Harry136 Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 Hi I'm having great difficulty in zeroing a scope. I am using a Hawke SF30 Sidewinder scope with low mounts on a Browning AB3 in .243. I have nice tight groupings when I zero at 100 yds, but I just can't get the scope to zero on the vertical axis, it won't go any lower and is hitting about a foot high of the aiming mark. Im not sure what to do and do't want to waste any more ammo until I know whats going on! Any suggestions or ideas are more than welcome! James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 I can never remember witch one its i think you want to put a shim under the front mount.if it shooting high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AYA117 Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 Is this a new scope or rifle ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 If the scope vertical adjustment turret is not jiggered then the mounts are your only other option. See how far you can raise the it. If that goes on and on and on then it is the mounts. Sure they are the same height? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry136 Posted March 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 New rifle and scope. The mounts are the same height. Would fitting medium mounts be an option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted March 23, 2018 Report Share Posted March 23, 2018 Centre your scope - count how many clicks from one extreme to the other and put it in the middle then try different mounts until you get somewhere close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisv Posted March 24, 2018 Report Share Posted March 24, 2018 Burris signature zee mounts may be your best option. They have various inserts to move the scope within the mounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted March 25, 2018 Report Share Posted March 25, 2018 (edited) On 3/23/2018 at 20:24, snow white said: I can never remember witch one its i think you want to put a shim under the front mount.if it shooting high. This lifting the scope up ,lowers the barrel down use a piece of film negative or if your not that old LOL, cut a small piece from a marge tub or similar to "shim" the front mount .You may need 2 or 3 pieces to get "zero" but as Bruno said centre your scope first .Or easiest of all start by swapping the mounts front for back and see if that helps atb Edited March 25, 2018 by clakk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted March 25, 2018 Report Share Posted March 25, 2018 First and cheapest option I'd try is swapping the front and back mounts. If it doesn't work, it's cost you nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 Ok take the scope off and with the bottom half of mounts on the rifle check all is level using a straight edge if not change mounts and repeat still off it’s tge rifle. Also reverse the mounts retest. Still an issue you need to either shim the scope bases not the scope. Or use mounts with off set inserts like the Burris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitester Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 If it won't adjust down anymore then pack the back scope mount. I use electrical tape and put layers in until I get the adjustment I need. Usually three layers should bring you plenty of adjustment. try to cut the pieces to the exact size of the bottom half of the mount so there's no over hang, it works for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 58 minutes ago, Whitester said: If it won't adjust down anymore then pack the back scope mount. I use electrical tape and put layers in until I get the adjustment I need. Usually three layers should bring you plenty of adjustment. try to cut the pieces to the exact size of the bottom half of the mount so there's no over hang, it works for me Please don’t do this you can crimp a scope shim under the scope bases and lap the mounts as per normal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 (edited) My first instinct would be to put the scope on another rifle and see if its working before you do anything. New scopes can suffer transit damage, it happens. And vice versa, put a different scope on that rifle Also, just checking you could turn scope upside down. Finally, you have got 'up' on the top and 'right' on the side? you wouldn't be the first.......... Edited March 26, 2018 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry136 Posted March 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 When i bought the gun, i put it on medium mounts and it seemed spot on, however the mounts sat too high for a cheek weld.There are specific shims for the rings so there won't be any damage. Would shimming just the rear mount work to bring the front down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Harry136 said: Edited March 26, 2018 by welshwarrior Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 (edited) Sounds like the bases are a**e about face. Edited March 26, 2018 by Robertt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitester Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 4 hours ago, welshwarrior said: Please don’t do this you can crimp a scope shim under the scope bases and lap the mounts as per normal I do it all the time, nothing wrong with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry136 Posted March 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 So there is supposed to be a front and rear mount? I thought that they were both the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 1 hour ago, Whitester said: I do it all the time, nothing wrong with it Crack on then do as you like but I’ve seen a fair few scopes damaged doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, Harry136 said: Would shimming just the rear mount work to bring the front down? If you cant get the gun to shoot low enough its the front mount you need to shim up. Edited March 26, 2018 by zipdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robertt Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 Front and rear base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 3 minutes ago, Robertt said: Front and rear base. That will also work and is probably better as less likely to crimp your scope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitester Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 7 hours ago, welshwarrior said: Crack on then do as you like but I’ve seen a fair few scopes damaged doing it. How is a scope damaged by putting a few layers of electrical tape on the bottom half of the mount? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 Four of my rifle scopes have had to be shimed no damage to the scope what so ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1066 Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 12 hours ago, Harry136 said: When i bought the gun, i put it on medium mounts and it seemed spot on, however the mounts sat too high for a cheek weld.There are specific shims for the rings so there won't be any damage. Would shimming just the rear mount work to bring the front down? This rifle hasn't already got Burris rings with plastic inserts has it? Or a 20 moa rail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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