Special Scope Level or Machinest Level

[ToolAA]

I noticed my scope reticle is not perfectly aligned. Do I really need to buy one of those fancy scope levels. If it would work I would rather get a nice machines level that I can use for other things.


Would something like this work well?

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[INMY01TA]

I've been using a cheap plastic leveling kit from Midway. Ed shell uses a machinest level.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Look through the scope at an interior wall edge or corner. Or a neighbors outside wall or shutter. They're all straight up and down.

Adjust the scope so the vertical cross hairs line up on those vertical objects.

Lock the rings down. Done.

 

[Welder84]

Yes, any small level will work well. Home depot has this nifty level Kapro Model 245-9 Internet #203325514
Mini Level with Angle Finder. $2.15

 

[davsco]

where i can, i will get the gun plumb. either run a level up and down from the buttstock screws, or lay a level on the action if it has a flat top (ie AR receiver rail).

then if the scope has a flat top elevation turret, i'll put a level on that and rotate the scope until it is level.

otherwise as mentioned above, get the gun plumb and align the vertical crosshairs with a door jamb or the edge of another house, etc, the further away the better.

 

[clandestine]

The reticle is not always level to the body. If it is the Arisaka Scope Level Kit works great.

If the reticle is not level to the scope body then a small machinist level (To level the GUN), a plumb bob, and a flashlight will do it.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/16/easy-diy-method-for-leveling-a-scope-reticle/

 

[Welder84]

The reticle is not always level to the body. If it is the Arisaka Scope Level Kit works great.

If the reticle is not level to the scope body then a small machinist level (To level the GUN), a plumb bob, and a flashlight will do it.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/16/easy-diy-method-for-leveling-a-scope-reticle/

Good info

 

[rbird7282]

I've been using a cheap plastic leveling kit from Midway. Ed shell uses a machinest level.

Ed told our class that anything other than a machinists level was a waste of time. Having said that, one of the cheaper levels from Midway would probably work fine for something that you're not taking out past 200 yds or so.


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[ToolAA]

Ed told our class that anything other than a machinists level was a waste of time. Having said that, one of the cheaper levels from Midway would probably work fine for something that you're not taking out past 200 yds or so.


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Im tried the flashlight method that clandestine posted, last night with a very crappy carpenters level. I even tried to use the level on my Iphone which seemed about the same. Today at the range I noticed it's much better but still slightly off.

I think I would rather spend $60-80 on a decent level that I can use for other things than buy a special purpose scope. I'm going to keep thinking on this for a bit longer.


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[iH8DemLibz]

Im tried the flashlight method that clandestine posted, last night with a very crappy carpenters level. I even tried to use the level on my Iphone which seemed about the same. Today at the range I noticed it's much better but still slightly off.

I think I would rather spend $60-80 on a decent level that I can use for other things than buy a special purpose scope. I'm going to keep thinking on this for a bit longer.


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Have you considered that the shooting bench may be a tad off kilter? Same holds true for the target itself.

In a real world scenario, the crosshairs will be off when you shoulder the rifle. As the rifle itself won't be completely square to your shoulder.

Really close is good enough.


PS: That said, any excuse is a good excuse to buy a good level.

 

[Jerry M]

Cheap levels did not work in my case.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[W2D]

Put a cheap level on a flat surface with a good one and check it. Turn it 180 degrees and see that it still reads level. If not, throw it out.

Check it on a slight incline so the bubble just reaches the line. Turn it 180 and it should read the same.

You can check your phone's level the same way. Mine reads within 0.1 to 0.2 degrees.

 

[W2D]

The reticle is not always level to the body. If it is the Arisaka Scope Level Kit works great.

If the reticle is not level to the scope body then a small machinist level (To level the GUN), a plumb bob, and a flashlight will do it.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/02/16/easy-diy-method-for-leveling-a-scope-reticle/

Ingenious!

 

[dist1646]

Might be a good idea to remove the magazine and make sure the rifle is clear first.

 

[W2D]

Might be a good idea to remove the magazine and make sure the rifle is clear first.

Or he would be toast.

 

[BigSteve57]

I have found this tool to work pretty well.

http://www.riflescopelevel.com/vertical_retical_instrument.html

It basically ensures your scope front objective lens is aligned with your barrel. Top quality scopes are machined & assembled really well nowadays so I think this is a pretty good assumption.

I make sure the tool's bubble registers level and I'm really careful about it. Then I hang a plumb line with a piece of white rope on a target frame at 50 yards and look at the vertical of the reticle. I then align the vertical reticle with the plumb line and tighten the scope.

I have had fantastic luck doing this - elevation clicks track vertically and not on an angle necessitating windage adjustments.

This all assumes that the windage is correct in your scope mount. In other words that your scope is parallel with your bore. I make sure that's done first.

 

[ToolAA]

If the reticle is not level to the scope body then a small machinist level (To level the GUN), a plumb bob, and a flashlight will do it.

finally found my old plumb bob. This worked really well. Thanks for sharing.

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