Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 20 MOA BASES - PLEASE HELP!!

I just bought a 20 MOA base for my Sako 75 custom rifle that is being built by Patriot Arms. My question is: should I have gotten the 0 MOA base instead??

I will be mounting a S&B 3-12x42 Klassik scope on this rifle. The scope only has 15.7" of adjustment (each way). I want to be zeroed at 2-2.5" high at 100 yds - will I still be able to achieve that??

When I shot the rifle before it went to Patriot Arms, with the Opti-Lok scope mounts, I used up alot of elevation to get to my 2" high zero at 100 yds - that is why I went with the 20 MOA base. I want to try to keep the scope close to mechanical center with a 2" high zero at 100 yds.

A 10 MOA base probably would have been ideal, but Near Mfg. did not have any, only 0 MOA and 20 MOA bases.

Any thoughts/suggestions??

Not sure what your particular combo is going to do, but my suggestion would be to buy some Burris Signature rings with the offsetting inserts. You could then reduce the built-in elevation from the base, if necessary. I use them with a Ken Farrell 20 MOA base and like that set up a lot.

This is a hunting rifle w/ shots ranging from 100 yds - 400 yds. (it is a .300 Win mag)

I bought Near Mfg rings to go with his base. Like I said - my Schmidt does not have very much travel built into it.

If you're only shooting 400 yards, max, you don't need 20 MOA bases.

Mount standard rings/bases, sight in, rock on.

Like I said before though, I used 3/4ths of my elevation travel to get a 2" high zero at 100 yds with the scope in Opti-Loks.

Shouldn't this 20 MOA base let me be closer to mechanical center on this S&B scope??

For those distances, I would get a 0 base. As an example, if you are shooting a 180 Partition out of your Win. Mag. and zero at 200 yards, you only need a little less than 5 MOA to get to 400.

I was typing as VA was. Were your optiloks live centers? They may have been offset. You should be able to be close enough to center with 0 degree base and a 2 - 2.5 inch high zero at 100.

"live centers" - please define/explain??

Forgot to add, that Mr. Near machined the front ring to get me 2 MOA closer to center, so basically I have a 18 MOA base.

2-2.5" high at 100 yds gives me an approximate 250 yd zero - with my set-up can this be achieved???

I was referring to the nylon inserts that fit inside the rings, but now that I think about it, I'm not sure Sako ever offered those inserts in off-set configurations like Burris does. Maybe someone else can chime in?

Nonetheless, it sounds like something might have been out of alignment with your previous mounts, to require that much elevation. If something is amiss, the Burris rings do a good job of getting you close to optical center of the scope. It might be worth shooting the system you have after you get the rifle back and see where you are with it. You can always change it.

AEL,

The Sako inserts had no off-set built into them like the Burris inserts do. Don't know what could have been amiss, but the Opti-Loks have too many "issues" thats why I went with the tactical syle base and rings from Near Mfg.

Let me see if I get this right. Your scope has a total of 16 minutes of elevation. You used up 12 of it getting sighted in. You have put on a 18 MOA base, so now sighted in would be 6 inches below the adjustment of your scope.

If I understand your posts correctly, you did not do yourself any favors with the 18 MOA setup. I think you went from sighted in, but not optically centered, to not able to sight in at all.

But I might be all messed up. I think one of us is. Are you sure that is all the vertical there is? That sure doesn't seem like much.

utah,

There is 15.7" each way (up and down) for a total of 31.4" within the scope.

With a 20 MOA base, you basically add 20 MOA (20.94 inches) of "up" travel to your set-up. So I would have 36.64 inches of "up" travel and 15.7 inches of "down" travel at the scope's mechanical center.

So if I used 12 inches to get a 200 yd zero, I would still have 24.64 inches of "up" travel to use for long ranges. This is great for long range shooting, but I am only going to be shooting 400-500 yds maximum.

I want to keep my scope close to mechanical center with a 200 - 250 yd zero - this is the question I'm asking for help on.

If you're zeroed where you want to be zeroed, why the hell concern yourself with how much "up" you have left?

Zero, leave it alone, shoot.

Vanimrod,

I will do just that, but I need to know if I can with a 20 MOA base - that's why in the hell I'm concerned.

Thanks for your input!!

Ah (damn, I'm slow today).

Yes, you can.

If you maxed out the "up" on the scope to zero with 0 bases, the 18 MOA base you have now would put you about 3 MOA HIGH at 100 with the reticle recentered. Thus, the 20(18) MOA base will give you MORE up than what you used, letting you crank DOWN from mechanical center to reach your desired zero.

In other words, the Near base will give you tons more up than you need...... and still plenty of down as well.

I believe there are optical advantages to running the scope close to the center of its adjustment range, but I won't swear on it.

Thats what I need to hear. I will set it and forget it once zeroed. I just needed to know if it was at all possible w/ the Near 20 MOA base.

Thanks!!

They say your optics function their best at or near mechanical center - thats what I heard too.

As long as I am close to mechanical center and am able to achieve my 200-250 yd zero, I'll be happy!!!!!