the mounting itself is the issue unless you somehow slipped a shim under the rings somewhere. That is also a potential solution, but probably opens Pandora’s box of other weird issues

 

[Saluki91]

Same 30mm tube size… I’m out of town, so can’t check the travel. I may have my smith look it over. I hate to pay for him to tell me it’s a crap scope, but I also hate wasting time and money chasing my tail.

 

[Machingeaneer]

Same 30mm tube size… I’m out of town, so can’t check the travel. I may have my smith look it over. I hate to pay for him to tell me it’s a crap scope, but I also hate wasting time and money chasing my tail.

You could just put the old scope back on and if that works fine then you know the scope is the problem.

That said if you have more money than time no shame in letting someone else get your equipment working correctly.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I'm not familiar with that scope, but in my experience these type of issues are user error almost every time.

 

[Saluki91]

I'm not familiar with that scope, but in my experience these type of issues are user error almost every time.

User error… in a former life (before back and knee injuries), golf was my passion. We called it “Excessive LOFT”… Lack Of F@!$& Talent.

In this case, the term applies doubly.

 

[CMcCormick1805]

Did you try to bore sight at 100? I’ve had good luck doing it. It’s harder to be real precise but puts me on paper.