Horrocks Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 As i've posted about it before, you may know i have a pesky old Nikko Sterling scope on my CZ. the trouble is I cant seen to level out the reticles, it always seems either to one side or the other and i wondered if theres any trick to doing this, short of going to a gunsmith and bearing in mind i havent got any of those little spirit levels.... any tips would be appreciated....... thanks very much... H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I find that getting StuartP to do it for you is the best way by far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plinker Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 you have to use spirit levels one on the rifle and one on the scope then check it on a horizontal (plumb)line.only takes a few minuites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 This is why I urged you to buy a bipod, Horrocks - something stable to shoot off. As said above, a spirit level and plumb line is one method, using a collimator is another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horrocks Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Baldrick, the news of the day is that ive got one! the hole machine feels like its coming together now, and im getting comfortable with it, the only problems is this wind at the moment, which means im not desperate to get out and shoot, problem is i havent got any of the things you suggested....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Horrocks, make a plumb line with any heavy weight tied to a length of string (a fishing weight, the Speaker of the House of Commons etc). Hang it front the lintel on a door (assuming the building is of modern construction, that lintel should be 100% horizontal). The dovetails on your CZ have a flat top. Balance something long and straight (a metal ruler, for instance) on the top of the receiver and line this up parallel with the aformentioned lintel or known level. Leave the rifle in that position. Then get the alignment of the reticle correct by marrying it up with the plumb line. Secure the scope. You will know if it's canted - the human eye is pretty capable at detecting odd angles. It's a slightly Heath Robinson-esque means of setting up a scope, but it works. If you were setting up a centefire, I'd steer you firmly towards spirit levels, collimators and testing on targets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horrocks Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Brilliant, thanks baldrick, i'd already stuck up a line and i reckon that its as close as i'll get it, i did use a level too, making sure the rifle was level on the bipod and also the scope clips were flat, then i leveled the scope, it was very very close and i teaked it slightly more, so i reckon i wont be able to get it any better...... it also seems to change with how you look through the scope.... but im happy with it now and am looking forward to a better bit of weather when im back from cornwall in a couple of weeks time.... thanks again for the advice, much appreciated.... 'the Speaker of the House of Commons', as for him, im afraid i dont have any piano wire handy..... H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realtreedave Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 go to the pound shop and buy a cheep spirit level,then smash it up to get the tubes with the bubbles in out.get some blue tac and stick it to your scope rail so that it rests on your scope rail,voila you have a temporary scope level,now find a piece of string,tie it to your keys and hang off a nail or branch,now you have a level and a plum line,all you need to do is loosenthe scope mounts ,level the rifle and twist the scope to line up with the plum line.check,check and re check as you are adjusting and tightening your mounts.the whole process should take less than five minutes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 (edited) However have i managed all these years trusting my own eyes and intuition . Mind you did have a sprit level on the fore sight of my full bore target rifles to stop cant . Harnser . Edited May 18, 2009 by Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I find that getting StuartP to do it for you is the best way by far Failing that, watch this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC45 Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 So it's level, level, level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horrocks Posted May 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 oh yeah, i saw that a couple of weeks back... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realtreedave Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Failing that, watch this... that does assume that the reticule is in perfect alignment with the turret caps,but it does look a very simple way of doing it.iwill try that next time against my own method for comparison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 In simple terms. Get the gun rested on something, bipod or one of those things you put them on to clean. Get it level using a bubble (a spirit level, not a Greek person) Stick your rings and scope on without tightening them, then without moving the gun, line the vertical cross hair against something you know is vertical. Standing another spirit level on it's end will do for this. Tighten up your rings, scope/bases etc keeping an eye on the level of the scope as you do it. Or, do what Mungler does, stand back and let someone else do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 What happens when a deer has a shorter leg on one side than the other and stands on the hurr . will a scope with a perpindicular and level cross hair make any difference . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 What happens when a deer has a shorter leg on one side than the other and stands on the hurr . will a scope with a perpindicular and level cross hair make any difference .Harnser . eeeeejut It won't make any difference at all close up, except when the cross hairs are laying over at about 15 degrees, not mentioning any names.. But when you are holding over so much the target is hiding behind the thick 6 o'clock post on your scope you will be glad you made the effort (assuming your eye are in line in the first place that is ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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