Scope Zero Check Thread

[Bluumoon]

I’m screwing up. Haven’t checked since September. Rifle took a big hit during season, but got the job done a long way out right afterwards. No witness marks on action screws, none of the others have moved. Last loaded rounds of 6.5, sending off stocks to get LOP increased. Will chase down gremlins after. Part of the issue is likely I’m shooting poorly today.

 

[Formidilosus]

December 17th

MRC 6cm
95gr TMK
ZP5
Prone, Molinator/Jellyfish




M700
308win
Leupold Mark 4 6x M3
Federal Gold Medal Match 168gr SMK
Prone, Molinator/Jellyfish
NOTE: This is zeroed, the scope has 1 MOA (.3 mil) per click elevation adjustments- the zero is low .5 MOA /.2mils-





MK12
BH MK262 Mod1 77gr SMK
RS1.2
Prone, bipod/Jellyfish

 

[Formidilosus]

December 22, 2024

6cm MRC, ZP5-




MK12, Maven RS1.2, Blackhills Mk262 Mod1- looks like this lot# needs a left .2 mils from 77gr TMK zero-

 

[Hondo64d]

I got to thinking that a thread for posting zero checks would be awesome. It could end up being a great collection of data/information.

I'm thinking everyone posts a target whenever they check zero along with notes about shooting conditions and what the rifle has been through since the last zero check. I'm betting we could all learn a lot if we get this going.

#NightforceSucks #TikkaSucks

View attachment 805826

Great thread idea.

.22GT
Bushnell LRHS 2.
Wind @ 7 o’clock, 13-18 knots.
10 shots.
Maybe a month since last check.
This rifle rides with me in my UTV any time I’m out in the pasture.

John

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Quick zero checks on my Tikka 6 Creed and Tikka .308 are both still spot on after a flight to California. Forgot to take photos of the 10 shot groups. We’re set up and ready to shoot long now…

Next few hours will be high wind practice with both guns If you know Altamont Pass winds, you know!!!

 

[Harvey_NW]

Tikka T3X-D18 6.5 PRC touched up with AW2 reamer and throated for 143 ELD. UM rings, Trijicon Credo HX 4-16x50 MOA.

This summer I did the Painless Load Development method and got my load proofed. I noticed my bases were slipping so I installed a recoil pin and retorqued and zeroed. 10 shot group, adjusted left 2 and up 1 click, 3 shot group. Validated AB out to 840 yards.


Here's where I made a slight mistake, all my load work and shooting was done at 90°+ in the summer, so before general rifle I shot this 4 shot group in high 40's temp IIRC. I only had 25 rounds left loaded before I had to prep and reload my lot. Against my better judgement of adjusting off small sample size, I adjusted up 1 and right 1, and sent one making an almost center impact on a plate at 1,009. Went on to hunt and my wife killed a buck perfect shot at 380 yards, ammo and rifle in the truck through 3 states in sub 0 temps, and shot coyotes at 480, 650, and 690.


Yesterday I fired the last 7 shots, and wouldn't you know that gremlin showed up. Adjusted 1 click left, prepped and loaded 10 to confirm this morning.


In conclusion, I think equipment is solid and zero stayed where the dummy set it. Don't adjust on small sample sizes. Will continue tracking this. Good thread!

 

[WyldGoose]

10 shot zero check @ 100 yds.
Tikka 6cm, factory 108 eldm.
UM rings/SWFA 3-9

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Rifle: Tikka T3X Chambered in .243. Rokstok. Factory Tikka 20" 8 Twist D18 fluted/threaded barrel. Suppressed. Shooting 90 Grain ELDX factory ammo.

Scope: SWFA SS Fixed 10x42 MIL

Scope Mounting: UM Tikka Low Rings and Bases (using the provided threaded pins).

Shooting Position: Seated on folding Walmart padded chair, rifle on Walmart folding plastic table. Heavy front bag waxed, lightweight rear bag.

Time/Activity Since Last Zero Check: Looking back through photos I cannot find when I last zeroed this gun. It was probably zero checked when I was in Wyoming in July. It's since been on a return flight from Wyoming to Arizona. It's been riding around in either my pickup or my Jeep for hundreds of miles on mix of highway/farm roads, as well as hundreds of miles on off road trails to shooting spots. Been used on dozens of shooting/practice days.

As usual, there were a couple unplanned "zero checks" using the SWFA MIL reticle for hold over/under on the way out to my shooting spot. A coyote on the move at 344 yards on my neighbors field harassing his cattle, by the time I got him stopped I estimated through the scope that he had travelled another 50-60ish yards before I barked at him and he stopped. Right before and as I shot he jogged forward and bullet hit back hip. He dropped and spun about 10 circles before stopping. Second shot hit just above front shoulder where he died. Shooting off the hood of my Jeep with with short spartan bipod, no rear rest other than left hand.



At the shooting wash, I was walking out to setup the target and a cottontail flushed out at stopped at 60ish yards. Off hand shot and held low and watched him do a full back flip through the scope.





Zero Check and Target Results: The idea for this morning was to "shoot for a group"... This means taking a bit more time in between shots to ensure perfect body position and trigger press for each shot. This was all done with one 5 round magazine back to back with no "cool down" between shots.

5 shots at 100 yards...

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

Rifle: M96 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55
Scope: VX3HD 2.5-8x36
Mount: Redfield STD bedded to action
Rings: Leupold steel STD degreased, loctited, torqued.
Recent History: zeroed at home then drove 5 hours lying flat in hard case
Results: need to change something! My swede with a pic rail and SWFA hasn’t lost zero riding in a soft case thrown on top of my hunting outfit in the pickup bed.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

Rifle: M96 Swede in 6.5x55
Scope: SWFA 3-9
Mount: EGW picatinny rail bedded and epoxied to receiver
Rings: Ken Farrel degreased, loctited and torqued to spec
Recent History: used the scope as mounted as a pounding surface and handle for inletting and bedding DIY Rokstok build after zeroing in Ramline plastic stock. Dozen-ish range sessions over 6 months without adjustment in new stock then 5 hours in soft case in truck bed among tent/cots/coolers/etc.
Results: hasn’t budged… shot this group to confirm zero then rang an 8” plate at 409 yards 10/10.

EDIT: curiously none of these changed the zero on this rifle: (1) stock change (2) removed scope in rings from rail and replaced (3) cut barrel 1 1/2” and recrowned, (4) speed lock kit with new trigger and cocking piece.

 

[HighUintas]

Recent History: used the scope as mounted as a pounding surface and handle for inletting and bedding DIY Rokstok build after zeroing in Ramline plastic stock.

This is awesome

 

[Formidilosus]

Rifle: M96 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55
Scope: VX3HD 2.5-8x36
Mount: Redfield STD bedded to action
Rings: Leupold steel STD degreased, loctited, torqued.
Recent History: zeroed at home then drove 5 hours lying flat in hard case
Results: need to change something! My swede with a pic rail and SWFA hasn’t lost zero riding in a soft case thrown on top of my hunting outfit in the pickup bed.

Is the action bedded and torqued correctly? Witness marked? And the rings are windage adjustable standard mounts?

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

Is the action bedded and torqued correctly? Witness marked? And the rings are windage adjustable standard mounts?

Not witness marked but I did epoxy bed the action (I think this one was accra -glass) with free-floated barrel and torqued the action screws to about 50 ftlbs (edit in-lbs?). This is a windage adjustable rear mount, dovetail front. I’m not going to try to correct this mounting setup. I wanted it to work because it mounts the scope really low but instead I’ll hit the easy button and install an EGW pic rail like the other one. It’s for my son who’s outgrowing the stock so I’ll carve another DIYRokStok for him.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Harvey_NW]

Adjusted 1 click left, prepped and loaded 10 to confirm this morning
View attachment 811128

The 10 to confirm had some bolt lift even in low temps now that brass is formed, so I dropped 1.5gr and my zero shifted a bit but the group size is back to where it was when I originally tested. I know these aren't sufficient samples to say it's an improvement, but it makes me feel better, lol. I'll be getting out to do another check, and true up AB soon.

 

[WKR]

The 10 to confirm had some bolt lift even in low temps now that brass is formed, so I dropped 1.5gr and my zero shifted a bit but the group size is back to where it was when I originally tested. I know these aren't sufficient samples to say it's an improvement, but it makes me feel better, lol. I'll be getting out to do another check, and true up AB soon.
View attachment 811805

Which powder? And what did the 1.5 gr drop equal in fps?

 

[Justin Crossley]

Which powder? And what did the 1.5 gr drop equal in fps?

Please take this type of question offline or to another thread so we can keep this thread as concise as possible.

Thank you!