Levelling a rifle scope

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Top of my T3 is really warped - no chance of levelling off that even if I wanted to. Pic rails need bedding and screws carefully tightening on that action to avoid a bent rail and misaligned rings. One piece mount is good solution

Think you need a new gun.

How'd you warp the action?

 

[enfieldspares]

Some good stuff here and in all honesty the following never occurred to me until now albeit not sure how many scopes - if any - I have with a flat based reticle housing or indeed corresponding action top:

“Another method is using feeler gauges and getting a stack that just slides underneath the base of the scope turret housing (which is hopefully flat and level to the reticle).”

K

On many rifles...the Mauser 98 based ones such as P-Hale rifles and etc....remove the bolt and put the rifle on a tabletop or in a vice or between two bricks. It doesn't matter much and the turn the 'scope so that standing back from the rifle you can see the vertical crosshair align with the centre of the sear on your trigger group where it emerges into the slot in the boltway. That'll pretty much get you 'scope aligned vertically with the rifle regardless of the fact that a Mauser front and rear receiver rings are round.

 

[GrizZLy9]

Think you need a new gun.

How'd you warp the action?

I didn't - it's been like that since I got it (second hand). It's an old T3 that I had re-barelled. No need for a new gun - got a good barrel on it and shoots v well!

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

I didn't - it's been like that since I got it (second hand). It's an old T3 that I had re-barelled. No need for a new gun - got a good barrel on it and shoots v well!

Even better!

Was it warped before you re-barreled it?

 

[Klenchblaize]

I think I’ll stick with closing my eyes, raising rifle to shoulder and with ideal cheek weld. Then open eyes, twist scope in mounts and repeat until it looks right.

Worked fine for c50 years but I don’t shoot deer at 500 yards.

K

 

[GrizZLy9]

Even better!

Was it warped before you re-barreled it?

Yes. Rest of action is good - just the top that is not perfectly flat. It’s subtle but if you put a straight edge on it and shine a light from behind it’s obvious. I don’t know if this is common with Tikkas or not, but I imagine the engineering tolerances of cheap mass produced rifles is on the generous side!

 

[Hook'N'Bullet]

Yes. Rest of action is good - just the top that is not perfectly flat. It’s subtle but if you put a straight edge on it and shine a light from behind it’s obvious. I don’t know if this is common with Tikkas or not, but I imagine the engineering tolerances of cheap mass produced rifles is on the generous side!

Thats madness, I wouldnt never have even checked. How'd you find out about it? I'm afraid to check mine now

 

[GrizZLy9]

I just checked it with a straight edge before putting a rail on. It’s no issue though if you bed the rail and go carefully on tightening the screws- I just nipped them up lightly so as not to bend the rail, then fully tightened them once bedding had set. It would have been easier to use a Spuhr one piece mount directly on the dovetail, but apparently it can interfere with the T3 ejection port (not a problem with the T3X ).

 

[Foxyboy43]

I just checked it with a straight edge before putting a rail on. It’s no issue though if you bed the rail and go carefully on tightening the screws- I just nipped them up lightly so as not to bend the rail, then fully tightened them once bedding had set. It would have been easier to use a Spuhr one piece mount directly on the dovetail, but apparently it can interfere with the T3 ejection port (not a problem with the T3X ).

Ejection problems are not confined to T3 owners - apparently.

 

[nicklm]

If ur scope has flat turret tops and you can find a flat spot on top of ur rifle ( and you have an IPhone) just use the measure app go to level.

I set my rifle up level, then set the scope was done very quickly and easily. Pm me if you want more info.
Tx
Nick

 

[Muntybuck5803]

I just checked it with a straight edge before putting a rail on. It’s no issue though if you bed the rail and go carefully on tightening the screws- I just nipped them up lightly so as not to bend the rail, then fully tightened them once bedding had set. It would have been easier to use a Spuhr one piece mount directly on the dovetail, but apparently it can interfere with the T3 ejection port (not a problem with the T3X ).

Which Spuhr mount mate?

Not 100% sure mate but I think people get confused with this issue.

I’ve been using a Spuhr one piece hunting mount for a good while with no issues with ejection on a T3 and the smaller ejection port. I’ve not heard of anyone else having issues with these mounts on the T3 either.

I am however keen to hear from anyone if they’d had issues with their hunting mounts on a T3?

I think the reported issue of ejection with the Spuhr mount refers to their larger ISMS mounts as are routinely also mounted to the TRG’s dovetail.

 

[GrizZLy9]

Which Spuhr mount mate?

Not 100% sure mate but I think people get confused with this issue.

I’ve been using a Spuhr one piece hunting mount for a good while with no issues with ejection on a T3 and the smaller ejection port. I’ve not heard of anyone else having issues with these mounts on the T3 either.

I am however keen to hear from anyone if they’d had issues with their hunting mounts on a T3?

I think the reported issue of ejection with the Spuhr mount refers to their larger ISMS mounts as are routinely also mounted to the TRG’s dovetail.

The one-piece hunting mount that connects directly to Tikka dovetail (not picatinny).

I was warned about a possible issue by a guy at Spuhr - I think @ejg may know more about this than I do.

But good to hear you're using it without issue. Wonder why they say it can be a problem - perhaps it's cartridge-specific?

 

[Klenchblaize]

My final contribution:

A Labour vision for levelling up: Place and power - Progressive Britain

With Labour consistently ahead in the polls and conference season rapidly coming into view, now is the time for the party to start setting out its plan for government.

www.progressivebritain.org

K

 

[Muntybuck5803]

The one-piece hunting mount that connects directly to Tikka dovetail (not picatinny).

I was warned about a possible issue by a guy at Spuhr - I think @ejg may know more about this than I do.

But good to hear you're using it without issue. Wonder why they say it can be a problem - perhaps it's cartridge-specific?

Interesting. Not heard that before. Hopefully it’s not widespread. Apologies for the derail

 

[kennyc]

David at the shooting shed used to make a set of precision machined wedges to hold the scope square to the action, may be worth seeing if there are any left around, as David is currently retired and looking to bag sea trout in Denmark I doubt if there will be any new ones entering the market soon

 

[rem284]

I didn't - it's been like that since I got it (second hand). It's an old T3 that I had re-barelled. No need for a new gun - got a good barrel on it and shoots v well!

That's another reason why I don't like t3's

 

[ejg]

The one-piece hunting mount that connects directly to Tikka dovetail (not picatinny).

I was warned about a possible issue by a guy at Spuhr - I think @ejg may know more about this than I do.

But good to hear you're using it without issue. Wonder why they say it can be a problem - perhaps it's cartridge-specific?

Hakan told me when developing the mounts that go directly onto the rail that they opened the port by 2.5mm on the T3 to get reliable extraction. Anyway shortly after that, it became standard on the T3X. The T3 has been used for military application since many years and therefore I guess Spuhr did extensive tests to come to that conclusion. I have only ever had pica type Spuhr mounts.
edi