Scope level to ground or target?

[Fairchaser]

Shooting F Class on electronic targets when setting up rifle, should I level the gun with the ground or to the paper target?

Usually it’s a small difference but I generally level to the target across the numbers. Thus, if I’m holding off, my shots will hold the water line all the way across. But I started thinking that the E target might be level and the paper target not level. Now I’m just confused.

 

[Medic505]

I've always set my rifle up level with the ground. It's repeatable.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Ground, leaning and crooked targets dont matter as they score the same. You want the gun level with the ground as leaning it in either direction with cause point of impact shift, the longer the distance the more this matters.

 

[CharlieNC]

Always build a consistent shooting position. First id the rear bag height such that you are comfortable, and strive for this setup every time; experimentation required to balance comfort with recoil control. Then the front elevation is whatever is required to get on target.

 

[Terry]

Interesting. Many places nothing is level. I have bubble levels on my front rest and rifle scope. The scope level, is level to the bottom of the forearm. Not saying that it is right or best, but it is consistent.

 

[Steve Blair]

Neither one. Both ground and target may be tilted. Always level to gravity, as your bubble level tells you.

 

[sdean]

Neither one. Both ground and target may be tilted. Always level to gravity, as your bubble level tells you.

Correct. The target should also be set-up level.
Thanks Steve

 

[Medic505]

I've always set my rifle up level with the ground. It's repeatable.

Neither one. Both ground and target may be tilted. Always level to gravity, as your bubble level tells you.

Steve has the right answer. I should have said earth, not ground.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Interesting. Many places nothing is level. I have bubble levels on my front rest and rifle scope. The scope level, is level to the bottom of the forearm. Not saying that it is right or best, but it is consistent.

That’s how I do it too. I also make sure the receiver is level to the bottom of the forearm when bedding in a BR type stock. In a hunting style forearm, I level the receiver to the top of the stock during bedding because my Atlas bipods have cant adjustment. Nice when the stock, barreled action and scope are all nice and level with each other.

 

[Steve Blair]

The important point to remember is that the scope must be centered as precisely as possible over the bore centerline. As Terry and Ledd Slinger noted. having all the pieces set up correctly is critical. After leveling your rest and seating the rifle as it will be fired; if the rifle is slightly out of level, adjust the rest until it is level. Even a small tilt angle is significant at 1000. Glance at your rifle level every shot to ensure that nothing has gone amiss.

 

[Fairchaser]

I think some of you are missing my point. Maybe it’s simpler than I think. I understand why everything should be level as can be. But, you can’t control how the target is set. If you have everything level on your end but the target isn’t level and you are holding off, you could get a level water line, but the POI is off the water line because the target is not level. Is this clear as mud? Now to throw another wrench into it are the ET. The paper target isn’t level but the ET is level. Now what difference does this make?

 

[CharlieNC]

Sorry I initially misunderstood your question as leveling vertically vs horizontal cant, which should leveled to the earth as generally noted.

 

[Steve Blair]

"Water line" is a horizontal line through the center of the target, so it doesn't matter what the target looks like. The center X is all that matters. If you must adjust your POI to coincide with the e-target, do it.

 

[kzin]

So we're talking about a situation where a shot could be physically straight low at 6 oclock but the etarget feedback shows it at 5:30 because the etarget is not level?

 

[Fairchaser]

So we're talking about a situation where a shot could be physically straight low at 6 oclock but the etarget feedback shows it at 5:30 because the etarget is not level?

More like if you look at your bullet holes in your target and see them as a horizontal water line, then view that water line in reference to the target. The target has numbers that are straight through the center horizontally. If this isn’t level, then your level water line won’t be the same as the target water line that isn’t level. I hope this makes sense.

 

[Fairchaser]

"Water line" is a horizontal line through the center of the target, so it doesn't matter what the target looks like. The center X is all that matters. If you must adjust your POI to coincide with the e-target, do it.

I think you have the answer. It doesn’t really matter what the target looks like. Your aiming at an imaginary X represented by the ETarget. Your adjustment to the POI would factor in any target issues whether offset high or low or somewhat unlevel. I think!

 

[kzin]

Level your scope and trust the reticle as the real waterline.
Then the paper orientation is irrelevant.

But the etarget shooting I've done one never sees actual bullet holes in paper.
Just feedback on a computer screen.
So if the system was giving false feedback because its not level it could be a real mess???

 

[Medic505]

Plus, there is no telling where the X has been calibrated on the target.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

I'm sure this will get me excommunicated from the forum, but I've never leveled a scope beyond "just eyeballing it". I eyeball the reticle of the scope with the target face at matches.

I don't feel like I've suffered because of it.

 

[BP1]

I'm sure this will get me excommunicated from the forum, but I've never leveled a scope beyond "just eyeballing it". I eyeball the reticle of the scope with the target face at matches.

I don't feel like I've suffered because of it.

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