Scope - How close is too close?

[klaus]

In addition to reading a post on here re scope clearance from May this year,I have spent a significant amount of time reading about scope position and now understand the arguments for scope as close to bore line vs setting the scope a bit further away. In all cases, best comfort and fit seems to prevail! For me, I have a pee sized head and need my scope as low as possible - with this in mind - how close is too close for scope objective to barrel??

On my .308 I have probable 1.5mm clearance will this be an issue with barrel flex etc?

Does anyone have any hard dimensions I can check with a feeler gauge?

Or as other comments have said “clearance is clearance”

Any guidance/experience shared would be appreciated!!

I will attach image as soon as I can figure out how…..

 

[Stalker62]

On my .308 I have probable 1.5mm clearance will this be an issue with barrel flex etc?

I suspect not, but your scope and your rifle, pull the trigger and find out.

Just make sure you have enough distance between the scope and your eyebrow...

 

[VSS]

- how close is too close for scope objective to barrel??

As close as you can get it without it actually touching is absolutely fIne.

Like this:

 

[jb1]

In addition to reading a post on here re scope clearance from May this year,I have spent a significant amount of time reading about scope position and now understand the arguments for scope as close to bore line vs setting the scope a bit further away. In all cases, best comfort and fit seems to prevail! For me, I have a pee sized head and need my scope as low as possible - with this in mind - how close is too close for scope objective to barrel??

On my .308 I have probable 1.5mm clearance will this be an issue with barrel flex etc?

Does anyone have any hard dimensions I can check with a feeler gauge?

Or as other comments have said “clearance is clearance”

Any guidance/experience shared would be appreciated!!

I'm no expert in the harmonics of rifle barrels but knowing my barrels i doubt the flex of any barrel a few inches from the chamber will flex much at all, 1.5mm i wouldnt worry.

 

[Quixote]

As long as there's no contact between scope and barrel there's no issue whatsoever

 

[billgatese30]

1.5mm will be fine. So long as its not touching you'll be fine

 

[jthyttin]

You might want to leave room for scope cap (or bikini cover, or whatever you might use)

 

[Heym SR20]

If your barrel flexes by 1.5mm you have much bigger problems.

A free floating barrel should have a minimum of a five pound note thickness between the stock and the barrel. Most have a bit more - perhaps a business card thickness. Same sort of gap between scope and barrel is perfect.

More of an issue is having enough room for the bolt handle and the eyepiece. Sometimes on a zoom scope the zoom ring / lever can interfere with the bolt handle.

 

[klaus]

I suspect not, but your scope and your rifle, pull the trigger and find out.

Just make sure you have enough distance between the scope and your eyebrow...


View attachment 384785

Ouch! I generally am 3-4” eye relief so hopefully this won’t be an issue

If your barrel flexes by 1.5mm you have much bigger problems.

A free floating barrel should have a minimum of a five pound note thickness between the stock and the barrel. Most have a bit more - perhaps a business card thickness. Same sort of gap between scope and barrel is perfect.

More of an issue is having enough room for the bolt handle and the eyepiece. Sometimes on a zoom scope the zoom ring / lever can interfere with the bolt handle.

very helpful thank you - got the interference with bolt handle and dust cap but can open upwards instead of to the right!

 

[Heym SR20]

Ouch! I generally am 3-4” eye relief so hopefully this won’t be an issue

very helpful thank you - got the interference with bolt handle and dust cap but can open upwards instead of to the right!

I hate dust caps. They get in the way of a cap or hat, and especially the metal ones bloody hurt if you get the rifle too close. I much prefer the neoprene type covers. Make sure they are orange so you can find them easily when you remove them in haste. If it’s raining I tend to use a cover that covers the whole rifle.

 

[glasshalffull]

Once met a stalker from Fermanagh who's right eyebrow looked neanderthal due to it being a good half inch prominent compared to his left brow which didn't, the result from too little eye relief given to his scope mounted on his 375 H&H, ouch .

Also took him a good while to get over a flinch for some reason .

 

[Jon P]

I suspect not, but your scope and your rifle, pull the trigger and find out.

Just make sure you have enough distance between the scope and your eyebrow...


View attachment 384785

Been shooting rifles most of my life- now mid 50’s- never been caught by a scope until this year, twice within 3 months, with different rifles- 308 & 30-06- just hoping it is not going to be a third

 

[glasshalffull]

The swaro scopes I use all have compressible rubber lipped eyepieces and I favour the low recoiling swede round so can't see it personally ever being a problem .

 

[Jon P]

The swaro scopes I use all have compressible rubber lipped eyepieces and I favour the low recoiling swede round so can't see it personally ever being a problem .

My first one was with my Hik Alpex, had not noticed I had lost the rubber eye piece so got to close and second was a prone shot at a fallow using my rucksack as a rest at an awkward angle. Both strikes bled like a stuck pig.

 

[Dickie]

You might want to leave room for scope cap (or bikini cover, or whatever you might use)

I had this issue on an old Steyr manlicher though mainly from the rear sight ramp so got a clip in camera lens cover for the objective lens.

 

[glasshalffull]

My first one was with my Hik Alpex, had not noticed I had lost the rubber eye piece so got to close and second was a prone shot at a fallow using my rucksack as a rest at an awkward angle. Both strikes bled like a stuck pig.

Did it result in developing the dreaded flinch?

 

[Jon P]

Thankfully not that I have noticed. just does make me more mindful prior to the shot on head position..

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I hate dust caps. They get in the way of a cap or hat, and especially the metal ones bloody hurt if you get the rifle too close. I much prefer the neoprene type covers. Make sure they are orange so you can find them easily when you remove them in haste. If it’s raining I tend to use a cover that covers the whole rifle.

Picked a set of vortex ones up yesterday that fold over flat against the top of the scope so they don't catch. Quite a good design, saves getting them caught in the midge net too