School me on Riflescopes

[Warhammer]

So... given the choice between a Burris Fullfield II or a Redfield Revolution, both 3-9X40mm, both at the same price, which would be the way to go?

[The Annoyed Man]

So... given the choice between a Burris Fullfield II or a Redfield Revolution, both 3-9X40mm, both at the same price, which would be the way to go?

Hard to say. Burris is good. Redfield is now made by Leupold, in the same factory on the same machinery by the same technicians. I love my Leupold scope.

[boba]

You mean this isn't a good scope for a $1000 rifle?
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6280" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Warhammer]

Well, I finally made a decision. I have a Redfield 3-9X40mm on the way. Now I just need to get rings and mounts and have it installed. Cabela's won't do it since I didn't get the rifle or the scope from them. Any suggestions for a place to have a scope mounted and bore sighted here in the North Ft. Worth area? I don't want to just hand it to a Skippy at the gun counter who had a 10 minute training and hope for the best.

[The Annoyed Man]

Well, I finally made a decision. I have a Redfield 3-9X40mm on the way. Now I just need to get rings and mounts and have it installed. Cabela's won't do it since I didn't get the rifle or the scope from them. Any suggestions for a place to have a scope mounted and bore sighted here in the North Ft. Worth area? I don't want to just hand it to a Skippy at the gun counter who had a 10 minute training and hope for the best.

Euless Guns & Ammo at 1200 Euless Blvd, right next door to the police station. I had them mount a scope for me once.

[Warhammer]

Well, I finally made a decision. I have a Redfield 3-9X40mm on the way. Now I just need to get rings and mounts and have it installed. Cabela's won't do it since I didn't get the rifle or the scope from them. Any suggestions for a place to have a scope mounted and bore sighted here in the North Ft. Worth area? I don't want to just hand it to a Skippy at the gun counter who had a 10 minute training and hope for the best.

Euless Guns & Ammo at 1200 Euless Blvd, right next door to the police station. I had them mount a scope for me once.

Thanks!

[HotLeadSolutions]

It is by no means a 300-400 dollar scope, but I have had great experiences with the Nikon ProStaff 3X9 40.

Hols zero season after season, MOA adjustments are accurate, and Nikon has great customer service! Can be bought for about 150.00

[HotLeadSolutions]

Well, I finally made a decision. I have a Redfield 3-9X40mm on the way. Now I just need to get rings and mounts and have it installed. Cabela's won't do it since I didn't get the rifle or the scope from them. Any suggestions for a place to have a scope mounted and bore sighted here in the North Ft. Worth area? I don't want to just hand it to a Skippy at the gun counter who had a 10 minute training and hope for the best.

Euless Guns & Ammo at 1200 Euless Blvd, right next door to the police station. I had them mount a scope for me once.

As far as that goes, I would be happy to meet you at the range and give you hand mounting the scope, and boresighting it for you.

[glbedd53]

I always just bore sight everything at the range with about a 2' x 2' white peice of paper. I go straight to 100 yd. Usually gets within 3 or 4 inches. Low tech but I've never had a problem.

[HankB]

Well, I finally made a decision. I have a Redfield 3-9X40mm on the way. Now I just need to get rings and mounts and have it installed. Cabela's won't do it since I didn't get the rifle or the scope from them. Any suggestions for a place to have a scope mounted and bore sighted here in the North Ft. Worth area? I don't want to just hand it to a Skippy at the gun counter who had a 10 minute training and hope for the best.

Mounting a riflescope is about the lightest of light gunsmithing tasks - if you have some basic - and I do mean basic - tools, there's no reason in the world you can't do it yourself. Odds are, you'll take more time and do a better job than Skippy at the gun counter. (Who's probably going to be handed the job anyway, even if you DO take it to a gunsmith.)

Clean & degrease all surfaces, put a little blue (NOT red!) Loctite on the screws, assemble, level the reticle, and use an allen wrench to tighten the screws, and you're done. (Leupold has instructions at their website - https://www2.leupold.com/resources/down ... ndbook.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

If your rings have a rotary dovetail, don't turn them into place with the 'scope itself - use an old broomstick, if nothing else is available.

I like to lap the rings and put a light film of rosin on the inside surfaces of the rings where they contact the 'scope, but this really isn't necessary on a .30/06.

Remove the bolt, boresight by looking through the bore at a fixed target, and your first shot ought to be on the paper. Then it's just a matter of zeroing.

[RECIT]

Well, I finally made a decision. I have a Redfield 3-9X40mm on the way. Now I just need to get rings and mounts and have it installed. Cabela's won't do it since I didn't get the rifle or the scope from them. Any suggestions for a place to have a scope mounted and bore sighted here in the North Ft. Worth area? I don't want to just hand it to a Skippy at the gun counter who had a 10 minute training and hope for the best.

Mounting a riflescope is about the lightest of light gunsmithing tasks - if you have some basic - and I do mean basic - tools, there's no reason in the world you can't do it yourself. Odds are, you'll take more time and do a better job than Skippy at the gun counter. (Who's probably going to be handed the job anyway, even if you DO take it to a gunsmith.)

Clean & degrease all surfaces, put a little blue (NOT red!) Loctite on the screws, assemble, level the reticle, and use an allen wrench to tighten the screws, and you're done. (Leupold has instructions at their website - https://www2.leupold.com/resources/down ... ndbook.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

If your rings have a rotary dovetail, don't turn them into place with the 'scope itself - use an old broomstick, if nothing else is available.

I like to lap the rings and put a light film of rosin on the inside surfaces of the rings where they contact the 'scope, but this really isn't necessary on a .30/06.

Remove the bolt, boresight by looking through the bore at a fixed target, and your first shot ought to be on the paper. Then it's just a matter of zeroing.

I kind of agree. Its pretty easy with simple hand tools and a little common sense. Also agree that if you take it to a gunsmith it will probably end up in the hands of the trainee for such a small task.

[Warhammer]

OH MY GOSH!!!!

I just had the scariest experience in Academy today! I took my Grandad's old Remington 721 in to have my new-to-me Redfield scope installed. I know, I know... I had already expressed misgivings about the quality of service available in Academy. I really just should have gone to Euless Guns & Ammo and skipped Academy. There's a lesson in there somewhere about going with your instincts.

Anyway, here's how it went down.

I walked into the Academy on N Tarratn Pkwy in Watauga. A service person checked to see that the rifle was unlaoded and then called someone form the gun counter to come back and get the rifle. He took the gun and we walked up to the gun counter. He took the gun out of the case and put it in a gun vise and srted to remove the plug screws from the scope mounting holes while asking about what I wanted. He didn't check to see that the gun was unloaded and I experienced my first note of misapprehension.

Next he got the bases and rings (standare Leupold 2-piece bases and rings) I wanted from the wall, and then stated "I've never installed this kind, only the Weaver bases." (Worry point number 2.) So, he asked the other guy at the gun counter to do it, who said that it would be no problem. This guy looked to be in his mid-40's and had a name badge that said he was a manager. So, I'm thinging that I got a knowlwdgable person instead of a young Skippy and things should be good.

Wrong!

He starts by lining up the bases on the rifle and putting the mounting screws in with no thread locker. I mention thread locker and he says he doesn't use it because the screws might break if you try to remove them. I motion to the tube or RED Loctitie on the counter and say that you're supposed to use BLUE, because red is too strong. He says it's not needed and continues.

Now, I really should have called it quits right there, but for some reason I let him continue....

So gets out the torque driver and starts to complain about how he can't find the right Torx bit. After trying 3 bits, he settles on a bit that is clearly one size too small and begins to tighten the screws. I'm watching the bit rotate in the screw, rounding off the edges, until it grips enough to make the torque drive pop. Everything the bit slips I cringe a little bit. I mention that the bit is slipping in the screw recess and rounding off the edges. He tells me that's just the torque driver popping. (Believe me, I know the difference). On the second screw, the tip of the bit sheers off and stays stuck in the screw head. So he digs it out with a pocket knife and then looks a little more and finds the right sized bit.

By this time, I'm thinking I really need to get out of here while my gun is still serviceable. I mention that I'm concerned about the screws he's already rounded off and he says he can use new screws. Then I mention the Loctite again and he says, "I just double torque them and they stay put just fine."



So, despite what EVERY manufacturer of scopes, bases, rings and guns says, you're just going to skip the Loctite and double the recommended torque on the screws?!?!?! I'd had enough. I politley ask him to take the bases off of my rifle and give me back my gun so I could go to a different gun store where they actually know how to install a scope. He kind of gives me a blank look and then shrugs and says, "OK." I couldn't get out of there fast enough!

I think I'm going to call the store manager tomorrow and tell him about my experience before this guy ruins someone's rifle. Monday, I'll go down to Euless Guns and Ammo and get the job done right. Lesson learned.

[Warhammer]

I made it over the Euless Guns and Ammo today and got my scope installed. Really nice guys and they did a great job. I used the Leupold mounts with low rings and I really like the result.

[WildBill]

I have a similar story when I purchased a rifle and scope and the store owner's son wanted to mount it with the wrong size rings.
I am glad that you finally got it done right.

[Warhammer]

Here she is in all here worn blueing and scratched up stock glory:

Grandad's Remington 721 in .30-06, made in 1952. Every one of the gouges, nicks and wear marks was come by honestly in the woods of Oregon and Washington. The scope is a 3-9X40 Redfield Partner (probably from the late 80's or early 90's) that I got picked up for $20. It's not modern, but it's nice and clear. It'll do until I decide to upgrade to something new. Hopefully, I'll get her to the range this weekend to get the scope sighted in.