When sighting on, How long before scope "settles down"

[GetReal]

Occasionally (e.g. Nightforce, Athlon, Leupold, Sightron, etc mid-range price scopes) after sighting in, I seemed to throw 1 shot outta 5, for maybe the next 10 rds.

Obviously when shooting for group / score, ya don't wanna be dialing while punching holes.

But, once you got your zero, ever throw shots like this? How long after dialing scope till it "settles down?" 1-2 shots? Or more.

Or is it shooter error?

 

[jelenko]

0.00 shots for the scope to settle down. If the scope doesn't hold zero or doesn't track, it goes back.

Your experience sounds more like shooter caused.
Some barrels, especially thinner ones, can take a shot or two before warming up.
Same thing with a squeeky clean one.

 

[coj0502]

I would do a box test, if it fails I would send it in.

 

[6MMsteve]

if the rifle shoots small .1 or .2 or less I can tell it's me pretty easy, ol shaky, I have finally noticed my concentration lacks sometimes, some people won't admit it, it's easy to tell on the golf course when you lift up, I quit playin 10 yrs ago, all that time wasted

 

[Sandstorm]

Or is it shooter error?

This right here...or your load is not really tuned well.

 

[6bra1k]

Occasionally (e.g. Nightforce, Athlon, Leupold, Sightron, etc mid-range price scopes) after sighting in, I seemed to throw 1 shot outta 5, for maybe the next 10 rds.

Obviously when shooting for group / score, ya don't wanna be dialing while punching holes.

But, once you got your zero, ever throw shots like this? How long after dialing scope till it "settles down?" 1-2 shots? Or more.

Or is it shooter error?

you have mixed problem scopes with better quality scopes in your opening remarks. nightforce does not belong in that list.
buy top end scopes, and practice practice practice. shoot a box to confirm

 

[GetReal]

you have mixed problem scopes with better quality scopes in your opening remarks. nightforce does not belong in that list.
buy top end scopes, and practice practice practice. shoot a box to confirm

I cannot understand your original stmt. Which are "mixed problem" and which aren't? What list does NF "belong" in? There's NF negative nancies in this forum. Impossible to tell what you consider a "top end" scope. Its hard to gain insight from what you said when I don't know what it means. None of the scopes I have are the low end version from that manf, and I've had some very good success with all the above. Repeatable 0.30" at 100 yd success. Half minute at 700 yd success. "Cleaning" a rimfire card in a match win success, against Sako's, Anschutz, BRNO's , Coopers etc.

Practice and shooting "boxes" are good ideas. always. Def agree there.

Re: NF .... maybe some more info will help... 1 NF I proved was problematic. Its at NF now for tech inspect. The other I own is rock solid. I view NF as a mid-level quality scope. ALOT of other ppl do also. Its certainly not low end or high end. The point of this thread was not to solicit personal opinions about the scopes in my list anyway. Esp given I didn't give the scope model. It was to discuss if a mid-level scope needs to "settle" after dialing.

I tend to agree with the general opinion.... "settling" is likely a shooter problem. Not a scope problem. Just guessing, you seem to agree.

Spending $3k on a scope is not an option, so I won't comment on that. $2500 max budget. Thanx.

 

[GetReal]

Two of these in a row got me wondering... sure...I suck....but not THAT bad....

 

[jelenko]

Assuming that's shot from the bench, that is 'way out'. That is a 1" dot, yes? And, at a 100 yards?
To me, that looks more like something mechanical than load development.
You've checked to ensure everything is tight and to spec? Action screws, base and ring screws. Barrel.
With the rifle/scope secured, does the reticle move at all when you tap on the scope?
What is the rifle sitting on? E.g.,, front rest and rear bag? Front rest secure?

 

[Mulligan]

Tested 12 Scopes Today

Just posting this to share my results and not to promote or bash any specific brand or model. Testing scopes is now part of my off season ritual. Try to get it done early enough so if they need to be repaired they get fixed prior to the next season getting started. Tested 12 scopes today...

forum.accurateshooter.com

Some additional reading on the subject

That is an informative read, thanks for sharing the link

CW

 

[GetReal]

Assuming that's shot from the bench, that is 'way out'. That is a 1" dot, yes? And, at a 100 yards?
To me, that looks more like something mechanical than load development.
You've checked to ensure everything is tight and to spec? Action screws, base and ring screws. Barrel.
With the rifle/scope secured, does the reticle move at all when you tap on the scope?
What is the rifle sitting on? E.g.,, front rest and rear bag? Front rest secure?

Totally agree. Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. Getting ready to do a third full rifle run thru. That's why my weird "settling down" question. This is 6 ARC semi. Was getting similar weird results with 6 Dasher bolt.. Was using 105 Berger VLD's. Switching to 105 Berger HT.

 

[jelenko]

6 ARC semi -is that in an AR? How are the front and rear being rested? What trigger? How are you positioning yourself with the rifle as the shot is released? AR's are difficult to shoot accurately from a 'bench'.

On the 6 Dasher what is the distance that the from the group to the shot that is out?
Are you using the same scope on both rifles?

How many rounds do you have through both of the rifles? Have either of them shot well in the past?

 

[GetReal]

6 ARC semi -is that in an AR? How are the front and rear being rested? What trigger? How are you positioning yourself with the rifle as the shot is released? AR's are difficult to shoot accurately from a 'bench'.

On the 6 Dasher what is the distance that the from the group to the shot that is out?
Are you using the same scope on both rifles?

How many rounds do you have through both of the rifles? Have either of them shot well in the past?

For load dev, 6 ARC is a front bipod & quality rear bag with quality stock. 6 Dasher is an F-class quality front rest and same rear bag and MPA chassis w/ bag rider. Dasher is more an F-class intended gun. 6 ARC more a PRS use.

Both rifles got 2-400 rds thru. Geissele in AR / 6ARC. Timney in Dasher.

Body position behind rifle is my big focuis right now. I bet it can improve. Prolly need to get some training.

NF NXS went back to NF for tech inspect. Used a known proven scope to shoot best group Dasher ever shot, i.e. NF has "issues" Athlon ARES BTW on 6 ARC.

 

[Bill K]

The scope has probably settled down. It is the shooter than must now do so.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

The only New scopes I have had that appeared on targets to need a couple shots to track to the adjustment, were mid price point V_-_-x. I suggested to the owners to send in, but none have. I would have if they were my scopes.

 

[GetReal]

The scope has probably settled down. It is the shooter than must now do so.

I can prolly see 1/8" - 1/4" "movement" in my reticle as compared to target. Some is wind, some mirage / boil, some natural shake, some prolly in the front rest / rear bag. I need to work on all those, esp. how I shoulder the rifle, and "natural shake" , maybe pre-load the rifle a bit. And get some training.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Next time you hit the range, for kicks and giggles you might try dialing the elevation/windage turrets at least a half a turn or so beyond the intended setting, then turn them back down/in to where you want them. This will sometimes allow the erector spring to uncompress then be loaded back up as the knobs are turned down again. Sometimes it can help prevent the erector assembly from "sticking" as you try to dial it further up or out. The scope really should never have to "settle down" if it is working properly. However, in the real world it sometimes happens, especially if the turrets have remained on the same setting for some time, then need to be changed slightly.

 

[Zero333]

Next time you hit the range, for kicks and giggles you might try dialing the elevation/windage turrets at least a half a turn or so beyond the intended setting, then turn them back down/in to where you want them. This will sometimes allow the erector spring to uncompress then be loaded back up as the knobs are turned down again. Sometimes it can help prevent the erector assembly from "sticking" as you try to dial it further up or out. The scope really should never have to "settle down" if it is working properly. However, in the real world it sometimes happens, especially if the turrets have remained on the same setting for some time, then need to be changed slightly.

Earlier this year one of my rifles dropped from a few feet onto concrete right on the scope elevation turret. Rifle with scope weight 19 lbs. Had to wind the turret all the way up and down before it would start tracking again. No problem since.

 

[One Eye Pete]

Make sure you have the parallax adjusted so that the reticle doesn't move when you move your head slightly. Always readjust parallax when changing scope power. This may not be your problem but it is something you should routinely be aware of and check when shooting. It can screw you up big time if it isn't set correctly and you don't put your eye in the exact same position for each shot.
It screwed me up big time when I got the bright idea of putting a high power long range scope on a 22LR and shot at 50 yards. The groups at 50 yards were terrible. I thought it was me until I used the same gun/scope/ammo at 100 yards and actually got better groups. It seems that the high power scope parallax didn't want to focus down correctly to 50 yards.

 

[CT10ring]

I reconnected with my 6MMAR AR 15 platform (similar cartridge) couple years back. A great build and components, scope, trigger, barrel. Zero excuses. I shot just OK groups - prone, Harris bipod, with a known accurate load...
Then I made two changes-
1) rubber pad under the bipod
2) loaded the bipod against a solid fixed platform (2X wood in this instance).
Shot MUCH better groups
NF NXS 8-32
fwiw