20 MOA rail question

[trapperdan]

I have acquired an action that has a 20 MOA rail on it. Most of my shooting is target shooting at 100 yards and occasionally reaching out to 350 yards. Do I need a 0 MOA rail or will the 20 work fine at the close range. Thanks
Dan

 

[FarmerDave]

All my rails are 20moa. In my case, the scopes I use have enough elevation to zero at 100 yards and go from there. Should be no problem.

 

[powderbrake]

I agree with Farmer Dave, I have put Leupold 6-20, 8-25 scopes, Nightforce 8-32 and 12- 42 scopes on 20MOA rails and they all were able to adjust for zeroing at 100 yards.

 

[deadidarren]

I would go back to 0moa as then the rec is closer to centre where it needs to be for short range as that's what you are shooting .
My long guns have 20 or 30 moa rails depending on the cal and range they have been set up for .

 

[kzin]

I use 20 moas from 50 feet to 600 yards.
It's only gonna be an issue if your scope has very limited adjustment.
I think true zero is never the optimum.
Every gun needs some positive elevation to make up for sight height over bore and the little bit of drop even at short range.
We never want to aim the bore below the target.

 

[davidjoe]

The scopes that have very limited vertical adjustment are generally 42 power plus, or a one inch diameter tube with 16 times or more magnification, that sometimes will not zero at 100 yards with a 30 moa base, but should make it with a 20 moa base. As with magazine springs, significant compression of the erector tube spring at all times is a consideration to keep in mind.

 

[6bra1k]

it really depends on the scope you use...does it have enough vert moa to zero at an extra 20.
better long range tend to have enough

 

[Rick300]

I would go back to 0moa as then the rec is closer to centre where it needs to be for short range as that's what you are shooting .
My long guns have 20 or 30 moa rails depending on the cal and range they have been set up for .

My thoughts also. I have one rifle that I can't get to zero at 100 yards with a 20 MOA rail. So when I shoot at that distance the image isn't that clear as it's at the edge of the glass. For close range I would stay with 0 MOA.

 

[Rob01]

As long as your scope has over about 50 MOA of total travel you are fine. I have a 40 MOA base I shoot down to 10 yards and out past 500 with a rimfire. All my centerfire have at least 20 moa.

 

[coldboreshot]

I have acquired an action that has a 20 MOA rail on it. Most of my shooting is target shooting at 100 yards and occasionally reaching out to 350 yards. Do I need a 0 MOA rail or will the 20 work fine at the close range. Thanks
Dan

I agree with #deadidarren, if you are only shooting 100-350 yards, you will benefit from 0 moa rail. Mechanical zero will be closer to center and will add relief to the errector in the scope, given the short range of adjustment. Depending on you scope's reticle, you can zero at 100 and hold-over at reference points on the reticle. All of my post-work and sporting rifles have a reticle with multi-hash stadia. My zeroing range depends on each rifle and distance of application.

 

[kzin]

Very roughly and depending on ammo and HoB, you need 5 moa at 100 and 12 at 350

so +5 and +12 in the scope for 0 moa rail
-15 and -8 in the scope with the 20 moa rail with flexibility to go much farther out

 

[std7mag]

I would say it depends upon what type of shooting your planning on doing.

If that is the furthest distance your ever planning on shooting with it for hunting use, or short range competitions, then yes, i'd change over to a zero MOA base.

My hunting rifles all have 20 MOA bases. Hunting distances are 20ft through 1,500 yards.
Not saying i'd shoot at game that far.
I do enjoy target shooting 600-1,000 yards.

 

[trapperdan]

Thanks for all the information. I will be using a Trijicon tenmile 5-50x56 scope. I haven't found anything yet on how much adjustment that scope has. Maybe you can help me with that. I do appreciate the help.
Dan

 

[JEFFPPC]

I just went through this setting up a 6.5 x20 Vari lll Leupold on a .22 to shoot 200 yards. Using a set of Burris rings I put inserts in to give me 30moa. I could get down to 50 yards but just by the feel of the spring compression common sense told me I don't need this much and this can not be good for the spring involved. So I redid the inserts for 20 moa and the spring compression at 50 yds feels much more normal. So if 0 moa will keep you more in the center, I would do that rather than have extra compression on the spring to have a range of adjustment you do not need.

 

[kzin]

Thanks for all the information. I will be using a Trijicon tenmile 5-50x56 scope. I haven't found anything yet on how much adjustment that scope has. Maybe you can help me with that. I do appreciate the help.
Dan

LoL
that scope laughs at 20moa
It has a total elevation adjustment range of 100moa,50 each way!!

Please send me one!

TM5056-C-3000017 | Trijicon®

Trijicon® products are known for offering legendary reliability, absolute accuracy and industry-leading technology to shooting enthusiasts, law enforcement agencies and the U.S. military and its allies.

www.trijicon.com

 

[Rob01]

Yeah do not waste money changing that base. Would be a bad move.

 

[Sandstorm]

Dan

Your just fine with what you got Sir.
Load up and carry on my friend.....That scope will handle any base just fine or no base with
the amount of internal travel in a Trijicon.

 

[Ned Ludd]

It totally depends on the specific setup you're using. All my F-TR rifles wear 20 MOA bases. I can zero at 100 yd with all of the various NF scopes (8-32, 12-42, Comp). However, I have one rifle that wears an IOR-Valdada fixed 36X scope. Although it has a similar elevation adjustment range to several of the NF scopes, I cannot zero it at 100 yd; at zero elevation the POI is ~5-6" high at 100 yd. So in my experience, zeroing at 100 yd with a 20 MOA base can usually be done, but perhaps not in every single case.

 

[SKWERLZ]

It totally depends on the specific setup you're using. All my F-TR rifles wear 20 MOA bases. I can zero at 100 yd with all of the various NF scopes (8-32, 12-42, Comp). However, I have one rifle that wears an IOR-Valdada fixed 36X scope. Although it has a similar elevation adjustment range to several of the NF scopes, I cannot zero it at 100 yd; at zero elevation the POI is ~5-6" high at 100 yd. So in my experience, zeroing at 100 yd with a 20 MOA base can usually be done, but perhaps not in every single case.

With only 45 moa of adjustment that 36x IOR certainly would be borderline with a 20 moa mount or rail.

Lots of scopes can zero easily at 100 even with a 45 moa rail like I run.