Squaring up a rifle for scope mounting.

[david s]

I didn't want to hi jack crosstimbers thread on scope mounting so. Do any members here have a good method of making sure that the rifle there going to mount a scope to is straight up and down on it's vertical axis? Preferably an easy one.

[Earl Keese]

I've used one like this on a bunch of rifles. Doesn't matter if the rifle itself is level, as long as the mount/rail is level on the barrel.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/100910230?pid=479454

[david s]

I've seen those but haven't used one. I mentioned below in the "SCOPE LEVEL QUESTION" post that I've on occasion used a level across a scope ring's bottom half. Some rifles (like the CZ 527's rear ring mounting surface) have a flat surface you can use a level on others like the Win model 70 or the Remington 700 are rounded. Some scope mount bases offer a usable flat surface when mounted to the rifle others not so much. I can see where the Segway Reticle Leveler would work with a flat surface but looking at it I wonder how effective it would be on a rounded surface. Have you tried this with a not so square surface?

[crosstimbers]

Im going to try the open bottom ring idea, if I find the bubble tube that I have. However two of the rifles involved have Warne rings

[david s]

Most of my CZ 527's have the vertically split Warne medium rings on them. Fortunately the 527 have a nice flat surface where the rear scope ring mounts, just good luck there. If you take the bubble tube out of a level be careful as the bubble tubes ends may have a ridge on them, just something to look for before you use it. What rifles are you going to use the Warnes on?

[crosstimbers]

One is my 550 standard 308, the other is my 550 FS 270. Both my 527 have horizontal split rings, but Im not switching scopes on either of them.

[david s]

With the 550 rifles as long as you have a way of holding the rifle securely once it's square you should be okay. Place a level across the front receiver flat and level the rifle. Mount your Warnes and scope, and then use your level on the elevation turret. This is pretty much how I do 527's with Warne rings. I also use a borescope as it lets me have a reference point to see if some how I managed to screw up the process.

[crosstimbers]

Im certainly going to try