Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Help please: troubleshoot shooting a scope problem.

Unless you have a loose base or ring, I'd say your scope is hosed.

Been there done that. As long as the bases and rings are right, AND the holes for the bases on the receiver are correct then it is the scope. As the rifle shot well before I would say scope. Happened a couple of times to me. Just going back for repair doesn't mean it will come back to you now working either.

I'm sure others will chime in, but twice for me. They said it was a ring, base issues and the scope (scopes) passed their testing. Never could get either to adjust right. Even changing rings and using Burris Signature rings with the offsets. Other scopes put on did work.

Unless you have a loose base or ring, I'd say your scope is hosed.

Hello everybody,

I am having troubles with a scope, I’m wondering if I’m missing something or if this scope needs to take a trip to the manufacturer. I’m thinking it needs to get sent in but just double checking.

I got this scope from here on the campfire, it arrived as described and I in no way shape or form place blame on the seller as it could have been bumped hard during shipping or something.

I mounted this scope on a Ruger all weather 270 that I bought a few years back, the rifle shoots so I’m confident the issue isn’t with the rifle.

I went to zero the rifle in today, I placed a target at roughly 25 yards just to initially get it on paper and planned to zero it at 200yds but I never got that far.

-1st shot aimed at dead center was ~ 8” left so I dialed it to the right
-2nd shot no movement
-I kept giving it 8-12 clicks to the right without any movement for 5-6 more shots. (Elevation worked when I adjusted it after the initial shots)


Out of frustration I turned the dial all the way to the right, and the gun wasn’t on paper (maybe a dumb move). Like a true amateur I messed with it for 5-6 more rounds.

Next I put up a large piece of cardboard with a dot in the center
-1st shot was now ~ 10” right so I started bringing it left but the adjustments didn’t seem right, 12 clicks was moving me about 1”, I kept walking the shots towards the target then ran out of windage to the right at about 5” off the target.

So initially the gun was shooting left with no apparent changes occuring when adjusting windage, after messing with it for several more rounds I ended up with it hitting right with no more ability to move left.


What did I do here??? Flame suit on but in my defense I’ve never had this issue before and I’ve always been able to sight guns in quickly

If this was me, I’d remove the scope and using the same bases/rings I’d install a known good scope. Then I’d take the rifle and use a known accurate load to shoot some groups. Shift the proven scope with regards to windage/elevation and make certain the groups track and stay consistent.


Basically this step back verifies you’re Rifle is good, your load is good and your scope mount is good. Now the only variable is this new scope.

Reinstall it and see if you can shoot a group, don’t fire one shot and adjust, try a group. Ive had bad scopes that would shift poi due to recoil. If your rifle shoots a group, then try adjusting elevation or windage to see if it tracks and continues to group.

If you see the same behavior again after verifying rifle, load and mounting are good to go with another scope, then you have a bad scope.

If it’s a bad scope I’d be in touch with the seller right away.

Assuming the scope was well packaged and the box arrived intact, then I’d want to understand the history of the scope.

I'm leaning toward this. I didn't catch what kind of scope it was....

I like to buy scopes that have the unlimited BA warrantee so it's a one time purchase. Lately, the only thing riding my rifles are Vortex because their customer service and warrantee is outstanding.

The bottom line is your reticle is effed. It needs to go back to the seller or the manufacture. Even if you could fix it, I wouldn't trust a "sticky" scope.

Ill assume its a Ruger m77? Are your rings lapped? Ruger makes some bullet proof stuff, but not always the most precise. Could have a slight pinch point on the scope tube causing the erector not to move perfectly. I would remove and check scope adjustment without being mounted, then re install.