TPS scope rings - anyone had reticle leveling problems?

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bcrash15

New member
I read a lot of good reviews, so I picked up a set of TPS scope rings. But I had the hardest time trying to get the reticle level. For those that aren't familiar, TPS instructions say to tighten one side of the ring, then adjust level and then tighten the other side (they are supposedly designed to leave a small gap on the second side). Anyway, that leads into my problem, being that I set the reticle level then fully tighten down the ring, and my reticle was no longer level. The act of tightening down the second side of the ring tweaks the scope in the ring very slightly. I have even experimented and discovered if I loosen the rings, the reticle usually comes back into level. I had to go out and mess with it and finally I was able to start with the reticle canted just the right amount OUT of level, so when tightened it came INTO level.

Am I doing this wrong, or is there some trick I am not aware of? It was such a pain, I dread ever having to take the scope off and have to redo it.
 
That sounds odd to tighten one side all the way then the other, but if that's how it says to do, I guess that's how you do it.

If this is the case it sounds like the Weaver strap rings. What you have to do is angle the crosshairs slightly so that they will be level after you tighten the rings down and it pulls the scope. This takes a lot of practice and can be frustrating, but you will eventually get it. This is what I don't like about the Weaver strap rings, but they are otherwise great rings, and I've got a couple sets I got for free so I use them. I wouldn't buy them though as they are a pain to install correctly.

Another thing you can do is if you are using a one piece base, you can use the feeler gauge trick to level it, and that way when you tighten it down, it can't turn. This is also a good way to go, but only works with a 1 piece base.
 
I had a set of those I bought in a pinch cause I stripped out a set of oooollllddd rings from god know who but they were a pain to level my scope in I finnaly got out my good bits and screwdrivers tightened them like a car wheel in a star pattern 1/2 a turn at a time so that they are all level. I ended up with even spacing all the way around and a level scope. Thats the only way I found to get those things to work. Ugh they **** me off just thinking about it. Do yourself a favor and get some new rings.
 
I don't know much about the TBS rings, but I know for me the Warne vertical split Maxama rings are the best rings I have use for keeping the scope level while tightening the rings. I have them on four different rifles and never had any of the scopes move on me.
 
That sounds odd to tighten one side all the way then the other, but if that's how it says to do, I guess that's how you do it.
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Agreed that it's weird. I got several comments about how I was doing it from my shooting buds, but that's how TPS recommends. :confused:

I eventually did figure out about how much to "pre-set" the rotation so it would align after being tightened. I was using a bubble level on the receiver and setting the scope level against a vertical plumb line. If I remember, it was about 1/4"-1/2" apparent difference between top and bottom of reticle at ~40 yards and the scope at 12x. (i.e. the top of the vertical crosshair was on the line and the bottom was 1/4-1/2" off). Unfortunately I don't remember which way I had to go.

I'm glad that it appears it is not just me. But yeah, I think if I have to do it again I will try tightening them evenly.
 
Did you make sure to line up the notches correctly? IIRC on mine, I had the same problem until I realized the notches on the bottom rings were misaligned with the caps (steel 'W seies). Once I got it right they tightened up nice and have held zero like a champ through 1k+ rounds of .308 in all kinds of weather conditions. In fact I am so pleased with them I just ordered another set for my Barrett!
 
I'm about 95% sure the notches were lined up. I recall reading that in the directions and remember checking it at least a couple times, but I don't specifically remember checking right as I put the scope on the final time (everything should have already been lined up on the bench and read to go at that point.) The next time I take it off I will definitely check that. I've not been disappointed in their performance at all so far, just this "setup" aspect. And, honestly, for a hunting or plinking rifle I wouldn't have cared about or likely even noticed the misalignment.
 
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