20 MOA Rail and Close Range Shots

[lovetohunt93]

I was thinking about using a custom action for a bolt build (hunting rifle) but most of them only come with 20 MOA rails with no option to get a rail in 0 MOA. With a 20 MOA rail, are shots between 10-100 yards still possible or will a scope's elevation adjustment top out before being able to reach a close range zero?

I was hoping to get a 50 yard zero on this setup. Gun would be chambered in 450 Bushmaster to accommodate for MI's straight wall only zone.

 

[Varminterror]

If you buy a scope with less than 40moa of internal adjustment, you made a mistake before you ever made it to the field. Yes, you should be able, with most quality scopes, to zero at 50 or 100yrds even on top of a 20moa base. Any optic SHOULD have more than 45moa internal adjustment, so cutting out 20 on the rail leaves you near the top of the range.

Another option would be to use Burris Signature Zee rings, or XTR Signature rings with the pos-align inserts. You could counteract the rail offset with the inserts to have a net zero MOA, or better still, correct your zero to be optically centered.

Not that it matters because I generally consider a 20moa rail an advantage, but: Which custom action does not offer a 0moa rail? I would steer clear if they can’t offer anything but 20moa, not because 20moa is a problem, but because there’s something fundamentally wrong with what they are doing as a custom action manufacturer.

 

[lovetohunt93]

If you buy a scope with less than 40moa of internal adjustment, you made a mistake before you ever made it to the field. Yes, you should be able, with most quality scopes, to zero at 50 or 100yrds even on top of a 20moa base. Any optic SHOULD have more than 45moa internal adjustment, so cutting out 20 on the rail leaves you near the top of the range.

Another option would be to use Burris Signature Zee rings, or XTR Signature rings with the pos-align inserts. You could counteract the rail offset with the inserts to have a net zero MOA, or better still, correct your zero to be optically centered.

Not that it matters because I generally consider a 20moa rail an advantage, but: Which custom action does not offer a 0moa rail? I would steer clear if they can’t offer anything but 20moa, not because 20moa is a problem, but because there’s something fundamentally wrong with what they are doing as a custom action manufacturer.

I like the idea of using those Burris rings to counteract the rail incline!

As for scopes, I got a little crazy at the end of 2018 buying scopes that had really good deals on them. I am not sure which one will go on the rifle yet, but these are the 3 I currently have awaiting a rifle to put them on:

Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm - 120 moa of elevation adjustment
Vortex Razor HD LH 2-10x40mm - 90 moa of elevation adjustment
Vortex Razor HD LH 1.5-8x32mm - 110 moa of elevation adjustment

I first bought the Leupold, but then couldn't pass up the Vortex's at an insane deal.

As for the actions I am considering, most likely either a Bighorn or Defiance. Both of those companys have actions with 0 moa rails but those are on their higher end actions that cost $1,200+. They also make "budget" actions that have less options (like only offering 20moa rails, standard bolt knob, etc) but this makes them a lot cheaper to make/sell (800-900 range). I was hoping to get away with one of the budget actions as it is a lot cheaper.

 

[Varminterror]

Get the Defiance Deviant, get it with a 20moa rail, zero any of the scopes you listed at 100, dial Or hold under a skosh for 50, and live happy.

I know it feels like a guy is saving money on budget minded actions, but in the overall spend and overall cost of ownership of the rifle, the rifle is really the cheapest part.

 

[98Z]

If you buy a scope with less than 40moa of internal adjustment, you made a mistake before you ever made it to the field. Yes, you should be able, with most quality scopes, to zero at 50 or 100yrds even on top of a 20moa base. Any optic SHOULD have more than 45moa internal adjustment, so cutting out 20 on the rail leaves you near the top of the range.

This hits it. I haven't seen too many scopes out there that only have 40 MOA of adjustment, only. If you find one like that, just avoid it. Most modern scopes have alot more than that, and you'd easily be able to adjust up to get the zero you need or want, with a 20 MOA integrated (mount or upper).

If you're working in mils, on a scope, that 20 MOA base equals 5.8-ish mils. Any mil scope will do that.

 

[otisrush]

I ordered a custom action a few weeks ago. (Won't be in for a while.) Although the specs said it came with a 20 MOA rail, when I ordered it they asked if I wanted a 0 or 20 MOA rail. (I got the 20.) So whoever you get it from may be willing to do a zero if you want. (I ordered a Kelbly.)

All that being said, as others have said, as long as your scope has relatively reasonable amount of available elevation adjustment, you should be able to get to a 50 yd zero IMHO.