This page has been moved to http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/gun-nut
If your browser doesn’t redirect you to the new location, please visit The Gun Nut at its new location: www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/gun-nut.
Crooked Reticles and Straight Advice
If the vertical crosshair of your scope is cocked to one side (as most are) you will not burn in hell for it, but you will miss shots you take at long range, because the bullet will not be flying in alignment with your sight and will depart, either to the right or left, when it has gone some distance from the muzzle.
Over the years I’ve tried various devices that allegedly align your scope, but none of them worked, so I relied on my eye, which usually led to hours of excellent fun and a blood-pressure spike of 325/182.
But here, by crackey, is one that works. It’s called the Segway Mk-II Scope Reticle Leveler, and it is absurdly simple. You can even understand the directions. The price is $24.95 and you can get it from Brownell’s (brownells.com). It will save you all sorts of grief.
Second: Second only to Africa, Alaska has the greatest hunting in the world, and the terrific thing is, it’s not Canada. You don’t have to pay Air Canada $100 extra to fly your guns (and then lose them) or put up with the B.S. import permit or the fee that goes with it. Also, Alaska is probably the last place in North America where you can fart, have long nose hairs, curse, and generally let the badger loose.
But I digress. In 1997, an Alaska guide named Dennis Confer wrote Hunt Alaska Now. It's an absolutely terrific book, loaded with information and practical advice. Now there’s an updated, expanded 2006 version, and if you have any thought of hunting the Last Frontier, you gotta get a copy. It’s a paperback, 365 pps., $29.95 from www.tonyruss.com.
I'm guessing you line the horizontal cross hair up with the lines printed on the levelling device. That'll make sure the scope is aligned with the gadget. What I'd like to know is how do you know if the gadget is properly aligned with the gun? I too have had my share of frustration with scopes, and if this thing is all you say, then I want one yesterday.
Posted by: JA Demko | July 31, 2006 at 12:11 PM
O yeah. My hassle with getting a scope mounted correctly is not having the scope slip/cock when I tighten the scope ring screws.
Alaska—my five week hunting and fishing trip was a defining life moment. I encourage every person to make the pilgrimage even though it’s pricy.
Good luck
Posted by: Mark | July 31, 2006 at 12:55 PM
I look through my scopes at a mini blinds horizontal pieces to get a rough idea of when my scope is mounted correctly. They are normally level and it gives you a place to check your crosshairs against. It may sound silly, but it seems to work for me.
Jim
Posted by: jstreet | July 31, 2006 at 04:41 PM
I've never been able to get the crosshairs straight on a scope.
All of mine are straight; who do you think did that?
I know what makes an accurate rifle; #1, I don't do any of the work on it.
Posted by: mike shickele | August 02, 2006 at 07:28 PM
ja i always thought the same thing sure this is level and now my scope is too but what about the 90 degrees it makes with our rifle is that level and plumb? i bought the first version when this came out and it didnt have the level bubble on it so i had to draw a level line on the wall to corelate with my scope and card and it was as david said better than high blood pressure !so with all that said make sure youre vise keeps your rifle plumb so you get a true level line with your verticle line and whella we can have true scope sight pictures yeaaaaaaa!!!even my gun smiths seem to have that lazy eye syndrome when i get that new scope mounted !
Posted by: craig curtis | August 03, 2006 at 03:48 PM
I go out to my shop and get a 12" level. First I level the rifle, then I level the scope reticles. It works.
Posted by: KJ | August 21, 2006 at 08:39 AM