Vortex Golden Eagle on a 20 MOA Base

[Henryrifle]

I just put together a 6mm Dasher on a Tikka T3X TAC A1. As some will know that chassis comes with a zero MOA scope base. There is an aftermarket 20 MOA base for this chassis that I installed as part of this build. I did this to maintain consistency with other bolt guns.

This exposed something I wasn't expecting, however. I mounted my Golden Eagle on the new 20 MOA base and found that it didn't have enough internal travel (down) to zero at 100 yards. It shot about 4 MOA high at 100 yards.

I searched this forum and didn't see any other post similar to this. There are numerous posts about guys using this scope with 20 MOA basses and more on 22s but that is not very comparable.

No complaints about the scope. It shot a 200-15X at 600.

Is this a known limitation on with this scope or do I have one that seems to have limited internal travel--at least in the down direction?

Thank you,
Henryrifle

 

[Sandstorm]

I had the same rifle..hmmm.It could be the base you used, or its the scope.?
I have not come across this issue...conundrum..before.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I just put together a 6mm Dasher on a Tikka T3X TAC A1. As some will know that chassis comes with a zero MOA scope base. There is an aftermarket 20 MOA base for this chassis that I installed as part of this build. I did this to maintain consistency with other bolt guns.

This exposed something I wasn't expecting, however. I mounted my Golden Eagle on the new 20 MOA base and found that it didn't have enough internal travel (down) to zero at 100 yards. It shot about 4 MOA high at 100 yards.

I searched this forum and didn't see any other post similar to this. There are numerous posts about guys using this scope with 20 MOA basses and more on 22s but that is not very comparable.

No complaints about the scope. It shot a 200-15X at 600.

Is this a known limitation on with this scope or do I have one that seems to have limited internal travel--at least in the down direction?

Thank you,
Henryrifle

I had exactly the same problem with my .308 RPR as the RPR comes with a 20 MOA base. But since I have been using the Burris XTR Signature Rings, I just had to compensate with the inserts so that I could zero at 100 yds and get as much elevation adjustment as possible. The GE only has 55 MOA of total adjustment to work with and that's really not a lot for LR shooting if one is going to zero at 100 yds. I'm guessing that Vortex feels this scope designed for LR shooting, so the shooter should be zeroing at longer distances???

 

[Sandstorm]

so the shooter should be zeroing at longer distances

This...@ 200 yds you would be perfect.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have GEs on several rifles and have not run into this. Strightshooter gave you the answer, Burris Signature Zee rings with inserts. Brownells has them in stock. Use the +10 and the -10 on the rear ring facing the -10 (thinner) down to 6 oclock. On a 4.5 inch spacing this will gain you 8 in at 100 yds.

 

[JFrank]

Why would anyone use a 20 min rail coupled with a 100 yard zero?

 

[Henryrifle]

@afret that is what I would expect from ANY scope. Going to call and ask if I should send it in.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[JFrank]

I just put together a 6mm Dasher on a Tikka T3X TAC A1. As some will know that chassis comes with a zero MOA scope base. There is an aftermarket 20 MOA base for this chassis that I installed as part of this build. I did this to maintain consistency with other bolt guns.

This exposed something I wasn't expecting, however. I mounted my Golden Eagle on the new 20 MOA base and found that it didn't have enough internal travel (down) to zero at 100 yards. It shot about 4 MOA high at 100 yards.

I searched this forum and didn't see any other post similar to this. There are numerous posts about guys using this scope with 20 MOA basses and more on 22s but that is not very comparable.

No complaints about the scope. It shot a 200-15X at 600.

Is this a known limitation on with this scope or do I have one that seems to have limited internal travel--at least in the down direction?

Thank you,
Henryrifle

If you've used a bit too much windage setting up you may be restricted on elevation. The important part is being optically centered at the distance your competing

 

[Henryrifle]

@SPJ: I must be doing something wrong. All of my scopes are set up with 100 yard zeros. The competition rifles usually stay set for 600 or 1000 yards but can be quickly reset to 100 using the zero stop—not the golden eagle but others with that feature. How should I be zeroing my scopes?

 

[Henryrifle]

The barrel was indexed with the muzzle at the 12 o’clock position. Very little windange was required. Less than 2 MOA.

I just talked with Vortex and they didn’t find this unusual or worth sending in for a check.

When I think of all the scopes I’ve owned and all the 20 MOA bases or 20 MOA mounts, I am surprised that I have never before seen this.

You learn something new and potentially disappointing everyday...

Out of curiosity, why a 300 yard zero?

 

[wkdickinson]

I have a Savage "Target" action in 243 Win with a 20 MOA Ken Farrell base and Nightforce rings. It would have the same problem, but I never shoot it at 100 yds. The 200 yd. zero is 1 MOA up from the bottom.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I've ran my GE on 2 Savage actions and 1 Bighorn Origin, all 3 with 20moa rails. No issues with getting a 100 yard zero on all 3. .308, .223, 6br.

 

[Devin Wiggett]

Burris Zee rings will work.
And to the comment about 20moa rail and 100 yard zero, I probably know 40 competitive shooters that run that set up, some of which are too ten shooters in the nation. Doesn't seem to be an issue.

 

[D-4297]

Ran into this issue with my GE on a Kelby Panda with 20 MOA Receiver / Rail , and solved it with the Burris XTR Rings w/ inserts . The only reason I wanted to get to 100 yard base setting was to be able to do consistent load work-up , beginning at 100 yards . As a TR shooter , I would normally have a 200 - 300 yard zero setting , but wanted the bottom allowance . Making this change however , did reduce my 1,000 yard setting to roughly seven minutes over MOA to reach 1,000 . I can live with it , knowing it's there .

 

[Rob01]

I have mounted my GE on a couple rifles with 20 MOA base and no issues. Sounds odd you are having problems.

 

[Sandstorm]

Try to get your scope optically centered
First. You can google for more info regarding this and a how to procedure
Its been recommended to me a long time ago by some scope mfg co.
FWIW

 

[Henryrifle]

Seems like in this relatively small response group there is a reasonably equal split between "never had this problem" and "yes, I've seen it/experienced it" with this scope. That coupled with Vortex's response to my call to technical support makes me think my issue is not abnormal.

My scope shoots 4 MOA high on a 20 MOA base. That means I am set at 16 MOA up on a 0 MOA base and at 600 yards where I normally shoot I am another 10 MOA up from there at 26 MOA off the bottom. That would be just about the center of the scope. I can crank it up to the stop to verify that but it shoots okay for now and I think I'll just live with it.

This is what it did late last week:


Thank you all for the responses!
Henryrifle

 

[JEFFPPC]

Why would anyone use a 20 min rail coupled with a 100 yard zero?

Spj very simple. Shooting matches that range from 100 to 1000 yds. Not rocks or steel but matches where the 100 yd top scoring mark is a 1/8 inch dot . The dot is inside a 1/2 inch circle. Touch the circle you lose points off your score. Now, tomorrow you go to a 1000yd MATCH. Any questions buddy.

 

[JFrank]

Yes sir'
So simple a cave man could do it..
Thx uncle Jeff, now I know...

 

[Rob01]

Seems like in this relatively small response group there is a reasonably equal split between "never had this problem" and "yes, I've seen it/experienced it" with this scope. That coupled with Vortex's response to my call to technical support makes me think my issue is not abnormal.

My scope shoots 4 MOA high on a 20 MOA base. That means I am set at 16 MOA up on a 0 MOA base and at 600 yards where I normally shoot I am another 10 MOA up from there at 26 MOA off the bottom. That would be just about the center of the scope. I can crank it up to the stop to verify that but it shoots okay for now and I think I'll just live with it.

This is what it did late last week:
View attachment 1247381

Thank you all for the responses!
Henryrifle

Well the optic has 55 MOA of elevation so 27.5 up and down. It might have something to do with what you said earlier about the rifle being "indexed with the muzzle at the 12 o’clock position" and maybe your rifle is impacting higher than it should and causing an issue.