I have a mid '80s Winchester 70 in .300 Win Mag, so it's a push feed gun. It came to me (used) with those execrable Holden IronSighter ultra high rings on it. I have taken them off, and put on Leupold two piece bases (appropriate for the gun, per the labeling) with Leupold dovetail rings.

The problem is, the gun is shooting so low, I can't dial enough "up" into the Leupold VX II to be even remotely close to on target. I mean, I'm 6" low at 25 and 8" low at 50, so I am a long way off.

What's going on? Is there a shim kit for the rear mount, should I take the front mount off and see if there's a burr making it ride high on the receiver, or is there something else funky going on.

The rifle is accurate and consistent; when I shot it with the Holden rings, it performed flawlessly, it was just horribly uncomfortable and hard to get a good cheek weld and sight picture.

Is there a front and back base? And are they oriented properly? I remember something special about my 70 bases. They are the double dovetail type.

All I got.

quote:

Originally posted by reflex/deflex 64:
Is there a front and back base?

Ooh: Good question.

What model number bases did you get?

Get and use a something like the Wheeler Engineering Scope Ring Alignment Tool. I made mine up after seeing the Brownells one about 25 years ago. They will show problems if you have them when scope mounting.

These are for 1" rings they also make them for 30MM.


https://www.midwayusa.com/prod...ing-alignment-tool-1

https://www.brownells.com/guns...nt-rods-prod833.aspx

There is a front mount and a rear mount. I got the ones with the windage adjustment screws, so that is clearly the rear mount.

ETA, I'll see if I still have the packaging or invoice as that will have the model number on them.

Did you play around with that old vxII before taking it off? I wonder if it was already bottomed out before.

I have zerosd that Scope on multiple rifles, it's in like new condition and has had an easy life.
I don't think there's anything wrong with the scope.

Artie, what newmexican is saying is the adjustment on the scope may have been bottomed out already. The way to check for where the reticle is, is to crank the adjuster all the way down, then crank it all the way up counting the rotations on the way up. Then back the adjuster back down by half of the number you counted. That should put the reticle at the mid point of adjustment.

I would suggest you scrap the two piece bases and rings and go to a EGW one piece base (1913 type) 20moa high. My 2 cents.

There’s a simple way to center the reticle in the scope that was explained to me by a Leupold tech.

Remove any lens caps or sunshades and place a mirror against the front lens ring. In looking through the scope you should be able to see the reticle and a reflection of the reticle. Turn the elevation and windage adjustments until the reticle and the reflection coincide. The reticle is then centered in the scope.

I’ve found it’s easier to see the reflection of the reticle with some scopes than with others, and it some times helps to vary the magnification power.

quote:

should I take the front mount off and see if there's a burr making it ride high on the receiver, or is there something else funky going on.

Or a bump or flat spot on the inside of the front ring that's preventing the scope from sitting down as far as it should?

quote:

Originally posted by beltfed21:
Artie, what newmexican is saying is the adjustment on the scope may have been bottomed out already. The way to check for where the reticle is, is to crank the adjuster all the way down, then crank it all the way up counting the rotations on the way up. Then back the adjuster back down by half of the number you counted. That should put the reticle at the mid point of adjustment.

I understand. I used that method to return the scope to midpoint for both windage and elevation before installing it in the new rings.

I agree that a one piece base may be a better option and will consider that as a potential solution.

As Expert308 Notes, there may also be a flat spot in the ring that is keeping it from seating properly.

Thanks for all the suggestions; I will keep at it a bit and see if I can find a solution before I start replacing parts.