How to Level Scope

[Jim03]

Newbie here so sorry for the newb question. I just bought a Nokon P22 Scope and the Nikon P rings. I don't have a vise to hold the 15-22 so I am wondering how to level the scope to the gun without one? I guess I could spend close to $200 for a vise, level level and whatever else I need but if there is a cheaper way, I would like to know. Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[HalfSwiss]

Level the scope to the gun? The Picatinny rail is already level for the purposes of mounting a scope. Just mount the rings on the rail such that the two rings grab the scope tube in the right places and the position on the rail gives you full eye relief when you hold the rifle in your normal shooting position. Sounds like you are worried about a non-existant problem.

 

[Jim03]

Sorry maybe I was not clear? I meant since I don't have a device to hold the gun, what is the best way to level the scope in the rings?

 

[ken158]

I know what you are trying to do - level the crosshairs in the scope. place a small level on the rail while your gun is in your sand bags or rest. Once the gun is level, you can level the crosshairs by hanging a plumb line 25 - 75 yards away depending on power of your scope. Keeping the gun level, turn the scope until the vertical crosshair is exactly on the plumb line or running down the side of the plumb line. Tighten the ring screws and double check but you have to keep the rifle level while doing this.

 

[WVleo]

Or just level the rail while it's in Your bags and take a small bubble level and place it atop of Your elevation cap on top of the scope and level it with rings not totally tightened. Once scope is level tightened rings and recheck level of rail and scope. Cross hairs will be square with the rifle that way as both will be level......WVleo

 

[w0ady]

or heres another easy method:

balance your 15-22 on the counter so its standing with the mag and grip - should be just about level. then aim the scope at the corner of a door, cabinet, etc. and you should be able to use the right angles to get your crosshairs lined up.

 

[Majorlk]

- Put the scope in the rings
- put rifle to your shoulder
- look through the scope
- is the horizontal crosshair level - if so tighten the screws on the rings
- if not, rotate the scope until it is, then tighten the rings

This is not complicated and you don't need anything but your eyes.

 

[rraisley]

This is not complicated and you don't need anything but your eyes.

Exactly. If you can't SEE any deviation from vertical/horizontal, then it's certainly good enough.

 

[Majorlk]

Exactly. If you can't SEE any deviation from vertical/horizontal, then it's certainly good enough.

Exactly. It will have zero impact (pun intended) on accuracy.

 

[Jim03]

Thanks everyone. I guess I was making it too complicated!

 

[iouri]

I bought a set of 2 levels that you can put on a string from Home Depot for like $3 put on receiver another one elevation adjustment cap rotated scope in rings till both show the same - crosshair is "leveled"

 

[Majorlk]

I bought a set of 2 levels that you can put on a string from Home Depot for like $3 put on receiver another one elevation adjustment cap rotated scope in rings till both show the same - crosshair is "leveled"

The presumes that the rifle itself is level in whatever rest one is using. Without that, all mechanical devices are useless.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Or just level the rail while it's in Your bags and take a small bubble level and place it atop of Your elevation cap on top of the scope and level it with rings not totally tightened. Once scope is level tightened rings and recheck level of rail and scope. Cross hairs will be square with the rifle that way as both will be level......WVleo

Right. The idea here is to align the scope with the gun. Having both the gun and the scope level accomplishes this.

Mentioned earlier... just holding the gun to your shoulder doesn't accomplish the objective. Absent a level, you'd be better off to just stand back from the rifle looking from the rear and seeing if the scope appears to be sitting straight on the rifle and adjust accordingly.

 

[jsimmons]

0) Remove the stock and magazine (if the weapon is loaded)

1) Make the weapon safe (remove any chambered round and put the safety ON).

2) Mount the scope on the rifle, and leave the screws that secure the scope to the mount loose so you can turn the scope to adjust level.

3) Get a couple of short 2x4's and a couple of bricks to serve as weighted supports

4) Position the 2x4s so that the rifle can be inserted between them, but resting on top of them.

5) Push the bricks up against the sides of the 2x4s.

6) Use a small level across the hand guard's rail to ensure that it's level (you're trying to level the horizontal cross hair, so you're not really interested in the level from front to back).

7) Place your level on the windage cap on the top of the scope. turn the scope until it's level. When the scope is level tighten the cap screws.

 

[joshv06]

This is the best method to get it perfectly level, not having to worry about bubble levels or it being crooked. If you want the best accuracy while using mildots at longer ranges, you want the scope perfectly level, if not, your bullets will land left or right.

Set up Your Scope for Success - Rifle Shooting Technique - NSSF Shooting Sportscast - YouTube

 

[Bx_X]

can he just put the scope in the rings, on a level table, then put a level on top of the scope....... so now you know the scope is level with your rings......make em up, now you just bolt it to your rifle and now your scope is level with the rifle....all you need is one torpedo level...

 

[rraisley]

This is the best method to get it perfectly level, not having to worry about bubble levels or it being crooked. If you want the best accuracy while using mildots at longer ranges, you want the scope perfectly level, if not, your bullets will land left or right.

Set up Your Scope for Success - Rifle Shooting Technique - NSSF Shooting Sportscast - YouTube

That's a great video. And it shows you how to easily make sure the scope is level with the rifle. But remember, as to your scope being perfectly level, if you're not holding the rifle perfectly level, then you've negated all your good work. I've seen more variation in the way people hold their rifle, than in the way scopes are mounted.

 

[Majorlk]

But remember, as to your scope being perfectly level, if you're not holding the rifle perfectly level, then you've negated all your good work. I've seen more variation in the way people hold their rifle, than in the way scopes are mounted.

I see it every time I have range duty - a significant number of shooters cant their rifles. I will concede that it's possible they are doing it because their scopes are not level and they are trying to level the crosshairs.

 

[mn_doggie]

Here's another way to do it.

In my case, I have a QD mount that I assume has a face that touches the top of the picatinny rail that parallel to the top surface of the mount. I can put a metal square on that surface and (again assuming that the adjustment caps are square) check and adjust the angle to the cap on the side.

There is distortion in the picture shown here but I think you can understand what I'm saying.

 

[rraisley]

In my case, I have a QD mount that I assume has a face that touches the top of the picatinny rail that parallel to the top surface of the mount.

Unfortunately, I have checked a number of QD mounts (both cheap and expensive) and have found that they do not always lay level with the rail. Something about they way they tighten in place, maybe, I don't know. But personally, I wouldn't rely on that.