chasing zero

R

rr41mag

New member
I just read an article in peterson's hunting mag on sighting in your hunting scope and chasing zero around on the paper. I have never thought of this before but in theory it does sound correct. The author of the article also said that scope price/quality didn't really matter. He based his theory on the fact that scopes are mechanical instruments and they do wear out.

His article went on to state that it may be advised to lightly tap the scope in between shots to settle it in place or to fire two shots in between scope adjustments.

I guess the reason I am so curious about this is that I have a 700 BDL topped with a tasco and seem to have the same problem. sorta. Anyone else? comments? suggestions?




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A son is the best friend you'll ever have!
 
I was raised to shoot three shots and then move the center of the group. If the groups are larger than one inch, I usually start working over the system so it'll do what I want--which is sub-moa, reliably.

(For a rifle I"ll use only for hunting, and where I know the ranges will be inside 200 yards, I'm much less picky.)

Tasco scopes seem to vary. Some folks do well with them; others gripe. I dunno.

What your cartridge? What size groups do you now get?

It's a starting point,

Art
 
"The author of the article also said that scope price/quality didn't really matter."

It is enough to say that this statement disqualifies the Petersons guy in the knowledge department. It's the equivilent of saying that the $39.00 Tasco Golden Antler is the equal of the Nightforce NSX. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"His article went on to state that it may be advised to lightly tap the scope in between shots to settle it in place............"

This has some credibility. A good quality scope will not require this, but knowledgable shooters will always adjust the scope into the spring tension. ie: when going "up" you are going away from the internal srping load of the scope tube. So an adjustment of 4 clicks would be made as 6 clicks UP and then
back DOWN into the spring tension 2 clicks.

"........or to fire two shots in between scope adjustments."

I want to utter a long string of expletives at this utter nonsense.

Poor advice and an abjectly worthless expenditure of ammunition and barrel life as a piss poor replacement for good practice.

Cheap scopes have as a common flaw the inability to hold a constant zero. That's not to say that if you replace your Tasco with a $200.00 Bushnell you'll cure the problem. There are scopes that are utterly repeatable, Bausch and Laumb, Leupold, Nightforce, the Tasco SS series to name a few. Some will cost a small fortune and others won't. A good rule of thumb is that if Big K or wal MArt inventory it, it's not a scope in the "good" catagory.

Sorry for the rambling. I hope the Petersons
"expert" happens upon this.
 
I now own a leupold on top of an encore 7mm with a bull barrel. I don't seem to have any problems the author was talking about in this article. Personally it was hard justifying $249 bucks for a scope but it shows on paper.



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A son is the best friend you'll ever have!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Michael:
Sorry for the rambling. I hope the Petersons "expert" happens upon this.[/quote]

That's why I don't read G&A or anything else from Petersen Press anymore.

Anybody up for some "fast double action work" at 7 yards? ;)

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Shoot straight & make big holes, regards, Richard at The Shottist's Center

[This message has been edited by 45King (edited October 19, 2000).]
 
Good news. I can sell my $700 Leupold and replace it with a $20 BEC and expect the same results. Hey my tax $$ wont have to go towards buying those $1000+ Mk4'f for the military guys anymore. With all the $$ I can save, I can finally buy that FAL I have been looking at. It seems that this "expert" has some learning to do. My practice has been to shoot 3 round groups and adjust to that rather than single shots. Those who have more long gun experience and know their rifles well may not need to do this, but I do. If I can shoot a good group I know that I am not adjusting my zero based on a trigger jerk, flinch... or atleast I am doing it consistently enough to safely assume I will continue to make the same mistake. Taping the scope is not a bad idea as you can get caought half way between clicks inadvertantly, especailly with cheap scopes whose adjustments aren't that great to begin with.
 
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