02-19-2019, 01:14 PM
DaneNorthman Wrote:Thank you for all the input. My inclination of the trigger pull being the culprit is due the fact that in full zoom my crosshairs completely cover my point of aim at 250 yards. I'm just a beat up veteran trying to make it as a carpenter so nice high zoom quality glass scopes aren't a staple in my gun cabinet. I am going to disassemble/dismount everything and "rebuild" the gun a final time. The scope and rings I'm using are UTG. I hope to find the problem, I am anxious to see what this baby will do against some aoudad and big Texas hill country boars.
DN:
When you fired the shot, were the cross hairs in the middle of your target or did they move? If they moved, did they move to the point where your shots went? If your eyes saw this and registered it with your brain, you 'called your shot'. Calling your shot is an elemental marksmanship task. You said you had shot a lot at 500 yards so my assumption is that you can call your shots. You may not be doing it, though.
It is amazing how this simple task can be used to troubleshoot either human or mechanical performance. If the shots went to your call, nothing is wrong with your zero. If they didn't go to your call yet you still shot a group of some sort, your zero needs adjusting. If you were calling your shots but the results were totally random and well over two minutes of angle from your calls (for very good shooters this will be under one minute) something is really wrong with your equipment and you then have to isolate it as your sighting system, rifle, or ammo. Sometimes it is a combination but mostly it will be primarily one of these three mechanical things. It is a very simple way of troubleshooting a problem and your eyes are just fine for doing so. Trust your eyes.
Use a bigger aiming black so you can get your cross hairs centered. Or, spray paint a nice, sharp, white circle on a piece of cardboard and use that as an aiming point. Which ever one you choose, the black must be big enough so your cross hairs can be centered and centered easily -- without eye strain or you questioning what you are seeing. Doesn't really matter what color but white on black or black on white gives the most contrast and thus is easier for your eyes to see a center. Sounds like you are using a thick hunting sort of cross hair. Probably half a minute wide. Easy to see if you have adjusted the ocular lens so it is clear. Use a four minute black or white aiming point. That ought to be pretty comfortable for you to see and ought to let you put the cross hair in the middle very quickly and easily.
LR55