I’ve hunted my whole life. Alaska, Africa and most of the States. I worked in a great gun shop for 13 years. We had 2 gunsmiths on staff. Every single thing you’re saying is true. You Sir are a wealthy of knowledge and a great educator.
A little heads up, all of the gun related videos I watch on youtube, I am now having to click the like button three of four times for it to stick, on building/comedy videos, happens just one click, so you are getting way more likes and attention than the counter reads. Great Show.
I just recently had an issue with wild point of impact shifts. After rechecking all the mountings, I realized my error, I had not adjusted my parallax. Wanting to further understand how parallax affects sighting, I found your channel. You have the clearest explanations. I have a greater understanding of my parallax knob and how it works and affects my shooting. And as a bonus all things scope related. I am certainly looking forward to watching all your content to learn everything I can about my scope! Thank you !
“Crackhead at a gun shop…”. LMAO! DD, this was one of your best instructional type videos, period! And I loved your comments about many shooters having the skills to shoot tight groups on the range, too true from my observations at the range! Merry Christmas!
Damn….it’s back to the drawing board for me on scopes. Thanks so much for this series of videos. So much here that I never knew. I’ll be watching these over and over as I try to decide on my next scope is going to be. I’m leaning towards Trijicon or Nightforce.
Thanks again for the great info. I'm going to try your first suggestion on my .223 range/plinking rifle. Every time I shoot it at the range the groups were an inch or two to the left, I'd adjust it back to centre and the next time I'm at the range the group is an inch or so left. It's just cheap rifle to plink and practice off hand shooting so it never bothered me much but I'll throw on a Minox scope I have and see if I keep getting left moving groups over a few range trips.
Dear author of the channel! It seems to me that the time has come to create a series of programs about the correct shooting technique. Both from a rifle and a shotgun, I am extremely grateful in advance from all viewers of the channel. Good luck!
Good Sound information. I have been buying, selling & trading firearms for 44 years. My count would be somewhere around 150 guns, all with optics & I could count on one hand, how many rings did NOT require lapping & I have had 2 bad scopes, all ranging in price point from Tasco’s to Leupold. I have seen a few receiver issues & misaligned screw holes. I compete in a 200y bench rest match & when scores are low, you very seldom hear, “I just shot poorly today” Usually it is, Wind, Sun, rain, load went bad, throat erosion, scope, rest, etc. Matches where my score is low, 99% of the time, it was me shooting poorly. I always recommend a sound sled, for proving out your rig & allowing you to have confidence & in your meticulously crafted, expert hand loads.
The optical zero trick actually works!!! And now I have a scope that cost 3times what I paid for the rifle on my rifle 😆 a guy at the gun range told me he broke the turret and it had a (wondering zero) I kept it anyway and played around with it a little bit messing with the turrets and mounted it and today its one of the most accurate rifles in the house
Once again, wanted to thank you for the wealth of knowledge you choose to share with us. I know these videos take allot of time and effort. You bring up points and info that no one else on youtube talks about. You truly know your stuff. I just purchased a trijicon scope after many many leupolds after watching your last video.
Hahaha, that's so true!! Well, you definitely deserve some kind of award bro. I think you and Ron Spomer are the most respectable Gundies out there. cheers
Excellent video. I’ve enjoyed this series. Have a video on how to shoot? I think I’m pretty good. But I also thought I knew a decent amount about scopes. I’d say I knew inky about 30 percent of the information you shared.
Damn @Desert Dog this is a damn good video. I’m going to recommend this video to some of my….bothersome clients!🤣🤣🤣 Accuracy can not be achieved with factory loaded ammunition and if someone is looking for accuracy they need to learn to handload and develop a load for their individual rifle. Great video!!!
Good afternoon. Yes, sir. After purchasing my M1A socom 16 a year ago. I found out, REAL QUICK. It's just actually...... ME. that was the a HUGE part of the problem. Yes, I did get some work done by my gunsmith suggesting upgrades from Smith Enterprises. Their upgrades actually made my socom 16 be more enjoyable to shoot. It is all reality. Big part is. Me. After around 300 rounds, it's time behind the rifle. I'm pulling my head out my rear end and settling into the rifle and getting GOOD groups from 50 and 100 yards. I'm most definitely leaning. QUICK that rifles are sometimes picky on what ammo you run in them. So far my socom 16 like ACC saber black tips 150g and ACC soft points 150g. Found two ammo companies tho that make 110g .308. I'm looking into purchasing some of that to see how my socom 16 like that. I just use mine for steel and paper target shooting.
Thanks for the video I really like zeiss scopes and have found out that they put what i believe is graphite on them when they ship them. You need to clean this off of it before you mount it or you could have issues with the scope moving in the rings. I had this issue once I cleaned the scope and remounted it and have not had a problem since
I'm surprised you didn't mention another possibility which is what happened to me. I bought a tikka t3 in 30-06 and put a zeiss conquest 3-9x50 scope on it. I just loved it, the thing shot under 1 moa with factory ammo. Then a few years down the road with maybe 500 rds of factory ammo through it, the shots started going all over the place, my groups opened up a lot and would be off in one direction, i would try to re zero then shoot another group to check it and it would be off in a completely different direction. Kept checking all the screws on the bases and rings to make sure they were tight. Tried a variety of different ammo but just couldnt get that gun to shoot accurately anymore. I thought i must have either shot out my barrel or there was something wrong with the turrets. Then one day when i was cleaning it i decided to take the stock off to wipe out the dust and foliage and whatnot that gets down in there and when i go to loosen the action screws i find they weren't even snug. Apparently its quite common with tikkas. Put it all back together and tightened everything up and its been shooting great ever since. Now i'm paranoid about it though and i always check those action screws to make sure they're tight before i shoot or go hunting.
I ran into the same problem with my Savage model 110. A couple of years into owning it, I was doing load development, and my groups started going wild... much more than normal. As I was giving up for the day, I picked the rifle up, and the stock was notablye loose. Well, I have a torque wrench now, and I'm much more judicious about torquing and checking ALL of the screws. I've also had a few other experiences with new guns that lead me to believe they are not always well torqued when they come off the factory, so checking all of the screws for proper torque should be step 1.
My old Model 52 target rifle has a 50s-era Litschert Targeteer 12x with external micrometer adjustments. I have to remove the scope to store the rifle. When I put it on yesterday and was trying ammo that it wasnt zeroed with, I adjusted four clicks and the rifle was off paper at 100 yards. I had to go to 25 yards, it was 8 inches high and 6 right. I zeroed it a bit high, went back to 100 yards. It was nearly spot on and when I got it back to shooting 5/8 groups it was back to my original settings I use for my practice ammo. Its a head scratcher.
Great info desert dog. I commented on your last video about concerns that I may have ruined my leupold vx5hd on my tikka 30-06, by torquing my Warne vertically split rings to 25 inch lbs. I appreciate your response, and this video is all the more informative. It has been mounted that way for 3 years and several hundred shots, and I haven’t had a single issue. I have done tall target tests, shot out to 600 yards (on steel, NOT game), rezeroed for poi shift with a muzzle break, and then back again for hunting, and I did all my load development with 10 shot groups. Do you think it would be worth re mounting and reducing the torque to 18 inch lbs? I’m thinking I got lucky, either my scope doesn’t mind the abuse, or my torque wrench is out of spec on the calibration. Love your vids, keep up the good work!
Ok, ok, D D, I'm going to have to pause this video in the opening statement and say, Dbl D, you're going to want us to take responsibility , rather then just blame someone else...... mmmmm, this video is not going to be taken very well... (hahahaha)
Desert dog have found your website and I love all the positive information you have been helping us with. I have a couple model 70s and I am mounting scopes but before finding your channel and watching your scope videos I have purchased scope rings that are Winchester do you have any information about these rings and mounts they are two piece, I know you are so busy and I understand if I do not get an answer back to my question, can I trust Winchesters scope ring mounts and have you ever tried them,Scott from Wisconsin.
Regarding receiver to barrel being not true, a shim under the scope base may correct this. That advise is per Leupold. Mine was shooting high so they said to put shim under front base. I got my free shims yesterday, will try soon.
The shims are never a good solution if accuracy is important to you. The best solution is to get your rifle fixed. 2nd best solution is Burris Signature rings with MOA inserts.
I was hoping that you might provide some insights / recommendations on a scope issue that I am having. I have Swarovski 6i 1-6x24 on Talley quick release rings mounted on a CZ 550 in 416 Rigby. When sighting in, the elevation adjustment bottoms out before I can raise the the point of impact to zero (I can only get to about 5 inches low at 100 yards). I researched the elevation adjustment ranges for a number of scopes: Swarosvski 6i - 74 MOA Leupold VX6 - 110 MOA Trijcon Accupoint - 110 MOA I have concluded that unless I want to install a 20 MOA rail, that I will need to sell my Swaro and buy another scope. I have called Swarovski, Talley, and a gunsmith, and everything seems to point to the Swaro not working for this rifle. The other scopes should be able to get me to zero with room to spare. Has anyone run into to this issue? Please tell me I am making some type of obvious mistake.
Watch this video again and pay closer attention. Grab a second scope, optically zero the second scope (with the mirror), and mount it. Is the elevation problem still there? If not, the 1st scope has issues. If the problem persists on the 2nd scope, then the problem is with the Talley rings, or your receiver is improperly machined / receiver-face is out of square / or barrel is out of alignment (which is not uncommon on CZ550 magnum actions). Put on a second set of rings and see if the problem persists. If the problem is still there, you will need 20-MOA rings to compensate for the poor workmanship on the rifle.
So essentially “if you think your car’s not running right, go get another one exactly like it that runs great and compare them”. Okay, let me just run down to the basement where my warehouse of scopes are kept…
I’ve hunted my whole life. Alaska, Africa and most of the States. I worked in a great gun shop for 13 years. We had 2 gunsmiths on staff. Every single thing you’re saying is true. You Sir are a wealthy of knowledge and a great educator.
He was a gunsmith for some time I believe
Never knew about ‘breaking in’ a scope or using a mirror to center the scope reticles!
Another great video!
A little heads up, all of the gun related videos I watch on youtube, I am now having to click the like button three of four times for it to stick, on building/comedy videos, happens just one click, so you are getting way more likes and attention than the counter reads. Great Show.
It's called "Shadow Banning", and it happens frequently with firearms content.
I just recently had an issue with wild point of impact shifts. After rechecking all the mountings, I realized my error, I had not adjusted my parallax. Wanting to further understand how parallax affects sighting, I found your channel. You have the clearest explanations. I have a greater understanding of my parallax knob and how it works and affects my shooting. And as a bonus all things scope related. I am certainly looking forward to watching all your content to learn everything I can about my scope! Thank you !
“Crackhead at a gun shop…”. LMAO!
DD, this was one of your best instructional type videos, period!
And I loved your comments about many shooters having the skills to shoot tight groups on the range, too true from my observations at the range! Merry Christmas!
Excellent series on proper scope mounting and all things scope related,very helpful Desert Dog,Subscribed 👍
Damn….it’s back to the drawing board for me on scopes. Thanks so much for this series of videos. So much here that I never knew. I’ll be watching these over and over as I try to decide on my next scope is going to be. I’m leaning towards Trijicon or Nightforce.
Excellent info…process of elimination /troubleshooting
New Brunswick Canada 🇨🇦
Thanks again for the great info. I'm going to try your first suggestion on my .223 range/plinking rifle. Every time I shoot it at the range the groups were an inch or two to the left, I'd adjust it back to centre and the next time I'm at the range the group is an inch or so left. It's just cheap rifle to plink and practice off hand shooting so it never bothered me much but I'll throw on a Minox scope I have and see if I keep getting left moving groups over a few range trips.
Dear author of the channel! It seems to me that the time has come to create a series of programs about the correct shooting technique. Both from a rifle and a shotgun, I am extremely grateful in advance from all viewers of the channel. Good luck!
Buddy, that was an awesome video. Well done. I learned a lot about what I didn’t know, along with things I’ve forgotten.
Good Sound information.
I have been buying, selling & trading firearms for 44 years.
My count would be somewhere around 150 guns, all with optics & I could count on one hand, how many rings did NOT require lapping & I have had 2 bad scopes, all ranging in price point from Tasco’s to Leupold.
I have seen a few receiver issues & misaligned screw holes.
I compete in a 200y bench rest match & when scores are low, you very seldom hear,
“I just shot poorly today”
Usually it is, Wind, Sun, rain, load went bad, throat erosion, scope, rest, etc.
Matches where my score is low, 99% of the time, it was me shooting poorly.
I always recommend a sound sled, for proving out your rig & allowing you to have confidence & in your meticulously crafted, expert hand loads.
Great video but…we forgot the option of loose action screws.
I have definitely had that issue!
The optical zero trick actually works!!! And now I have a scope that cost 3times what I paid for the rifle on my rifle 😆 a guy at the gun range told me he broke the turret and it had a (wondering zero) I kept it anyway and played around with it a little bit messing with the turrets and mounted it and today its one of the most accurate rifles in the house
Just another comment for the Channel 😃👍🏻good Videos 👌🏻
Saving this one D dog . Usually there are blury lines between ignorance and stupid[ aptitude ] usualy.
First time I've heard of breaking in a scope. Never done it but can't hurt. Good one!
Once again, wanted to thank you for the wealth of knowledge you choose to share with us. I know these videos take allot of time and effort. You bring up points and info that no one else on youtube talks about. You truly know your stuff. I just purchased a trijicon scope after many many leupolds after watching your last video.
Bro, you are an absolute well of knowledge, I'm learning so many things that never would have tried if not for you so thank you very much!!
I was shocked that your name had not been nominated yet for the Gundies Awards. You definitely would've got my vote, Desert Dog Rocks!
You pretty much have to shoot clay/fruit for a living, be a mall ninja, or have nice boobies to win that. I'd be lucky to win the "Undies" award.
Hahaha, that's so true!! Well, you definitely deserve some kind of award bro. I think you and Ron Spomer are the most respectable Gundies out there. cheers
Excellent video. I’ve enjoyed this series. Have a video on how to shoot? I think I’m pretty good. But I also thought I knew a decent amount about scopes. I’d say I knew inky about 30 percent of the information you shared.
Damn @Desert Dog this is a damn good video. I’m going to recommend this video to some of my….bothersome clients!🤣🤣🤣 Accuracy can not be achieved with factory loaded ammunition and if someone is looking for accuracy they need to learn to handload and develop a load for their individual rifle. Great video!!!
Good afternoon. Yes, sir. After purchasing my M1A socom 16 a year ago. I found out, REAL QUICK. It's just actually...... ME. that was the a HUGE part of the problem. Yes, I did get some work done by my gunsmith suggesting upgrades from Smith Enterprises. Their upgrades actually made my socom 16 be more enjoyable to shoot. It is all reality. Big part is. Me. After around 300 rounds, it's time behind the rifle. I'm pulling my head out my rear end and settling into the rifle and getting GOOD groups from 50 and 100 yards. I'm most definitely leaning. QUICK that rifles are sometimes picky on what ammo you run in them. So far my socom 16 like ACC saber black tips 150g and ACC soft points 150g. Found two ammo companies tho that make 110g .308. I'm looking into purchasing some of that to see how my socom 16 like that. I just use mine for steel and paper target shooting.
Great video
Outstanding information
Thanks for the video I really like zeiss scopes and have found out that they put what i believe is graphite on them when they ship them. You need to clean this off of it before you mount it or you could have issues with the scope moving in the rings. I had this issue once I cleaned the scope and remounted it and have not had a problem since
Excellent advice.
Great video, DD!
I'm surprised you didn't mention another possibility which is what happened to me. I bought a tikka t3 in 30-06 and put a zeiss conquest 3-9x50 scope on it. I just loved it, the thing shot under 1 moa with factory ammo. Then a few years down the road with maybe 500 rds of factory ammo through it, the shots started going all over the place, my groups opened up a lot and would be off in one direction, i would try to re zero then shoot another group to check it and it would be off in a completely different direction. Kept checking all the screws on the bases and rings to make sure they were tight. Tried a variety of different ammo but just couldnt get that gun to shoot accurately anymore. I thought i must have either shot out my barrel or there was something wrong with the turrets. Then one day when i was cleaning it i decided to take the stock off to wipe out the dust and foliage and whatnot that gets down in there and when i go to loosen the action screws i find they weren't even snug. Apparently its quite common with tikkas. Put it all back together and tightened everything up and its been shooting great ever since. Now i'm paranoid about it though and i always check those action screws to make sure they're tight before i shoot or go hunting.
I ran into the same problem with my Savage model 110. A couple of years into owning it, I was doing load development, and my groups started going wild... much more than normal. As I was giving up for the day, I picked the rifle up, and the stock was notablye loose. Well, I have a torque wrench now, and I'm much more judicious about torquing and checking ALL of the screws. I've also had a few other experiences with new guns that lead me to believe they are not always well torqued when they come off the factory, so checking all of the screws for proper torque should be step 1.
Thanks for the great information.
Hey DD, while you're clearing up everything scope: I think a Scope 101 going over how scopes and the different optical parameters work would be nice.
Outstanding tutorial. Thank you.
Great video. Thanks DD. Im betting 99% of scopes sent back to manufacturers either have nothing wrong with them or were messed up by the consumer.
Thanks, awesome video.
My old Model 52 target rifle has a 50s-era Litschert Targeteer 12x with external micrometer adjustments. I have to remove the scope to store the rifle. When I put it on yesterday and was trying ammo that it wasnt zeroed with, I adjusted four clicks and the rifle was off paper at 100 yards. I had to go to 25 yards, it was 8 inches high and 6 right. I zeroed it a bit high, went back to 100 yards. It was nearly spot on and when I got it back to shooting 5/8 groups it was back to my original settings I use for my practice ammo. Its a head scratcher.
I have 18 M1 rifles. I never pondered the hasty sling causing issues, but its totally logical.
Great info desert dog. I commented on your last video about concerns that I may have ruined my leupold vx5hd on my tikka 30-06, by torquing my Warne vertically split rings to 25 inch lbs. I appreciate your response, and this video is all the more informative.
It has been mounted that way for 3 years and several hundred shots, and I haven’t had a single issue. I have done tall target tests, shot out to 600 yards (on steel, NOT game), rezeroed for poi shift with a muzzle break, and then back again for hunting, and I did all my load development with 10 shot groups.
Do you think it would be worth re mounting and reducing the torque to 18 inch lbs? I’m thinking I got lucky, either my scope doesn’t mind the abuse, or my torque wrench is out of spec on the calibration.
Love your vids, keep up the good work!
I’d say if it’s been working so far and proven to be reliable leave it be. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it 😅
Hi Dog,
Can you do videos about 9,3x74r and 6,5x55 swede.
They are so popular in europe so i want your take on these cartridges.
Thanks for your work
Great video thanks 👍.
This video…..so good!
Thank you
Ok, ok, D D, I'm going to have to pause this video in the opening statement and say, Dbl D, you're going to want us to take responsibility , rather then just blame someone else...... mmmmm, this video is not going to be taken very well... (hahahaha)
Desert dog have found your website and I love all the positive information you have been helping us with. I have a couple model 70s and I am mounting scopes but before finding your channel and watching your scope videos I have purchased scope rings that are Winchester do you have any information about these rings and mounts they are two piece, I know you are so busy and I understand if I do not get an answer back to my question, can I trust Winchesters scope ring mounts and have you ever tried them,Scott from Wisconsin.
The "Winchester brand" scope rings and bases are re-branded Talley rings & bases. Decent quality, but you will definitely need to lap them.
Nice😊
Regarding receiver to barrel being not true, a shim under the scope base may correct this. That advise is per Leupold. Mine was shooting high so they said to put shim under front base. I got my free shims yesterday, will try soon.
The shims are never a good solution if accuracy is important to you. The best solution is to get your rifle fixed. 2nd best solution is Burris Signature rings with MOA inserts.
I was hoping that you might provide some insights / recommendations on a scope issue that I am having. I have Swarovski 6i 1-6x24 on Talley quick release rings mounted on a CZ 550 in 416 Rigby. When sighting in, the elevation adjustment bottoms out before I can raise the the point of impact to zero (I can only get to about 5 inches low at 100 yards).
I researched the elevation adjustment ranges for a number of scopes:
Swarosvski 6i - 74 MOA
Leupold VX6 - 110 MOA
Trijcon Accupoint - 110 MOA
I have concluded that unless I want to install a 20 MOA rail, that I will need to sell my Swaro and buy another scope. I have called Swarovski, Talley, and a gunsmith, and everything seems to point to the Swaro not working for this rifle. The other scopes should be able to get me to zero with room to spare. Has anyone run into to this issue? Please tell me I am making some type of obvious mistake.
Watch this video again and pay closer attention. Grab a second scope, optically zero the second scope (with the mirror), and mount it. Is the elevation problem still there? If not, the 1st scope has issues. If the problem persists on the 2nd scope, then the problem is with the Talley rings, or your receiver is improperly machined / receiver-face is out of square / or barrel is out of alignment (which is not uncommon on CZ550 magnum actions). Put on a second set of rings and see if the problem persists. If the problem is still there, you will need 20-MOA rings to compensate for the poor workmanship on the rifle.
Thanks
I actually want the problem to be me . I would rather have me problems than equipment problems.
Most people won't know or acknowledge that they are the issue. Human nature.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 I'm saving the video. It is information I didn't know I needed until now.
Will choosing a fixed power optic eliminate a lot of these possibilities for error?
yes.
I have a scope in which the reticle actually turns during a shooting session.
I knew my scope was broken when the glass would rattle and crackle every time I moved the rifle.
Scopes are the victims of domestic abuse🤔😳😂
So essentially “if you think your car’s not running right, go get another one exactly like it that runs great and compare them”. Okay, let me just run down to the basement where my warehouse of scopes are kept…
That has to be the most deficient analogy I have ever seen. Congratulations on that. What hunter doesn't own two scopes?.....Obviously you.