How to Mount a Scope?

Did you just buy a scope and can’t wait to test it out? All that stands in your way is a new scope, which you have no idea how to attach to your weapon.

The ability to mount your rifle scope can mean the difference between making shots of a lifetime and missing them altogether. We are not exaggerating in the least.

While you can pay a gunsmith to do the installation for you, you can save a few dollars by doing it yourself with a bit of time and effort. It can be one of your very own how-to projects; this is where our comprehensive guide comes in.

This article will show you exactly how to put it in place, saving you time, unnecessary hassle, and the cost of going to a gunsmith.

How to Mount a Scope on a Rifle?

Prepare Your Scope and Rifle

Incorrectly preparing all of the components can cause complications, and it is an important step that you must never overlook. Therefore, always ensure that you unload the firearm before handling it.

Pick up your rifle and get rid of all lubrication. Next, use cotton swabs and a rag to thoroughly clean the hardware, drill holes, and screws. Finally, as a final step before attaching the mount to the rifle, wipe the rifle top-down with a damp cloth.

Assemble Your Scope Mounting Hardware

Use a minimal amount of blue Loctite and coat the mount screws. Screw all the screws into the holes in the scope mount using your fingers. Make sure the amount you choose is compatible with the rifle scopes you’re preparing for combat.

Start tightening the screws with a torque wrench as soon as the screws are finger tight. Don’t overtighten each screw at once; instead, tighten each one incrementally. Make sure that your scope is properly mounted.

Place Your Scope

Replace ring screws in scope rings removed, then reinstall the scope. You should tighten each screw uniformly. 

Once you have mounted the scope on the rifle, make sure the scope’s rings are tight enough to hold it in place but loose enough that you can still rotate the rings with a bit of effort.

Fix the scope rings to the platform by loosely tightening their rings. Focus on the scope rings’ bottom screws and give them a light tightening. To get the rings as far forward on the base as possible, push them toward the rifle’s muzzle.

Raise or Lower the Aperture

As soon as the scope is in place, you can mount the rifle to your shoulder, stand in your shooting position and close your eyes. Open your eyes to see if your eyes are comfortable.

Align the Reticle

Reticle leveling ensures that your horizontal reticle is perpendicular to the muzzle of your rifle when you have an eye relief set. According to Real Avid, your zero will not be consistent over long distances if the horizontal reticle is not perpendicular.

A flat part of the rifle, such as the action, is excellent for placing the magnetic bubble level. Sandbags or a gun vice can be used as a solid rest to level the rifle.

Once you level the rifle, hang a plumb bob, rotate the scope until the reticle is aligned, and slowly and evenly tighten screws to a torque of 18 inches.

How to Mount a Sniper Scope?

• Take the scope mount and place it on top of the upper receiver while the sniper is level on the shooting rest. It is best to avoid using a mount that is both attached to the upper receiver and to a free-floating rail. The scope tube may be overworked as a result.
• Now, firmly tighten the scope mount to secure but not overly so with your hand. You can use the torque wrench to tighten the scope mount, but be sure to follow the instructions that come with it.
• Your rifle’s scope can now be attached to the scope mount that you just finished installing. As you place the scope on the mount, check that the rings are resting flat against the scope’s surface. After that, secure the optic by placing the top portion of the rings there. The rings form an “X” pattern when you tighten them.
• Tighten only to a point where the gap between the rings is the same on both sides. When you are tightening the scope rings, a small gap should be left so that you can move the optic. 
• You can also check the eye relief of the scopes at this stage to find a good position for you.
• Place it on the rifle tube’s flat surface to use the bubble level. Steps like this are simple if you use a shooting rest for your sniper, but you must ensure that the rifle is level.
• It’s now time to tighten your scope rings using an “X” pattern to ensure that all screws are tightened equally on each side. It means that your sniper scope is safe and ready to use.

How Much Does It Cost to Have a Scope Mounted?

There is no particular answer to this. Everything is subject to the difficulty of the procedure and the amount of work required. For example, a gunsmith can charge you anywhere between $10 to $200.

The gun you have, the material you own, and the amount of work the gunsmith has to do will all play a role.

How to Mount a Red Dot on a Scope?

• The red dot can be placed anywhere on your Picatinny rail so that you can instantly see through it and the dot when aiming.
• After installing the device, sighting is the most critical consideration. Like a rifle scope’s windage and elevation adjustments, aiming a red dot is identical. For short-range shooting, they are best suited; however, You can use the finer dots to the point where your eyes can see the target.
• Like with a magnified scope, you’ll need to spot the red dot before zeroing in. Using the wind speed and elevation dials, you can then zero in.
• It is impossible to get an equal sign (=) between the sightline and the bore line because the dot is located over the bore and the bullet doesn’t really travel perfectly straight.
• You will see an X will form when those lines cross.
• The zero point in spotting is when your sight and bullet collide to hit a bullseye at a certain distance.

How to Mount a Crossbow Scope?

• Start by mounting your crossbow in the padded vise and adjusting its height. Using the padded vise, secure your crossbow. Away from the crossbow’s wall of defense is best.
• Using the arrow flight rail, place the level horizontally on top of the level. Secure the crossbow in the vise after being set to the desired level.
• You should remove the crossbow filler screws.
• In order to place the mounting system’s bases, you can use Loctite or oil, based on the manufacturer’s suggestions. Because some bases have screws of varying lengths, double-check that you’re using the right ones in the right holes.
• If you decide to use Loctite, apply only a light coating to the screws. Keep in mind that you should never subject threaded holes to Loctite application.
• You must install the rings of your favorite scope correctly. It is a very crucial step. To ensure a snug fit for the scope, check that the rings are wide enough to accommodate it without causing it to move around. Using a screwdriver or a wrench, tighten the bottom half of the rings until they are secure.
• Ensure that the rings are properly aligned. The most common cause of scope damage is misaligned rings, so pay attention to this step. This can be determined by using the scope alignment tool. When you use the alignment tool, slide the front and back rings together until pointed tips of the alignment tool are nearly touching.
• According to Sportsman’s Guide, please ensure that your crossbow is still level before you fire it. After that, place the scope in the rings. A ring should fall toward the bottom. Now that you’ve finished installing the bottom half of your rings, you can begin carefully tightening them.

How to Mount a Precision Rifle Scope?

• Use a bench vise with padded jaws to secure the barrel. To hold the rifle in place, you’ll need a gun cradle that’s sturdy enough.
• Use a bubble level to check the rifle’s action is level. Using the flat atop the Picatinny rail is effective. If the tang is flat, you can remove the bolt and set a bubble level while still having enough clearance on the tang. Rest your level on the base of an attachment for scope rings when all else fails.
• Mount the scope securely in the rings, but it should still be able to be rotated and moved by hand. If the elevation turret is flat, use a bubble level to level your scope’s reticle.
• Another way to level the crosshairs is to look through your scope at a plumb bob and align the vertical crosshairs with the string.
• Remove the rifle from the vise and confirm your eye relief once the reticle is level. Make the necessary alterations. Make sure the gun is level by putting it back in the vise and moving the scope.
• Fittings should be torqued using a torque wrench to ensure they are securely tight.

How to Mount a Scope on a Rifle Without Rail?

• To use the drill, insert the receiver and begin tapping. Usually, all modern rifles are pre-drilled, but if the one you own is not, then start drilling a hole in your rifle. You can place a jig on top of it to ensure that all holes are in the correct locations.
• It is the first step if your rifle doesn’t have any holes. If you have a drilled firearm, you can proceed to the next step.
• Put Loctite on the base plate to remove the moisture and stiffen it to fix it permanently. After applying Loctite, you will screw the base plate to the rifle’s receiver and secure it.
• Finally, attaching the rail is necessary (a critical task). Select the type of rail you want, but make sure it works well with your scope. You can use Loctite to secure the rail to the gun’s receiver, but this is not required.
• Attaching the scope rings and then mounting the scope is the next step after the rail is attached to the receiver. As far as mounting a scope goes, this is your last step. 
• Bore sighting is the best way to verify accuracy. Once you’ve got the rifle’s accuracy down pat with the bore sighter, you’re ready to test it out in the field or on the range. 

How to Mount a Scope to a Shotgun?

• Make sure that the scope you own is suitable for the shotgun amount you intend to use it with. A new scope will be required if it isn’t.
• You’re ready to begin mounting your new scope once you’ve verified that you have the correct amount of supplies and all the necessary tools.
• Use Loctite to secure the base into place. Installing the scope’s foundation is a prerequisite before doing anything else. Keeping the scope’s objective bell away from the barrel is best when mounting a scope on a shotgun.
• In the event that you are unsure of where to place the base, ask an experienced shooter. It’s the most important step in the process. Apply a thread locker like Loctite once you’ve decided where to mount the scope. 
• As soon as you’ve attached the scope and reticle, it’s time to adjust the base. The first step is to connect the upper half of the rings to the lower half and tighten them down a little bit. Because you’ll be rotating the scope, you don’t want a tight fit.
• You must align your scope appropriately to provide adequate eye relief. One of the most important things to remember is to find a spot where you can see clearly through the scope but still have enough room not accidentally shoot yourself.
• Despite mounting your scope, you will still need to get it sighted in before you can use it. Some have recommended borescopes, but we prefer to sight it in at the range manually. Because you won’t have to do the math to account for bullet drop, this is the best method for aiming your scope.

Final Words

Now that you’ve successfully mounted and scoped your rifle does not mean that you should stop there. Make sure that before you learn how to mount, you have one of the best hunting scopes on the market!

Keep checking and ensuring that screws and bases are tight to prevent the parts from loosening during transportation.

Another thing that could cause you to have to check the accuracy of your rifle scope is bumping it when you pull your gun up to a tree stand.

Good luck with your endeavors!