TNLongShot
Plinker
Today, I went out to Deputy Big Shots to zero my two new Vortex Viper PST scopes! I bought the first for my Remington 700 in 300 blackout, and after mounting it and looking through it I knew that I needed to show the same love to my 300 winmag and upgrade the trusty 10x42 SWFA SS on it. Mounted it and started counting down the days till I could get out to the range and get it dialed in.
For starters, the Remington 700 was a full rail/ring swap out, as the old scope was a 1" tube. I went with a game reaper scope mount with a 20 MOA cant to help with shooting subs at distances more than 200 (for the kicks). I used my Wheeler scope mounting kit to check alignment and do a small amount of lapping. Mounted and leveled the scope and it was ready to go. Went to the range and I was able to get it zeroed, and as expected at 100 yards it was below mechanical zero with about 7 Mil of adjustment going down available, giving me plenty of headroom for UP to lob those subs out there.
On to the 300 winmag. Here, I just removed the SWFA and used the same rings and canted rail no modification. I did check alignment real quick and it was good. Set the Viper in, leveled and it was ready to go. Fast-forward to today at the range. I started at 100 to get on paper there and do a final zero at 200. It was extremely HIGH at mechanical zero. I came down and got on paper. I got close and needed to come down 9 more clicks to be in the bull and click, click, click, click....no more clicks! I had hit the bottom! I am perplexed. At the bottom of elevation adjustment I'm still 3 inches high at 100 yards Now, granted I want as much headroom as I can get, but something is wrong here and I can't find a problem with the installation. The SWFA still had about 50 clicks to go down in the same rings/rail.
I know that Vortex has a great warranty and good customer service, but before I engage them I thought I'd see if you guys can give me any ideas on what else I can check. Thanks in advance.
For starters, the Remington 700 was a full rail/ring swap out, as the old scope was a 1" tube. I went with a game reaper scope mount with a 20 MOA cant to help with shooting subs at distances more than 200 (for the kicks). I used my Wheeler scope mounting kit to check alignment and do a small amount of lapping. Mounted and leveled the scope and it was ready to go. Went to the range and I was able to get it zeroed, and as expected at 100 yards it was below mechanical zero with about 7 Mil of adjustment going down available, giving me plenty of headroom for UP to lob those subs out there.
On to the 300 winmag. Here, I just removed the SWFA and used the same rings and canted rail no modification. I did check alignment real quick and it was good. Set the Viper in, leveled and it was ready to go. Fast-forward to today at the range. I started at 100 to get on paper there and do a final zero at 200. It was extremely HIGH at mechanical zero. I came down and got on paper. I got close and needed to come down 9 more clicks to be in the bull and click, click, click, click....no more clicks! I had hit the bottom! I am perplexed. At the bottom of elevation adjustment I'm still 3 inches high at 100 yards Now, granted I want as much headroom as I can get, but something is wrong here and I can't find a problem with the installation. The SWFA still had about 50 clicks to go down in the same rings/rail.
I know that Vortex has a great warranty and good customer service, but before I engage them I thought I'd see if you guys can give me any ideas on what else I can check. Thanks in advance.
Last edited: