Getting your shots to land where you aim starts with a properly mounted scope. Knowing how to mount a rifle scope level is the most critical step that many shooters, unfortunately, rush through. If your scope isn’t perfectly level with your rifle, you’ll fight consistency at every distance, especially at long range. This guide walks you through the tools and steps to get it right the first time, ensuring your rifle performs as it should.
How To Mount A Rifle Scope Level
This process isn’t just about tightening screws. It’s about precision alignment. A level scope ensures that when you adjust your elevation, you’re moving the point of impact truly up and down, and not on a diagonal. A canted scope causes missed shots and frustrating zeroing sessions. Let’s fix that for good.
Gathering Your Essential Tools
You can’t do a professional job without the right tools. Trying to improvise often leads to mistakes. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A solid rifle vise or gun cradle.
- Quality scope rings and a base (matched to your rifle and scope tube diameter).
- A precision torque wrench (inch-pounds, not foot-pounds).
- A set of gunsmithing screwdrivers or bits.
- Degreasing solvent and lubricant.
- Thread-locking compound (like blue Loctite).
- A reliable dual-axis leveling system. This is usually a set of two levels: one for the rifle and one for the scope’s elevation turret.
Don’t skip the torque wrench. Overtightening can crush your scope tube, and undertightening means your scope will shift under recoil. Its a non-negotiable tool.
Step-by-Step Mounting Process
Follow these steps in order. Take your time and double-check each stage before moving on.
1. Prepare the Rifle and Base
First, ensure your rifle is unloaded. Remove the bolt if possible for safety and easier access. Clean all the mounting surfaces on the receiver and the base with degreaser. Any oil or grit here can cause the base to shift. Apply a small drop of thread-locker to the base screws, then torque them to the manufacturer’s specification using your torque wrench.
2. Set the Rifle in a Stable Position
Place your rifle securely in the vise. It should be snug but not so tight that you distort the stock or action. Use padding if needed. The goal is to have the rifle completely stable and roughly level. You’ll fine-tune the level in the next step.
3. Establish a True Rifle Level
This is a foundational step. Place one level (often a flat bar level) across the flat sections of your rifle’s scope base or on the ejection port area. Adjust the rifle in the vise until this level reads perfectly level. The rifle itself must be level before you even think about the scope. Lock the vise down securely.
4. Roughly Position the Scope and Rings
Set the scope rings on the base, but don’t tighten them down. Place the scope into the bottom halves of the rings. This gives you a chance to set the eye relief. With your shouldering the rifle in a natural position, slide the scope forward or back until you get a full, clear field of view with no dark shadowing. Mark this position lightly with a pencil if needed.
5. The Critical Leveling Step
Now, attach your second level to the flat top of the scope’s elevation turret housing. This surface is machined square to the scope’s internal reticle. With the rifle’s level still perfect, gently rotate the scope in the rings until the scope’s level also reads perfectly level. You now have the rifle’s action and the scope’s reticle aligned on the same true level plane.
This part requires patience. Hold the scope steady with one hand while you begin to tighten the ring screws just enough to hold the scope’s position, but still allow for minor adjustments.
6. Final Tightening and Torquing
Follow a specific tightening sequence to avoid putting sideways pressure on the scope tube. This is often called a “criss-cross” or star pattern. Tighten the screws gradually, a little at a time, alternating sides and ends. Your final tightening must be done with the torque wrench to the exact inch-pound value specified by your ring manufacturer. Typically, this is between 15-25 in/lbs, but always check the manual.
After torquing, re-check both levels one final time to ensure nothing shifted during tightening.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a level on an uneven surface: The picatinny rail top or turret cap must be a true flat surface for the level to work.
- Relying on the “eyeball” method: Your eyes are not precise enough for this task. Always use mechanical levels.
- Overtightening: This is the fastest way to damage your expensive optics. The torque wrench is your best friend here.
- Forgetting eye relief: A perfectly level scope in the wrong position is still useless for comfortable, repeatable shooting.
Verifying Your Work
After mounting, its a good idea to do a box test or a plumb line test at the range. This confirms that your elevation adjustments track straight up and down. Simply aim at a vertical line, then crank your elevation up 20 MOA, fire a shot, down 40 MOA, fire, and back up 20 MOA. Your shots should form a straight vertical line.
FAQ Section
Why is a level scope so important?
A level scope ensures your adjustments for windage and elevation are true. If the scope is canted, your elevation adjustments actually move point of impact on a diagonal, causing increasing errors with distance.
Can I mount a scope without a leveling kit?
While possible using a plumb bob method, it’s far less precise and more prone to error. A dedicated leveling kit is a small investment for guaranteed accuracy.
How tight should scope ring screws be?
Always use a torque wrench and follow the scope ring manufacturer’s specifications. A general range is 15-25 inch-pounds, but never guess. Over-tightening is a common cause of scope damage.
Do I need to use Loctite on scope mounts?
Using a small amount of blue (removable) thread-locker on the base screws is highly recommended to prevent them from loosening under recoil. Avoid using it on the ring screws that clamp the scope itself unless the manual specifies it.
What if my scope still seems off after leveling?
Double-check that your rifle’s action was level in the vise first. Also, ensure your levels are accurate by testing them on a known flat surface. Sometimes, the levels themselves can be out of calibration.
Taking the time to learn how to mount a rifle scope level correctly is a fundamental skill for any serious shooter. It eliminates a major variable and builds a solid foundation for accuracy. With the right tools and careful attention to these steps, you can confidently mount your own optics and hit your target with consistency.