Author Topic: Shims on a Handi Scope Mount? (Read 583 times)

student · « **on:** January 25, 2005, 01:57:48 AM »

It looks like I will need to shim the mount in front to increase the elevation on my .308 Handi. I have never done this before and wonder if anyone has any experience/advice?

Thanks,

Student

Mac11700 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2005, 04:32:21 AM »

Student:

What yardages are you trying to zero at? I've never had to do this for any of my Handi's...

Mac

student · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2005, 04:56:10 AM »

Just for 100 yds. I had the same scope on the same base and it was ok, but I took the scope off and when re mounting it found that it needs to come up in front so I can start off with the settings set for the middle.

Its a el cheapo Tasco scope, maybe that's the reason. I'm thinking to put either some thin washers or other thin steel with a hole in it between the mount and the barrel using the mount screw and friction to hold it in place.

I read that some people use a set of feeler gages to give a supply of different width shims.

I know it is pretty weird, I don't absolutely need to do it, but then my scope will start out near the end of its adjustment range, and I don't like that too much.

Any ideas/advice is appreciate, Mac.

Student

Mac11700 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2005, 05:19:28 AM »

Well...If your scope is at the end of adjustment...and you still can't get it to zero...it's time for a different scope...trying to shim your base to accomadate this isn't the best thing to do... if it was mine I would either send it back to the repair center..or get another scope...

Mac

ben. · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2005, 05:45:54 AM »

Unless I'm all wet I think you would lower the front or raise the back. Just like open sights you move the rear sight the way you want your bullet to go. The front sight opposite the way you want your bullet to go.

student · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2005, 06:06:56 AM »

no, youre right, Ben, I read it after I posted it and said oops!

student · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2005, 07:09:50 AM »

Mac, I'm pretty sure I can get it to zero at 100 without the shim, but I still wanted a lot of free play in my adjustments. Maybe not such a good idea. I guess my operator headspace needs adjustment ;-)

Thanks for your comments.

Student.

ben. · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2005, 03:53:00 PM »

I have received shims from Leupold when I wrote them I needed more adjustment in their scopes. I don't think adding a shim is a bad idea. I have shimed bases.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2005, 04:24:34 PM »

Could you have switched the rings when you had the scope off? If it worked before and does not work now, that's the likeliest possibility.

Shim if you need to. Brownells sells very nice blued steel shims, but I'm not above cutting a shim out of an old credit card.

mag41vance · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2005, 12:16:43 AM »

Are you shimming under the base or under the scope.

aluminum flashing or a soda-pop can will work as well. Shim thickness doesn't need to be thick in such a short distance as a scope base. I have used soda pop cans layed into the ring base to accomplish this. Thin, think thin.

Lapping the rings may also be a solution.

student · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2005, 12:25:18 AM »

I was planning on shimmng under the base. I read that was the way to go, rather than shimming in the ring, which supposedly can cause damage to the scope body.

I think I'll take it to the range and see how it does w/o shims and then maybe re-evaluate.

Thanks, guys, for all the input!

Student