Savage Model 12 Scope/Reticle/Base issues

[minnesotamulisha]

I've got a Savage Model 12 F T/R that I've had about 10 months. I recently was looking through the scope and thought that the reticule was canted in the scope. I bought a Wheeler Engineering scope leveling kit (the one with the level that sits on the rails inside the action, and also a level that sits atop the scope.)

I put a bipod on my rifle so that I could lock it in place when the action rails were level. Once this was done, I put a level on top of the erector section of the scope. I adjusted the scope until it was level with the action rails and torqued the ring screws.

After this was done, I hung a piece of black string tied to a plum bob from the ceiling in my basement. The reticule was not parallel with the string.

I could level the action rails to the reticule being parallel to the string, but then the scope was not level. I could level the scope to the rifle, but then my reticule wasn't perpendicular to the string.

I posted this on a Facebook Group, Rifle Scope Trader, trying to gather some advice and I ran into another guy that also has a Model 12 and he was having the same issue.

Does anyone else have a Model 12 that is running into issues with leveling their scope?

 

[minnesotamulisha]

 

[savageshooter86]

Getting scope to stay level while tightening rings is challenge

 

[jonbearman]

When tightening the screws I found by alternating the tightening a little at time from side to side in an x pattern for 4 screw rings etc. Secondly how do you know the level tubes are any good? Google checking levels for repeatability. It was called bucking when I was younger. But anyways it will teach you to verify the levels you have.