is this too close?

[ekkthree]

mounted up my scope and it's about as close as it can get. not enough space there to get a lens cover on.
i can slide it forward in the rings to get a hair more space underneath, but not much.
i've read that you want it low on the gun, but is this too close?

[Catch]

Is it comfortable to look through?

[sonofeugene]

Things can and do jump around and bend so it's possible that it might contact at some point, but not likely. I'd raise it anyway as the difference between not getting a lens cap on and getting a lens cap on isn't going to amount to a hill of beans with respect to accuracy. Protect your optics.

[Paul_R]

Close your eyes and put your cheek on the gun like you would to take a shot. Get it where you're most comfortable. Now open your eyes. If your up and down alignment is centered on the scope you're good to go. Otherwise adjust your scope height to fit you.

In answer to your question, there's no reason you can't have the scope as low as you do if it fits you.

[CAL.BAR]

That looks too close. Recoil may cause the scope to be hit by rifle barrel.

[broadside]

I doubt you will get contact that close to the receiver. if it was much farther out on the barrel, possibly, but harmonics at that point should be minimal. I'd shoot it

[sonofeugene]

Close your eyes and put your cheek on the gun like you would to take a shot. Get it where you're most comfortable. Now open your eyes. If your up and down alignment is centered on the scope you're good to go. Otherwise adjust your scope height to fit you.

In answer to your question, there's no reason you can't have the scope as low as you do if it fits you.

Good advice. But I'd still raise it so I can get a lens cap on there.

[ekkthree]

the lens cap reference was just to illustrate how tight that space is, it's not a deal breaker either way. for now, i put the sunshade on there to protect the lens from my grubby fingers, but i'll probably raise it and see how that goes.

[theLBC]

can you use sleeves inside the mounting rings?

[Divernhunter]

I have had a scope mounted that close since the late 1960's on a rifle that has been thru hell and back several times and killed many, many animals. I can just barely get a business card to slip between the scope and barrel.
NEVER A PROBLEM.
As long as you see thru it with a good cheek weld it is fine.
The sky will not fall and the world will not end.
"I" also would not put caps on any scope I hunt with. Having them will cost you an animal sooner or later. My buddy use to give me crap about them until they cost him the only chance he had at an elk on a costly guided hunt. You do not always have the amount of time you see on TV to take the shot. Carry a lens pen and you are good. I have hunted in dust, dirt, fog, rain, snow, very high wind and a blizzard and never needed caps. I have taken game in all those conditions. BUT I only hunt with Leupold scopes. I do use other brands for rifles/pistols not used for hunting but heck if they go bad I usually have another firearm or two I can switch to.

If it feels good when you shoulder it leave it alone.

[Maltese Falcon]

Good advice. But I'd still raise it so I can get a lens cap on there.

You could trim the cap a bit on the bottom with a razor to clear and still stay on.


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[ChuckDizzle]

I have had a scope mounted that close since the late 1960's on a rifle that has been thru hell and back several times and killed many, many animals. I can just barely get a business card to slip between the scope and barrel.
NEVER A PROBLEM.
As long as you see thru it with a good cheek weld it is fine.
The sky will not fall and the world will not end.
"I" also would not put caps on any scope I hunt with. Having them will cost you an animal sooner or later. My buddy use to give me crap about them until they cost him the only chance he had at an elk on a costly guided hunt. You do not always have the amount of time you see on TV to take the shot. Carry a lens pen and you are good. I have hunted in dust, dirt, fog, rain, snow, very high wind and a blizzard and never needed caps. I have taken game in all those conditions. BUT I only hunt with Leupold scopes. I do use other brands for rifles/pistols not used for hunting but heck if they go bad I usually have another firearm or two I can switch to.

If it feels good when you shoulder it leave it alone.

Depends on the caps and rifle. On my CZ 527, Butler Creek caps sit perfectly on the ends of my 3-9x so that I can flip both open with my thumbs while holding the rifle naturally.

[Divernhunter]

You hunt long enough with a rifle using caps they will cost you an animal. If squirrel shooting or at the range and such then caps are fine.

I have seen it happen and have heard about it far too many times over the years. I do use scope covers/caps of sort that I remove when the rifle come out of the case to start hunting but never have the scope covered when hunting.

[LuckyGuy]

YES

You could trim the cap a bit on the bottom with a razor to clear and still stay on.


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+1, Lens covers are cheap.

[Fizz]

It will probably shoot real nice and flat that way, but you might get a 'semi fully automatic' cheek weld.