ok,got a scope mount question

[bladerunner]

I'm sure this has been posted on before,but with the words "scope" "allignment" and "mount" i'd be lookin through about 60 pages   :-D

ok,how do you mount a scope and be SURE the crooshairs are perfectly horizontal and vertical?
also,how much does it matter?

every gun i've seen with a scope has SOMEBODY that will SWEAR it's crooked   :-D

[mountainview]

I just use levels and a gun vise which generally do an "ok" job and then "tweak" if necessary to get crosshairs so they appear level when I shoulder that rifle. I also like to use a plumb bob to check the vertical alignment, not fancy but seems to work for me. I've never had any problems when sighting in at 100 yards or when hunting.

If the hairs are a little off, should not be a big deal but if it is noticeable to you when looking through the scope, you may tend to tilt the rifle to compensate so they appear to be aligned which can change the POI.  If the hair alignment is way out of whack, a horizontal adjustment also causes vertical shifting in the group and cause some grief when sighting in.

[CJ]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=360476
If the link works, if not go to Midways web site, or any other big shooting supply and search Segway reticle leveler. Brass bar lays across the flats of the base and you line up the crosshairs with the lines on the big plastic flag. This only works if your bases are D&Ted level to the receiver, but Ive only run across one factory rifle where they weren't. Someone will still pick up your rifle and think its crooked, 99% of them are holding the rifle crooked. There are bubble levels that snap on your scope "kant cant or something like that" to make sure you are not canting the rifle.
Most important thing is the that crosshairs are good for YOU.

[Keith L]

Most important thing is the that crosshairs are good for YOU.

Well said!

[longgun]

BR,   from my experience you might not want the cross hairs in your scope to be pertinduclar.   What you need to do is mount your scope then take the rifle out where you can look at something that is verticle, like the edge of a house or building ( something that is straight up and down).  Move the scope around in the rings untill the vertical crosshair is aligned with the fixture you are looking at while you shoulder the rifle.  This will make the scope be mounted correctly for the way you hold the rifle.  The way I hold my rifle the cross hairs are a little canted and someone that picks my gun up and looks through the scope tells me that my scope is canted.  Maybe so, but it is right for the way I hold my rifle.  FWIW,  don

[bladerunner]

Thanks for the replies and the info  

[skip]

I use a bore scope to mount my scopes.
The bore scope runs on an arc off the center of the barrel and the scope runs on  it's own centerline. there is only one scope position where both the borescope vertical line and the scope vertical line line up.

As for the shooting, it depens on what you are doing.
cant on paper punching and small game hunting you will see on the target.
if the gun is canted the POI will move right & left as you shoot different ranges.  
On big game you will not see the cant.

I see a miss mounted scope when sighting in.
If you make say a vertical adjustment and the POI  moves right or lift it is a good bet the scope is not mounted right and it is time to get out the bore scope