Dekers Posted March 28, 2018 Report Share Posted March 28, 2018 (edited) Help me out here. Personally, I have never needed to shim any scope/mount on any rifle I have ever owned. The way I see it, if the rifle/mounts/scope are all working correctly, there should never be a need to shim anything. Now, if you are shooting incredibly close (unlikely) or incredibly distant (out of range of all normal adjustments) then shims may be required, but it's a terrible option in my view, change equipment to deal with the problem instead. Can someone please tell me what I've missed as there seem to be those about who find the need to shim regularly. Edited March 28, 2018 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 28, 2018 Report Share Posted March 28, 2018 You are perfectly correct BUT there are occasions where shimming is necessary due to inherent barrel droop (such as some Weihrauchs). Over the years I've prolly had to shim 2-3 times usually on the cheaper stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil Posted March 28, 2018 Report Share Posted March 28, 2018 I have found that some of the longer scopes sometimes need shimming to get the correct elevation adjustment on some centre fire rifles. (do't ask me why. I don't know why but they sometimes do) For this I use and have always used film negative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1066 Posted March 28, 2018 Report Share Posted March 28, 2018 Shimming scopes works and is commonly done, especially with lower level air rifle/rimfire kit - that doesn't mean to say it's right. It's not something that would be considered as acceptable practice by a serious long range centrefire shooter with middle to decent kit. If you need more elevation than the internal adjustment of your scope, even when correctly set up, then you need an inclined rail. I had a Howa 1500 a while ago where the receiver was drilled off centre, the only practical solution to optically centre the scope was to use Burris rings with offset inserts, solved the problem and also adjusted to give another 10moa of elevation for longer ranges, this is what they are designed for. You can use a hammer on a quality wood handled chisel or an adjustable spanner on an Aston Martin, both work - after a fashion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted March 28, 2018 Report Share Posted March 28, 2018 1066, If a rifle I bought new had an off centre reciever or taps off centre the shop would of had it back. Or paid for the correction. Maybe I'm picky but if it ain't right they fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 28, 2018 Report Share Posted March 28, 2018 Only done it on 2 centre fires and they where both pre ww2 Mausers action that had been remade into sporting rifles the bridges didn’t quite meet modern base highs. One the owner didn’t want to spend the extra on a custom base being made the other was my fathers rifle I didn’t have time at the that moment to do it properly it now wears custom made claw mounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impala59 Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 If you google ‘adjustable weaver mounts’ you will find numerous scope mounts with varying levels of adjustment, never needed them but they are out there. I happened to see them whilst looking for an adjustable riser with X-Y movement that doesn’t exist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedark Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 I'd never even consider shimming, that's what inclined mounts are for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 If your intent on doing it here's a link to show you how to do it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 I have shimmed scopes on a .270 and a .308 in the past . Shot both of them for years without any problems what so ever . I keep hearing damage to scopes ,what damage ? Shimming works . harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitester Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 I've shimmed a couple of rifles and all have held zero and none have damaged the scope. I still use some of these scopes and they are years old. has anyone got personal experience that it damages scopes or ******* your zero? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1066 Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powler Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 I Had to shim my photon as not enough clicks availiable, no problems since holding zero fine last time out, hopefully will stay good. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 16 hours ago, Whitester said: I've shimmed a couple of rifles and all have held zero and none have damaged the scope. I still use some of these scopes and they are years old. has anyone got personal experience that it damages scopes or ******* your zero? Yes possibly got the scope somewhere still damaged the tube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Over the years I have seen many a damage on tubes, you can always see it as it leaves the ring mark on the tube from the front edge of the ring base Had a photon RT that ran out of elevation, spoke to importers and said I wouldnt bodge the rings and take part in this shimming trend that seams to be happening. They said glad I did not shim as it will void warranties and putting a bend in the scope tube. If you have to shim then there is something wrong. It might be a common thing but it's a bodge to get around a manufacturing fault, normally a Chinese one, I don't do bodge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powler Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 15 minutes ago, activeviii said: Over the years I have seen many a damage on tubes, you can always see it as it leaves the ring mark on the tube from the front edge of the ring base Had a photon RT that ran out of elevation, spoke to importers and said I wouldnt bodge the rings and take part in this shimming trend that seams to be happening. They said glad I did not shim as it will void warranties and putting a bend in the scope tube. Just wondering what you did to sort out the elevation issue with the photon as this sounds like the same issue I had? I am using the Yukon sw30 extended rifle mount to get the eye relief, rifle is a tikka t3x. Scope was on a CZ before but the elevation was just there on that rifle. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 7 minutes ago, powler said: Just wondering what you did to sort out the elevation issue with the photon as this sounds like the same issue I had? I am using the Yukon sw30 extended rifle mount to get the eye relief, rifle is a tikka t3x. Scope was on a CZ before but the elevation was just there on that rifle. Mick Sent it back. Just because there was very little stock in the RT, I was not keeping something that was not good just because it was new and no one else had. If it don't work, it goes back. They need to sort out their problem not let the public bodge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powler Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 19 minutes ago, activeviii said: Sent it back. Just because there was very little stock in the RT, I was not keeping something that was not good just because it was new and no one else had. If it don't work, it goes back. They need to sort out their problem not let the public bodge. I agree it is a bad design, so many are having the same issue. Yukon should of made the mount adjustable. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie to this Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 I've just bought a Nikko Stirling that has a Return to Zero (I think that's what it's called) pin, which only allows a limited amount of adjustment. This pin can be removed, which I have done. Maybe your scope has something similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 (edited) 12 hours ago, 1066 said: Picture paints a thousand words. But then some will still fail to see the picture. Brilliant picture 1066. Edited March 30, 2018 by Dougy Spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 18 hours ago, 1066 said: The heath Robinson drawing is very good . But show us a scope that has been damaged by shimming . harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1066 Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 (edited) Just think if this was a nice March, S&B, Nightforce etc. Edited March 30, 2018 by 1066 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted March 30, 2018 Report Share Posted March 30, 2018 Have a s+b with a dent on the under side of the rear mount. One guess the cause. It's second hand on a friend's rifle. He bought it that was as it was very cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2018 "The way I see it, if the rifle/mounts/scope are all working correctly, there should never be a need to shim anything." Ok, lets define that slightly tighter, some photons and night vision appear designed to only work the length of your back garden, and I know for a fact some scopes simply don't have the elevation for VERY long distance (a Bushnell LONG range scope I bought some years ago went straight back when I found the best elevation I could get was still about a metre low at 600 yards on a .243), then there are apparently some really cheap scopes about, with next to no adjustment (they must be REALLY cheap, I have experienced/owned some very cheap scopes over the years and never had a problem). The picture posted by 1066 clearly shows there is more than potential for damage by shimming, I have a scope damaged in this way to (no - I didn't do it). But the question has really been answered........ The way I see it, if the rifle/mounts/scope are all working correctly (take that widely), there should never be a need to shim anything." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted March 31, 2018 Report Share Posted March 31, 2018 Buy really cheap scopes I disagree I’ve a S&B and Ziess with no horizontal movement and a S&B with no adjustment at all on a David Lloyd set up. The no horizontal adjustment scopes need the right adjustable claw mounts and it’s sorted. All rifle set ups need to be a complete kit the mounts must not be overlooked or under estimated it must all work together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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