Glad to do so. Before I begin, let me just state that pretty much only shoot F-class comps these days. This means I shoot prone and when I get behind my rifle, I can be looking through the scope for a long time.
1- You should mount the scope high enough so you can keep your head vertical and not have to lean it sideways to see through the scope. Comfort is critical.
2- You should mount the scope high enough so you can repeat the position over and over again.
3- You should mount the scope high enough so you can stay in position for a long time without tension and pain developing.
4- You should mount the scope high enough that it has no chance of contacting the barrel during firing.
5- You should mount the scope high enough that you can put a mirage shield under the objective lens and going forward to reduce distortion.
6- You should mount the scope high enough that you can put caps on the objective.
7- The higher the scope is mounted, the more elevation you get for free.
There are no worthwhile reasons to mount the scope essentially flush with the barrel when you are shooting at 1500 yards to 1 mile. It's not like you're taking a snap shot at a deer at varying distance that you have little time to figure out the dope exactly.
If you're afraid of cant, get a level, and I think you said you have one.
Did I mention that comfort is the main driver for scope height on long-range rifles?
Thanks
It’s is a McCree chassis system which is very adjustable .
I know what you’re saying about leaning your head over to one side to get a good site picture through scope 25 years ago I had a Les Baer custom A.R. 15 and was in a rush to go groundhog hunting and did not have the right size rings so I put Medium ones on it and had Lean my head over Till my high rings came from midway USA.
I do not shoot 20 shot strings or more like you.
I shoot five. So no need For Mirage shield. Sometimes I will shoot 10 but I use a battery operated fan.
I have shot the rifle 95 times @ 100 yds
The rifle has sped up 60 ft./s ( fully broken in? ) I thought I was doing good until I bumped up the powder charge .5 now it is unbelievably accurate, But like I said that is only at 100 yards.
I was jumping 0.030” now jumping 0.020 which Has helped.
I think I could actually kiss the lands and it will still shoot.
As of now it likes to shoot virgin brass so I bumped shoulder back to equal virgin brass.
Anneal every two firings.
I also shoot on private land out to 1 mile it’s a family thing. But mostly shoot 400 433 500 600 800 833 900 1005.
And if scope was too low you would not be able to operate the bolt because the bolt would hit the scope. so people don’t be thinking that this thing is super low rings it’s just the bull barrel and the scope bell diameter !
And I have googled professional gunsmiths and have seen pictures where the scope was extremely low like the one I have and they said that’s how they prefer it.Wish I knew how to post pics but I just got a new iPhone 11 and I do not know how to work it very good. What is this sorcery. Lol