Scope dial reader

[ANDY T]

Hi all

I am a target shooter as must of you are that uses rifle scopes and one of the big problems with scope turrets is it is very easy to lose your elevation and wind position from moving from one distance to another. The only way is look at the turret markings and try and remember what setting is the correct setting. This is not easy to see as the makings that are very small and hard to see with age. So the only way most of the shooters do it is to count the clicks as you turn the turret and you could turn anything upto 100-300 or more clicks.

I think there would be a market out there for a device that could do this. I thought of approaching a watch maker as this would be something right up there street.


Anyway i was thinking is there someone out there that could help with making a dial face that could read the clicks off as the turret is turned so i could just say turn the turret and Dial would read this like a dial on a set of callipers would. The Dial would have to be set into the turret top and would have no out side setting nods it would have to be set to zero with a tool and it would also need to withstand a harsh recoil action from the rifle without moving.

Or is there something out there already that I don't know about.

Andy

 

[CatShooter]

I am a "ping and dial" shooter, meaning that I range, and then dial elevation - I do not dial windage, because I have found that the wind changes too fast for me to keep up with it by dialing.

I set up the scope so that the 100 yd "0" is at the bottom of the turret travel, and then set the turret dial to "0".

I set up my ranging card so that a given range is denoted as 2-5-3, meaning two full turns, five large lines (moa), and 3 clicks (a 3/4 or 3/8 moa).

I never loose track of where I am, and don't have to count clicks, because after the shot, I just dial the turret down to stop, and then up to the first "0" number.

Works well for me.

 

[fdshuster]

AndyT: I also had the same problem: losing my count on clickups, and also sometimes not remembering if I made my adjustment for the next change in distance, at our local benchrest varmint for score match's.

I'm now using colored paint dots to reference the elevation settings ( I also never click for wind) and they keep me out of trouble. Red is 100, white is 200, blue is 300, yellow is 400 and green is 500 meters.

Using model airplane paint that comes in the very tiny glass bottles, applied with the point of a toothpick. Easily flicked off with a fingernail when needing to change.

On the scopes that have friendly turret zero setting adjustments ( the pictured Leupold Competition Series does not, very difficult to retain the adjustment when attempting to retighten the spring loaded turret), I do use the factory zero reference for 100, then white, blue, etc.

Now, when getting ready to shoot the 400 meter target, look up & see a yellow dot & know that I made the clickup. At 500 I want to see a green dot.

 

[fdshuster]

These scopes are easily resettable to zero, so no need for the red dot at 100, but still use white, blue, yellow and green for the further distances.

 

[wwbrown]

I still use the old fashioned method of finding how far my mechanical is below my 100 yard zero and then keeping track of my come ups above my 100 yard zero for different ranges.

Then when (not if) I get confused I go to my mech. zero crank up to my 100 yard and then use my recorded elevation comeups from 100 yard zero. This is the best way I have of making sure my come ups are correct for scopes that I do not have zero stops on.

 

[ANDY T]

Hi
Yes I have a system as well, but wouldn't it be much better if you had a read out or dial on the turret top where you just know if you need 120 clicks or 14/25/30 moa it showed you that you where on 120 clicks
. I cannot believe that at the price of some scopes they have not b put something in the turret top even if you have to change a battery or set it to your zero point.
Is it just me or would this not be better than side markens.

 

[swt5]

Ever seen these? They're made by a UK company called Sportsmatch. They're not cheap but other products of there's I own are all well made...

 

[1066]

Hi Andy - I know exactly where you're coming from. A quick press of a button to give a readout of your MOA while looking through the scope (as per range finder) would be very handy.

Here's my simple solution. They are simply thick feeler gauges I machined to suit my scope with my usual long range load. Once you have the rifle zeroed for elevation for say 100yds, measure the distance between the bottom of the turret and the scope body with a calliper gauge then machine a washer to the same measurement. Repeat at 600, 1000 etc.
Returning to zero or any other range is really easy.

 

[ANDY T]

The replays i am getting just goes to show. So many people using different methods means they haven't got it right and they need to re-look at this.

 

[Toolbreaker]

Hi Andy - I know exactly where you're coming from. A quick press of a button to give a readout of your MOA while looking through the scope (as per range finder) would be very handy.

Here's my simple solution. They are simply thick feeler gauges I machined to suit my scope with my usual long range load. Once you have the rifle zeroed for elevation for say 100yds, measure the distance between the bottom of the turret and the scope body with a calliper gauge then machine a washer to the same measurement. Repeat at 600, 1000 etc.
Returning to zero or any other range is really easy.

Now, that's pretty slick. 8) I like this idea.

 

[StevenDzupin]

http://kentonindustries.com/

Andy, If you use one load only, these folks can make up an Elevation Drum

to match that load. You just provide some data and they will do the rest.

I first saw this being used by a New Jersey State Trooper at my home range, seemed

to work well for him up to 300 yards.

Oh, and Andy that's why they make Bifocals for us elderly gentlemen shooters. LOL

Regards,

Steve

 

[6BRinNZ]

Is it really all that tricky?...no disagreement that there couldn't be slicker systems from the manufacturers though...I just wouldn't want to pay for them....

I am definitely not interested in knowing how many clicks I have on...target shooting I am thinking moa not clicks...

If your system involves counting the minor clicks it could be difficult to keep track...

I simply took a photo of my turrets at the zero and in my worst case I refer to that....a simple magnifying glass lets me see where I am at if I am in doubt....not hard to make the turrets look like the picture...

Best of luck.

 

[Nomad47]

I set up my scopes like CatShooter does. But I just go total MOA instead of his x-x-x method because my Sightron 10-50 scopes have 10 MOA per turn and there are index marks on the turret post to show you how many turns you have made.

 

[brian427cobra]

Gettting lost in your scope and counting clicks go hand in hand, wwbrown method of how far below zero the scope bottoms out is simple, easy and proven, but the one thing all my scopes will always have from now on is a zero stop.