Fresh Out of the Box Rifle & Scope [help]

[704338]

So, I just bought a 7mm Rem Mag a few hours ago. My first rifle I felt like I could call my own. I was looking through the scope before I mounted it and it looked fine. I mounted it and then realized when I had it shouldered, all I could see was a little circle that was way too hard to make anything out. If I hold my eye to the scope I can still see fine.I know this sounds really bad, but I've never had anyone to show me what to do. Can someone explain to me in complete dumbed-down terms as to what I should do? Thanks for the help.

 

[Strongbad]

What model is the scope (just for reference).

Sounds to me like you've just got the scope positioned wrong, so when your putting the gun to your shoulder the eye relief is no good. If you're too far from the scope you're generally going to end up with a black ring around the outside. If it's blurry, and it has a parallax adjustment (the far end of the scope turns and is marked with yardage) then the parallax might need to be adjusted so that it's focused on whatever you're looking at. Last but not least, if it's a variable, turn the magnification down on it while you're getting it set up.

If I missed anything, I'm sure it'll be covered... and then some.

 

[Cypress]

Your eye relief is jacked up. Loosen the screws in the rings so that you can move the scope back and forth. Shoulder the gun and look through the scope. Adjust it back or forward so that you have a full field of vision when your in shooting position. If its a variable power scope turn it up to the max. Tighten the screws. Go shoot something!!!!

 

[Cypress]

Strongbad beat me!!! Hmmmm... I turn my variable's to max. I'm not sure who's right.

 

[Jst1mr]

There are a few "tricks" to scope mounting that you may not be aware of (lapping, ring screw torqueing, etc)...would suggest you work with a gunsmith on this setup to get the most out of your rifle/scopes capabilities.

 

[704338]

Okay, well I think I understand most of what y'all are saying but when I took the rifle out of the box it had places where you put the base of the rings at already there. There's no where else to mount the rings so I was like okay, that sounds easy.. So I put the scope on and the rings go right where the scope begins to bevel out on each side of the scope so there's no way I can slide it either forward or backward. When I look through the scope it's almost solid blackness except a 1/4in circle of vision in the middle I can see through.

I hope that helps.

 

[RKellogg]

If this is your first time mounting a scope , you should take it to a gun smith and let him do it . And if he will let you , watch him and ask some question . You might have to send a few $ but it will be cheaper than the emergency room vist if you mount the scope too far back on that 7mag .

 

[dagger dog]

If you have no room to slide the scope back and forth to set up the eye relief, you have the wrong ring scope combo for the rifle.

Some questions what make rifle and scope, and who made the scope bases and rings.?

 

[highlander 5]

Is it possible that he has the scope on backwards?

 

[sgtcap]

Would it be possable to post picture so we can make sure your not overlooking something obvious? Its might save a whole lot of guessing.

 

[dogmush]

Another vote for backwards. If the scope came in rings, and they fit the rifle that only has one spot to mount rings, odds are it's a package and was set up at the factory. Try turning the scope around. Can't hurt. What kind of rifle and scope is it anyway? Can you post pics?

 

[704338]

The rifle is a Savage 7mm Rem Mag

The scope is Simmons [I believe] 3x9x40







[horrible quality due in part to rushing to work and taken with my phone. sorry]

 

[dagger dog]

7,

It may have the bases mounted on the receiver wrong, take the scope and rings off, and see if you can either swap the front and rear bases, or turn them around to gain some front to back clearence on the scope bells. Some bases have more than one notch for the Weaver style recoil cross bolt on the ring.

If you have to swap the bases to get the proper fit make sure to clean out the threaded holes in the receiver with alcohol and Q tips. They usually don't do that if its a pacakage rifle.

Clean all the mounting surfaces,and I use some blue Loctite on the base to receiver screws.

If you have a gun type screw driver kit have at it. If not go back and buy one, or go to Wallys place and they have an inexpensive one there under 10 bucks.It will keep you from sctatching your new set up. Household drivers don't fit the screws properly.

If for some reason you can't gain enough eye releif, you will have to buy the correct bases or off set rings.

The 7mm mag recoil requires that you have at a minimum 3 inches of eye releif to keep the scope from recoiling into the eyebrow (red eyebrow). I would like to have more.

It takes some time to get the scope set up just the way you need to on some rifles don't get discouraged or worse yet rush the job, take your time and figure it out it's just a big puzzle to solve.

You may have to get a different mount ring set up, but one plus is you gain the experiance, and you get to check out more rifle related stuff!

 

[704338]

Alright, cool. Thanks for all the help. The rifle actually came with 2 sets of rings. One set was on the scope and one was in a baggy. I put the ones on from the baggy. When I get home I'll try some of the suggestions here and then if that doesn't work I'll try out the other rings.

Also, would it be worth buying a laser bore sight to get near zero? Especially seeing as how I'm paying a dollar a shell? :x

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Lookit:

If you have to hold your eye up to the scope to see anything, then it makes no difference whether the scope is adjusted properly - you are still going to get hurt pretty badly when you fire it, from scope eye (recoil). So, you could adjust it backward a bit as described above, but you're still heading for trouble with a big boomer like that. What you need - the real issue - is a new scope with good eye relief. Leupolds have the best eye relief - look at Leupold Rifleman, VX1, VX2, VX3, depending on your budget. Sightrons also have pretty good eye relief, as does Zeiss.

 

[bejay]

would recomend getting it boresighted if you get the other problems fixed if you can figure out how to move the scope back further by moving or changing the rings or bases, while eye relief is important 3-4 inches should be plenty and if your scope doesnt allow that much then you should get another scope but the scope may not be at fault if the rifle stock doesnt really fit your body well when shouldered you will probably have much of the same problem with any scope.

 

[704338]

The rifle shoulders beautifully and the display I handled at Dick's was very clear. I don't understand why they would put a scope with a gun that has a 1/2 in eye relief. Maybe I have reason to call and complain? My budget may be able to fit a scope but it definitely won't fit a Leupold. I may have around $50 to play with. I'd like to get a scope that will put me through hunting season. I also understand you get what you pay for.

Any suggestions for a good scope for near $50?

Or anyone nice enough to overnight me a great free Leupold? Haha.

Thanks for all the feedback so far!

 

[Jst1mr]

$50?!?! Add an additional "0" for a "good" scope that can do justice to your rifle...what did you buy this FOR, anyway? A great rifle with junk glass is junk, period.

 

[704338]

Well, sir. I planned on using the factory scope until I got through hunting season and then buying a more desirable scope next spring. I understand I won't get the best for $50. I just wanted something that would do.

 

[Jst1mr]

Sorry, just floored me a bit, there. I still don't think there is a thing wrong with your scope though, and would +1 suggest a quick trip to the gunsmith. As I mentioned, there are several keys to getting this right, and in a heavy-recoiling weapon, it PAYS to get it right, believe me.

 

[bejay]

there is no manufacturers that I know of that would make a scope with a 1/2 inch of eye relief I suppose that its possible you may have got a defective one but even most simmons are listed to be 3 inches or more for eye relief.
you cant buy much for 50 bucks you would probably be looking at a tasco,the world class 3-9 by 40 is usually around 50 bucks it would get you by until you could afford a better one but not sure thats your problem.

 

[704338]

Also, to answer your question as to why I bought it. I bought of so I could build it up and work on it. I want to use it for hunting, precision shooting, and long range shooting. I had no intentions of keeping a shoddy scope on my baby.

 

[704338]

Once I get home I'll play with it some more and if I can't find anything wrong I'll give Dick's a call and see about a replacement. Also, anyone know of a good 7mm accessory site? [stocks, triggers, etc]

 

[Jst1mr]

Sounds like your hunt is close at hand, though (?). If you need a get-by cheapie, it may help us to know what, how, and where you are planning on hunting....deer/elk, in the brush/mountains, 100yd shots/400yd shots, etc. I had the Tasco that bejay mentioned on a rifle years ago, and it "got by" for short range whitetails for a year or so, but would never have dreamt of taking it to the mountains...long since given way to Leupolds across the board.

 

[mr.trooper]

Your looking through it correctly right?

If your not looking dead center through it, you wont have much of a sight picture, even if the eye relief is fine.

I'm not trying to call you stupid or anything, its just that for all purposes your scope is mounted fine, and i just don't see what else the problem could be.