Scope Problems !!

2289 Views 16 Replies 3 Participants Last post by SWO1, Aug 30, 2014

SWO1

Discussion Starter · May 18, 2014

I took the Simmons 24X off of the Marlin XT-22 and put it on the Sears Ranger 22. I had picked up a Simmons 10X32 target scope at a gun show some time last year and havnt shot it on anything yet. Mounted it on the XT, bore sighted it at 25 yds. All other time this got it on paper at least at 50 yds. Well not this time. I fooled with it for well over 100 rds. After getting it to within 1" or so of center (for 5 shots) when I make a Left/Right adjustment the Elevation goes to the North 40 on me. Make an elevation adjustment and the windage takes off. Guess I got a lemon. Will try some different rings as now I have a set of adjustables on it, I don't like em. They could be the problem, I hope so.

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greyhawk50

· #2 · May 19, 2014

I feel your pain. Hope you get it figured out.
Over the years, I've owned a variety of working class scopes.
People will swear by what they have and yet someone else thinks they stink. Like anything else, there are good and bad with any brand name.

Keep in mind that I've never owned a high dollar scope, that being said;
My experience with the less expensive name brand scopes;
Have yet to have a problem with a Center Point. Never heard of any problem from anyone that I know who has one.
I've owned several BSAs and only had 1 that wouldn't hold point of impact.
Of all the Tasco that I've had, there were a couple that I remember having trouble with.
My least favorite is Bushnell & Simmons, in that order. Maybe you get what you pay for?
I have heard very good reviews on the Nikon Prostaff, but I've never owned one.

Don't mean to offend anyone. These are my thoughts bases on experience.
Never could bring myself to spend hundreds of dollars on a scope so I probably have missed out on having the best.

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SWO1

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 19, 2014

Like you Grayhawk I have 3 Centerpoint scopes, 2 on .308s and 1 on the 30-06 and no problems at all. Well except for the rings that come with them, the screws strip out.

I paid $75 for the Simmons 10X32. It wasn't in a box with no papers. The ones in the box were $159. The Simmons 24X has been great. Was on the Rem 700 Bench Rifle I bought 12 years ago, went to the Marlin X7 .223 and now is on the .22s. The BSA 36X has been super also. I should have known, the Variable X Target Scopes generally have a bad rep. The Fixed power are more reliable.

Without a doubt the best scope I have had was a Nikon Buckmaster. I should have kept it but let it go with the Rem 700 .308. It was the most $$ I have ever paid for a scope.

I have tried to shoot Leapolds but they just don't seem clear to me.

greyhawk50

· #4 · May 20, 2014 (Edited)

I have a 4X BSA on my 50 cal. CVA Optima Muzzle Loader. Another 4X BSA as a spare.
My 7X30 Waters Thompson Contender Carbine has a 4X16 Center point.
My 7.62X54R Russian has a 2X7 AIM pistol/scout scope.
And the Marlin M60SS has a 3X9 SA (Springfield Armory) scope.
Well pleased with all of them.
The SA was mounted on another rifle?? When I sold the rifle, I kept the scope. I just researched the 3X9 SA scope on-line and they want $240 - $499 used?? That's more than I thought they were worth???? Wowzer!! If I was going to spend $240+ for a scope, I'd buy a Nikon. Not sure who makes scopes for SA??

I also have 3 Sight Mark Holo-graphic Reflex Red Dots. One on my Crossbow and 2 spares.

I've found the Tasco Scopes to be fuzzy. Maybe just my old eyes.

Bucky

· #5 · May 22, 2014 (Edited)

Gee whizz guy's
I save up a bit longer, and use quality scopes, and mounts, as in the past, when I could not afford quality, only to find nothing but grief, every time I went out.

SWO1
Check your mounts, also, as on thr .444 marlin, every time I fired it the scope would shift a little. I can recall putting some grey tape around the scope, and it has shot supurbly for the last 15 years.

I have a Leupold VX 1 on my .222, A Bushnell Elite, on the .270... A Bushnell shotgun scope on the .444..
I have Ziess conquest scopes on the 338 WM, and the 375 H & H..

All shoot well.
Cheers Bucky

SWO1 said:
I took the Simmons 24X off of the Marlin XT-22 and put it on the Sears Ranger 22. I had picked up a Simmons 10X32 target scope at a gun show some time last year and havnt shot it on anything yet. Mounted it on the XT, bore sighted it at 25 yds. All other time this got it on paper at least at 50 yds. Well not this time. I fooled with it for well over 100 rds. After getting it to within 1" or so of center (for 5 shots) when I make a Left/Right adjustment the Elevation goes to the North 40 on me. Make an elevation adjustment and the windage takes off. Guess I got a lemon. Will try some different rings as now I have a set of adjustables on it, I don't like em. They could be the problem, I hope so.

SWO1

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 23, 2014

I changed rings today on it. Put on a pair of Redfields. ALL is well now. I figured it was the adjustable rings. Sighted it in at 25 yards with CCI SV. Nice little tight groups. Moved out to the 50 and the CCIs went to crap. Put 30 rounds of Federal Ultra Match UM22. Back to all 5 touching. Still have a lot of different ammo to try but the Federal looks promising.

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Bucky

· #7 · May 23, 2014

SWO1
I use Leupold rings, and if anyone turns up, to my "man cave", with cheap rings, I usually try and talk then into doing the same

SWO1

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 24, 2014

Bucky said:
SWO1
I use Leupold rings, and if anyone turns up, to my "man cave", with cheap rings, I usually try and talk then into doing the same

Leupold are good rings. I would like to get a set of BKL rings. However they are for Dovetail mounts, and I have the Weaver style bases. I am thinking about putting on a Weaver to Dovetail Adaptor. Always tinkering with the guns ........ trying to squeeze out another .005" out of the little holes ......

SWO1

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 22, 2014

After foolin around with Simmons scope on the 39 ranger, yesterday I took it to another smith a little further up the road. My neighbor uses him and recommended him. He looked at the base adjustment the other smith did and pointed out a couple things wrong with it. He does have a milling machine along with a gun lathe and makes barrels also. Said he would look it over good and FIX IT RIGHT. I left it and this morning he gave me a call. Said he had the bases and rings right. BUT ...... the spring in the scope that moves right windage was BAD. I was afraid of that. Sometimes it would move but would not hold. I will pick up the gun tomorrow and get another scope. He also said the barrel was threaded and not pinned, probley why it shot good. Also will look at the trigger and see if he can lower the pull weight before I pick it up.

Bucky

· #10 · Aug 23, 2014

SWO1
Looks like a new scope, Mate

my fox shooting partner, just spent $900 on a Vortex 6-24x50 FFP, for his new Styer 308.

Makes me drool too !

No doubt that will get a run on the Foxes, why I don't know, but because he can seems a probable answer

Cheers
Bucky

SWO1

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 24, 2014

Right on Bucky. Picked up the rifle today. He had milled the bases and now they sit flush, tight and are in perfect alignment. I took along the 32X off the Marlin XT to check it out. He said he wanted me satisfied before he let it go. We mounted the scope and took it out and shot it. Shot off the front bumper of his brush truck. Was connecting the dots at about 30 yards with CCI standard velocity. First 5 shots were about 2" out at 7 o'clock. Took another 10 rounds and she was dialed in. He also had worked on the trigger and it is light. Havnt put the gauge on it yet but feels 1000% better. Total cost ...... $25

Factor in the approx. 80 mile round trip in my fuel efficient truck ( 11 mpg ) and shooting up a box of my ammo $4 a box and total was in reality about $80.

No hurry to get the new scope yet. Have a match the 7 of sept. but shoot the Savage MKII for lunch money. I just like the old 39 vintage rifle. Its fun to out shoot the boys with Big $$ in rifles with a lot of cosmetics bells and whistles, i.e. 10-22 Rugers with it.

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Bucky

· #12 · Aug 24, 2014

SWO1
I remember some years back, I had an Erma lever action .22 Magnum, with open sights. It shot terrible
I put a Nikkon Gold 6x42 or an 8x42 from what I remember, and never missed "skippy" actually a Bennet's Wallaby again.

Shot thousands of them, as they were in plague proportion, and the local fishermen used them for "Cray bait"
I think you guy's call them "Rock Lobsters"
Cheers
Bucky

Bucky

· #13 · Aug 24, 2014

SWO1
Sorry Mate !
I should of added, those little Marlin XT22's are gr8 little rifles

Cheers

SWO1

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 29, 2014

I found a set of Leapold adjustable rings I had forgot I had. Ive already ordered a set of Millet Adjustables. Oh Well, now will have two sets.

Rounded up another 24X scope, set it to "0". By adjusting the rings looked right on at 25 Yards by bore sighting. Using some Remington Target ammo I picked up yesterday at the local Hardware store, first 5 shots were low and left less than 2". I shot another 5 and they came in some. Cranked a few handfuls of right and it was RIGHT ON !!. Continued to put about 30 rounds down range and it was holding about .5" group. Switched to CCI SV and the groups shrank to inside 3/8". I will continue testing it till the 7th of sept when the next match is. I only have a little less than a box of Midas + left which is what it REALLY LIKES.

greyhawk50

· #15 · Aug 29, 2014

Gotta love it when a plan comes together.
Glad to hear of your success.

Bucky

· #16 · Aug 30, 2014

SWO1
One thing I have forgotten to mention this time, is when dialing in scopes, I wind the power up flat out.
By doing this you are eliminating any chance of variation, and any discrepancies, or user mistakes, can only get smaller.

Hope that makes sense ?

Cheers
Bucky

SWO1

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 30, 2014

Bucky said:
SWO1
One thing I have forgotten to mention this time, is when dialing in scopes, I wind the power up flat out.
By doing this you are eliminating any chance of variation, and any discrepancies, or user mistakes, can only get smaller.

Hope that makes sense ?

Cheers
Bucky

Good advice Bucky, I do the same thing when lining up a new Hunting Scope. After its on, I then shoot it at various powers to see what happens. Most of my hunting scopes are variable, wide angle, 4-14X. I sight them in at 14X, but do most of my shooting at critters at 50-75 yds with 4-6X.

Target scopes are a little different animal. I picked up the new 24X from an ole boy who was trying to hunt with it. If the distance changed he had to crank on the Focus ring and put up with the SMALL field of view. FOV is normally 10X smaller on a target scope than a hunting scope. Fixed power is the best, and for me probley in a hunting scope also. The matches I shoot are at Known Distance, 50yd for rimfire, and 100 yd for center fire. When the 10 ring is .100" at 50 yards I need all the X factor I can get. I shoot a 36X for that, and only because I don't have a 50X or higher ....... yet !!

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