what scope leveling system?

[Q_Sertorius]

Here’s my system.

1. Hang a plumb bob on the other side of the room.
2. Put lead sled on table, level left to right.

3. Put rifle on lead sled, use mounted bubble level to level rifle left to right. It’s not necessarily super accurate, but it’s apparently centered.

4. Align crosshairs with plumb line.

5. Gradually tighten down rings. Keep checking plumb line.
6. Put stupid bubble level kit on rifle to show that it doesn’t work as well.

7. Pick up rifle and bring it up to face to see how it looks.
8. Finish dishes and clean up clutter on dining room table.

 

[Mike D Texas]

I have the SAC Final Scope Level but I don't find it all that helpful to actually mount a scope or scope level. I just use it as a static mount to do scope tracking tests. I might have put a scope level or two on a scope while in the fixture and running a tracking test before but it's not all that helpful over just doing the same when a scope is on a rifle.

The shit that actually matters is mounting your bubble level to show level when the reticle is plumb which requires no special tools.

Why don’t you feel like it’s good for mounting a scope? That all I use to mount scopes. I still use a plumb line and flashlight though to verify the reticle is plumb. But I don’t have to try to get the rifle perfectly level in a vise or something else.

 

[wind gypsy]

Why don’t you feel like it’s good for mounting a scope? That all I use to mount scopes. I still use a plumb line and flashlight though to verify the reticle is plumb. But I don’t have to try to get the rifle perfectly level in a vise or something else.

I guess I’ve always just mounted a scope on a rifle for correct eye relief and eyeballed plumb to bore. Then I set a level or 10 mil tracking target with plumb line first time at the range and a bipod/rear bag has always been stable enough to keep reticle plumb while getting the bubble level set. I don’t see a reason to take scope off the rifle to put it in the sac deal. After more thought, I can see how it’d be slick for doing everything at home.

 

[bnewt3]

I don’t see a reason to take scope off the rifle to put it in the sac deal.

Leveling on an SAC(or similar) and then installing on your rifle also doesnt account for any imperfections in the rail itself, the distortion in the rail that can happen when an imperfect rail is mounted to an imperfect receiver OR action holes not being perfectly at 12 o'clock/perfectly inline. Probably not an issue if you are using a high end action, less issue if the rail is machined with the action but certainly something to think about with any high volume rifle.

 

[Stud Duck]

Here’s my system.

1. Hang a plumb bob on the other side of the room.
2. Put lead sled on table, level left to right.

3. Put rifle on lead sled, use mounted bubble level to level rifle left to right. It’s not necessarily super accurate, but it’s apparently centered.

4. Align crosshairs with plumb line.

5. Gradually tighten down rings. Keep checking plumb line.
6. Put stupid bubble level kit on rifle to show that it doesn’t work as well.

7. Pick up rifle and bring it up to face to see how it looks.
8. Finish dishes and clean up clutter on dining room table.

I’m not familiar with the Lead Sled, but is there a method of securing the rifle once it’s leveled?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’m not familiar with the Lead Sled, but is there a method of securing the rifle once it’s leveled?

It's not designed for holding a rifle perfectly level, but there is a strap you can put across the barrel to hold it down. If I didn't own the Lead Sled (which I never should have purchased), I would just be using my heavy sandbags. I got the Lead Sled before I joined RokSlide because I was getting back into shooting at higher volume after shoulder surgery and someone suggested it as a good way to control recoil during load development. It's pretty good as a makeshift part of my workbench, but not much else.

 

[bnewt3]

I have the tipton ultra gun vise, only used it once so far but it seems to work pretty well. it has clamps for side of the buttstock and forend and the whole thing has threaded feet you can fine-tune the leveling there as well.