Totally confused! Zeroing question

[Tinelement]

So I took my new Ruger 10/22 out today for the first time. I have a Leupold VX-II 2-7x33 on it which is brand new as well.

So I got it on the paper and 25 ft and dialed it in. Took it out to 75 ft, (I was at an indoor range) shot 3 shots to check and then made a few clicks. I was off the paper! So I reset it again, chasing it around the paper and got it close again. Went in for final adjustment, off the paper again! This scope clicks at 1/4 mins per click, so its hardly moving it. I would click 3 clicks and it would move 6 freaking inches at times and scatter the pattern.

Is this a scope or a rifle issue?

In the picture, the center circle is a 15 round group making small adjustments to walk it up to the bull. I was working nicely. I reloaded and I made 3 clicks on elevation and 1 click on windage to bring up and left. The upper scattered group is what I got. I got mad and left.

I was shooting Winchester M22 40 Grains.

Any suggestions would be awesome!

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/9f63508f.jpg

[DeusExMachina]

What 10/22 is it?

[BigBear]

Are you sure the scope is mounted correctly? tightened down and all that jazz? I know it's a noobish question but I had the same problem when my scope wasn't torqued down all teh way... a few clicks would send it way off base.

Secondly, were you benched the whole time? Picking up the gun, moving clicks and not settling back into the same EXACT position can have disastrous results, I know! HAHA.

[DeusExMachina]

Did you remove and replace the barrel at all?

[Tinelement]

What 10/22 is it?

New Ruger 10/22 Takedown


Are you sure the scope is mounted correctly? tightened down and all that jazz? I know it's a noobish question but I had the same problem when my scope wasn't torqued down all teh way... a few clicks would send it way off base.

Secondly, were you benched the whole time? Picking up the gun, moving clicks and not settling back into the same EXACT position can have disastrous results, I know! HAHA.

I 99% sure I have mounted correctly. All the fasteners are snugged up good and tight with loc tight

I guess not having it in the EXACT spot could have been the issue. I was shooting with the barrel resting on my bag sitting on the table. I was planted in a chair. I guess I didn't think that as a factor., being it was moving SOOO much.

[J]

Don't rest the barrel on anything either. Even though it isn't free float, you should rest on the stock. Changing where the barrel is rested on something, what it is resting on etc will change the barrel harmonics.

[DeusExMachina]

The above is exasperated by the fact it's a takedown.

[sellersm]

I think that if you want to decide if it's a scope vs. rifle issue, you'll need to separate them and test other combinations: diff. scope with the same gun, diff. gun with that scope.

And yes, keep the gun immoveable between shots/adjustments!

[Tinelement]

Did you remove and replace the barrel at all?

I did not


Don't rest the barrel on anything either. Even though it isn't free float, you should rest on the stock. Changing where the barrel is rested on something, what it is resting on etc will change the barrel harmonics.

I guess that is what I meant to say, the stock was resting on the bag. My bad on wordage.

[Tinelement]

I think that if you want to decide if it's a scope vs. rifle issue, you'll need to separate them and test other combinations: diff. scope with the same gun, diff. gun with that scope.

And yes, keep the gun immoveable between shots/adjustments!

Absolutely! I was gonna take the scope off and go open sights but my blood pressure was up!

[00tec]

Is that scope bad with close range parallax? Aim it at something, the. Move just your head and see if the crosshairs move.

[Tinelement]

Is that scope bad with close range parallax? Aim it at something, the. Move just your head and see if the crosshairs move.

Checked after reading your post. That's a big negative ghost rider!

[Goodburbon]

I think that if you want to decide if it's a scope vs. rifle issue, you'll need to separate them and test other combinations: diff. scope with the same gun, diff. gun with that scope.

And yes, keep the gun immoveable between shots/adjustments!

I don't use a bench, don't keep the gun immoveable, carry the gun with me to check the target, and have never had problems zeroing a scope.
/shrug

[rustycrusty]

-tap scope with something metal after making adjustments (the crosshairs don't actually move sometimes until the recoil of the first shot knocks them loose)

-tighten the scope to the gun to the point just before you feel you will break the rings. then mark the front and back ring with a paint pen/ scratch/ whatever so you can see if it moves forward or back. mark the nuts the same way to see minor movement/ loosening

-push the optic as far forward as possible when mounting it (so the front of the rings are engaging the back of the rail notch) even if all is tight the scope will migrate forward on your rifle with each shot until it makes contact with the notch on the rail.

$10 says its a mount problem. happened to me at Appleseed.

that particular rifle will loose an optic zero every time the barrel is removed and replaced (have heard it can move as much as 4" at 100yd in a random direction. either keep it together always, or don't use an optic for that rifle. best to go with a standard 10/22 for accuracy and optic use

[Not_A_Llama]

Falling to shit like that is your mount, or something similarly catastrophic like barrel looseness.

Is your scope walking forward in the rings? Is the base wobbly? Are your rings cranked down and mounted with forward pressure? As rustycrusty said, witness marks are key to detecting these kinds of issues. For now, grab the scope, and try to find some kind of wobble between it and the receiver. Don't be gentle.

Mounting issues are the most frustrating and easily preventable error. If you didn't build it up with alcohol swabs, loctite, and torque wrenches, I'd re-do it now anyway.

[Tinelement]

Thanks for all the input gents.

Looks like the majority seems to be leaning to a loose mount.

I will take it all apart, re-mount with some witness marks, and see if I can't get over and run her again today!

[Not_A_Llama]

So how did your second run go?

[Tinelement]

So how did your second run go?

Same thing!!

So I pulled the scope off and am trying to find some to run over and sight in the iron sights to eliminate one factor.

If it groups good I will be sending the scope to Leupold for an inspection.

[Not_A_Llama]

Maybe move the scope to a known good platform, too.

[ScooterCO]

The takedown 10/22 Ruger has a barrel tension ring adjustment. Have you read the procedure on proper adjustment?
Second, is that the take down model has both front and rear sights on the barrel assembly thus eliminating the inherent issues with a takedown model.

Iam just saying....[Coffee]