Levelling questions, levelling platform, etc.

[PVBoom]

OK, so my trials this past week.


I am trying to mount a scope, on an AR. I have a plumb line to check reticle alignment. But all of this doesn't matter if the gun isn't level.


I have a small carpentry level.


I have been using a Tipton "Best" Gun Vice I purchased for cleaning and what not. But I have no faith in the levelness of the Wheeler AR magwell attachment or the Tipton itself.





I am now realizing, maybe, I should have sprung for the Ultra model with levelling feet





With that, I could clamp any rifle in, slap 2 bubbles on the picatinny and be sure its level before putting on scope and mount.


Of course, it makes sense to make sure the table I use is level. Or see if I can make sure the Picatinny rail is level on the upper or handguard. I hope the handguard picattiny mount is square with the upper (ack).


So I ordered some small magnetic level to slap on the Picatinny (not here yet).





I also ordered the Segway scope levellers, from Brownells (both, 1 for my bolt actions, 1 for AR/picatinny mount).






But yesterday, trying with what I have something occurred to me.


I don't need to level the scope on the rifle, I should be able to trust the mount to be level.


Is this an unwarranted assumption?


I am using Larue 204, and I purchased the SPR-E also.


So if I am right, All I need to do is put that scope in mount and have the mount level.


So this leads me to another question.


Is there some kind of small platform I can get I can level?


What I am thinking of is something in the 8x8 to 16x16 inch size range, which has a metal top and 4 screw in feet which can be adjusted to level the top surface.

[MichaelSChittum]

Why not just level your vise. Take 4 bolt s and nut that fit the holes on the corners. Fit them in from the bottom and adjust the nuts to level

[Klem]

PV,

You don't need to worry about levelling that vice.

When we level scopes we are concerned about the relationship between the scope, the barrel and the ground (gravity) only. The rest of the gun and how it is supported at the time is irrelevant to this relationship. We do however need to keep it still while levelling and a vise is a pretty good way of doing this. So, your rest and the table it sits on does not have to be level, but the Pickatinny rail does.

Looking at the relationship between barrel and scope;

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16554[/ATTACH]

A is what most shooters want.
B is what we are trying to avoid.
C is B but canted to an angle where it can work. As long as you cant the gun exactly the same angle each time and you don't have a canted rail (e.g. 20MOA) then this will work fine. Some shooters have a slight angle when they lean into the gun each time and you can build this into your levelling.
C and D are actually the same scope/barrel relationship, to show that sometimes we deliberately offset the scope. Some bench rest guns and old bolt guns have the scope deliberately offset to the side. D will also work with a forward sloping rail, so is as good as A.
E is A, but the shooter is canting the rifle - bad shooting technique, especially for long range shooting.

So, A, C and D will work but most shooters prefer A.

For A, I level the Picatinny then use a plumb line forward of the gun for the reticle. Some scope mounts come with their own bubble level however they tend to be expensive.

Here is a handy device I discovered for levelling the rail.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]16551[/ATTACH]

I just use the bubble, not the horizontal lines on the plastic ears, they are not as precise as a plumb line downrange.

Once this is done it's off to the range for a Tall Target test, to make sure the reticle has been installed square to the turret mechanisms.

[DVDVC]

If your Picatinny rail is level and if your scopes top turret has a flat surface, putting a bubble level on it will get you very close.

[jasper2408]

Here is a tool that might help you. Fits on pic rails or a round barrel.

https://www.realavid.com/product/level-right-pro/

[pinetreebbs]

If you are mounting on a Pic rail, this tool, the Scope Jack from Fix It Sticks is the tool to use.

https://store.fixitsticks.com/collection...scope-jack

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16720[/ATTACH]

[6.5 Grendel]

If you are mounting on a Pic rail, this tool, the Scope Jack from Fix It Sticks is the tool to use.

https://store.fixitsticks.com/collection...scope-jack

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16720[/ATTACH]

Unless if you have a one piece mount. I just use two bubble levels one one the scope and one on the receiver. Cheap but works.

[Kswhitetails]

I have a set of Arisaka wedges. Cheap, easy, and stores small. Then, because the reticle in the optic can be a bit off from the body, go outside, get behind your rifle, and level it. (The rifle). Then, visually verify plumb with a plumbline, or other perfect vertical ~ (corner of house, garage, your moral compass...). Radio towers are pretty good, just sayin...

Use a torque measuring device, I recommend FIXIT Sticks, or FAT wrench.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtQoRxDW2DE