What is the proper mounting height for my scope?

[Big Z]

Okay, dumb question but here goes.  Yesterday I picked out a scope for my shotgun and had it mounted.  Looking through it now on 1.5x I see  most of my barrel in focus and the iron sight is right below the crosshairs-very distracting.  On 4.5x the white tip of this front sight is just at the bottom of the sight picture and creates an out of focus haze covering the bottom of the view.  I've only had a scope on a rifle before and never had this.  The dealer had said you want the scope mounted as low as possible and thats what I had thought too.  Is this something I just have to live with having  the shotgun and low power scope?  If the scope was mounted  higher would this eliminate the problem and is it advisable to what degree before how high is too high?  Would  a different scope be a better idea?  (Its a Bushnell 3200 Elite Firefly 1.5-4.5x32 and this one doesn't seem to glow like the one on display or the advertizments anyway.)

[Robert]

I could be wrong but I thought scopes for shotguns were specially designed for the re-coil....I don't know if the Elite scopes are meant for this application.  As far as scope height and the shadow...  Yes normally I would say as low as possible before the bell touches the barrel.  This will keep the POA closer from 'point blank' to infinity.  I also beleive this is important with any firearm with heavy recoil.  Just try to move a big rock with a short lever....the longer the stick...the easier to move the rock.  I have always thought this would apply to scopes too, if they are way up in the air they would be more prone to movement.  Just my opinions....
As far as the shadow from the front sight....I have the same thing with my Ultra-Mag....it doden't seem to effect my accuracy, and I really like the idea of being able to remove the scope and use the rifle sights if my scope is out of whack on a hunt, so I just live with a little shadow.

[Iowegan]

Robert's post is on target. With a low power scope, you will have a much wider viewing area. You would have to move the scope up 6" or more to eliminate the front sight from view.  Of course that's not a practical solution. You just have to condition yourself to ignore the fuzzy sight.

[gunnut69]

Iowegan- is correct.  There are 2 ways to look at the height issue, ballistically and ergonomically.  Ballistically the closer the center of the scope is to the center of the bore the better the point blank range will be but ergonomically we mount the scope where it is easiest for the eye to access..  Usually they are close enough to the same place that it really doesn't matter.  There is no practical way to get rid of the ghost and on a shotgun that wide field of view is important.  If the scope comes easily to the eye I'd just learn to live with it..

[Big Z]

I was sure I had read somewhere that the Elites had been recoil tested and found on their web site they say " recoil tested to 10,000 rounds of a .375 H&H It seems like a nice little scope for the shotgun as I had liked  the 4200 (the glass is superior) but that either had to be raised up high to clear the rear sight and setting it back farther wouldn't let rings mount  properly.  This scope does rest just inside the rear sight and aligns perfectly when I bring it up.  Thanks guys I did learn something guess I was just hoping that there was a solution but I suppose its something I'll hopefully get used to.

[Robert]

Go with it.  They are an excellent scope.  Just be careful that it docent come back and hit you in the head.   The other thing I forgot to mention is that most shotgun scoped are made with good eye-relief so that you can get back a ways and the recoil wont put the scope in your eye.  I had one on my Savage 22mag/20 gauge combo gun.  One day I was up hunting and I saw a pheasant out about 60 yds, so I figured, what the hell try the 22 mag.....But I mistakenly had the selector set for the shotgun.  I cheeked right up to the gun real close to the scope for the shot, and lo-and-behold I had a 3" Federal Premium chambered.  Ouch, I got a little bloody with that one....The pheasant was very impressed with my highly intelligent move.....he just screeched at me and flew off.

[clodbuster]

Big Z  It's obvious that the scope is just no damn good.   Just send it to me, I've got a great Tasco I'll send you for it.

[Big Z]

Clodbuster,
                  I wish I had gotten Roberts' advice before I had boughten the scope.  Went out Sunday eve to see how it shot and did get dinged between the eyes.  Tried  three different slugs and each time I shot the Winchester Partion Golds they got me.  However they grouped by far the best although much higher than the Rems and Brenekes I tried.  Took gun to  dealer and this time the owner was there and said I must have not been using proper technique as the scope does have 3.6 " of eye relief.  I looked  it up though and Robert is correct I think though since a number of "shotgun" scopes have between 4-5".  Anyway other  reasons I 'm not happy with it are; the Firefly in the 3200  is like a  weak ember compared to the bright glow in the 4200 I was shown in the store, its too long and I cann't  get my end caps on as the rear sight is .125" from the bell and even mounted on low Leupold rings it sits up a little high.  I'm not sure what else to do other than the owner has some compact Leupolds he said he'd sell me that  work well on shotguns with good eye relief.

[gunnut69]

The 3.6 inch eye relief should be enough if in fact you are using it.  Sounds to me as if the scope is set too far back.  Perhaps lengthening the buttstock will help..  A slip on recoil pad will let tyou know for certain.  Making the stock longer will move the scope further from your eye.. hopefully it's let you USE all that 3.6 inches of eye relief..  The 3200 scope is ok and if you don't have the eye relief perhaps removing the rear sight will allow you to move the scope further forward.  If your not using the eye relief you've got a scope with more won't help..

[Big Z]

gunnut69,
               You 've provided me with some good suggestions-I wish you were my dealer!  I haven't had much luck in this outback.  I even asked about adjusting the trigger.  One said shoot at least 500 rounds first (I thought he was kidding but he said I should break it in first), one has them sent out (he doesn't want to open himself to being sued he said), and the third doesn't have anything to do with them at all-again I think a liability issue.  I do like how the gun shoots but my gut tells be I'll be putting a different scope on it

[gunnut69]

Working on the triggers of shotguns can be a horror story but usually something can be done.  You sisn't say what kind of shotgun you had but autoloaders are the worst with pumps not all that far behind.  Some things can be done but it's getting harder and harder to even find a smith who'll work on any trigger let alone that of a shotgun.  People don't have any sense at all.  They see a poor grieving mopther (or father) and a family destroyed by a trajedy but miss the fact that for that son or duaghter to have been killed, someone pointed a loaded weapon at them..  Of course there's no possibility of blaming the parent!!  It has to be the evil gun company or the distributor or whoever!!  It's called personnel responsibility and we as a peoplke need a lot more!!  Of the soap box now and my appologies!!  If your handy there are a few things you can do yourself that may help..  If your interested let us know what kind of shotgun we're dealing with..