by Bennybigbores » 10 Oct 2014, 7:10 pm
A badly unlevel reticle also has effects on acuracy at longer ranges, here for a dramatic example if it was off set at 45* and you were to somehow hold that rifle so the cross hairs were flat, the centre of your cross hair is no longer directly above your bore, say sight height 1 1/2" your bore is now say 1/2 inch to left or right which adds up, say you zero at 50m, the bullet starts 1 1/2 in low and say 1/2 in right hits smack on at 50m but the projectile started to the right has travel left to hit 50m zero and will continue travelling straight which my amplify to 2+ inches at 200 etc.
Like I said 45* is an example only but even a ten or so degree angle has same effect, so I always try my hardest to level and centre my scopes perfectly, can also encounter this prob with cheap nasty Chinese mounts that are badly manufactured and offset scope, can be compensated for of course but it will frustrate you to no end until you find the problem, my .22lr smack on at 25m 1 1/2 right at 60m etc due to cheap nasty offset in scope rings.
Had a Konus scope with level built in was handy to judge canting which can play a large roll in the long shots
Howa axiom varmint .243
C.Gustav 6.5x55 (sporterised)
Savage mkII T.hole varmint 17hmr
Chiappa lever action 12g
Baikal S.Shot .308
Mossberg plinkster .22
Norinco lever .22
E.T.C