Adjusting VX1 scope

[Bowhunter Bill]

I just mounted a Leupold VX1 on my Marlin 1895M (450). I went up where I hunt pigs to see how close I got it removing the bolt and sighting through the barrel, and at 25 yards it's 12" low and 2" right of bullseye.

Ammo is expensive on this gun, before I start adjusting it, anybody have a feel for how much adjusting the dials will require?

I got inexpensive mount that I can see under for my iron sights, I've figured if I needed to replace with the Leupold rings and base I would.

Thanks. With iron sights, this gun really rocks the pigs when they're hit.

[kcstott]

I'd try it at 50 yards and see where it is. 25 yards might be before point blank range for that round and your sight height and any adjustment would be a waste of time. Worst thing that will happen is you will be 24" low and 4 right. Once you know where it is at 50 yards make your adjustments and move to 100 yards to finalize.

Sighting in is expensive but a miss on a expensive hunt is even more costly

[usmcspud]

At 100 yds ea click is worth 1/4". (Should be marked as such on the scope dials.). SO... At 25 yds your gonna have to multiply by 4 for ea. inch. In other words, to move 1" at 25 yds. ya gotta use 16 clicks. So with that in mind, adjust the dials and boresight again.
Granted I don't own a VX1 but all the other loopys I own are 1/4". (Except for my LR). Try it a see what happens. Get close and try it. Like he said, expensive to sight in but more expensive to miss that big one.

[tankerman]

Watch out for your forehead/eyes.

I'm a fan of ghost ring sights and red dot sights on heavy hitting leverguns.

[Bowhunter Bill]

I shot a few this am at 50 yards, it was 24". I decided since I adjusted it all the way to the limit on the adjuster (need to shim it) and since I could not get a good cheek/stock fit with the scope up so high, to stop where I was and iorder the regular Leupold base and rings and start over.

The recoil on the 450 is actually not bad, it's like my Mossberg 500 shooting slugs.

Thanks again.

[general_disarray_prk]

Bowhunter Bill,

This might help - find the "mechanical center" of your scope's Elevation and Wind-age by counting the TOTAL number of clicks for each setting, and then dividing each setting by 2. In a perfect world, after splitting the TOTAL number of clicks, your scope reticle will then be mechanically centered - so that should get you on paper at 25 yds. If possible, start punching paper at 25 yds. I know it's expensive ammo, but in my experience, you'll really reduce your headaches by starting out at a close distance.

Knowing that your scope is mechanically centered AND shooting at a CLOSE range will help you figure out what scope mounting component could be possibly "out of wack".

Say man - just asking and not trying to hijack the thread - what's the average range that a pig is shot in the PRK?

[Bowhunter Bill]

<75 yards I'd say from my experience hunting hogs. Many 25-50.

[Bowhunter Bill]

I need to find out which Leupold ring I use- low or medium with 40mm scope.

[tankerman]

The recoil on the 450 is actually not bad,

I typically load 560 grain hardcast in my 1895 45/70. It's stout enough that I wouldn't put my eye next to a scope, specially not with the levergun tendency to rise during recoil.

[Bowhunter Bill]

560 grains? What do you shoot that at?

Medium height scope rings per Cabelas.

[tankerman]

Hogs.
To me, an expanding 45 caliber bullet is pointless. Hardcast fully penetrates every time, regardless of bone encounters.


A 45/70 marlin/Winchester type levergun is not a long range gun.
A variable power scope (3x9) is unnecessary and totally worthless where a levergun is most useful, short range.


45/70 long range is typically with a single shot rifle such as a Sharps, or a converted Siamese Mauser.