{"id":1606,"date":"2023-11-26T15:35:44","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T15:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/?p=1606&#038;fishpig=1623769354&#038;preview=true"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","slug":"how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Properly Mount a Rifle Scope"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Knowing how to properly mount a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/rifle-scope-accessories-you-might-consider\/\">rifle<\/a> <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"scope\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"248\">scope<\/a> can ensure your rifle is consistently drilling tight groups.<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Properly mounting a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/the-convenience-of-scope-throw-levers\/\" title=\"The Convenience of Scope Throw Levers 11\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"514\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle scope<\/a> can seem like a daunting task. However, with the proper tools and the right amount of care, you can ensure your <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-marksmanship-trigger-control-success\/\" title=\"Rifle Marksmanship : Trigger Control Equals Success\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1432\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle is consistently shooting<\/a> tight groups. Follow these steps below to lock in your hardware.<\/span><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope\/#How_to_Properly_Mount_a_Rifle_Scope\" >How to Properly Mount a Rifle Scope<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope\/#Attach_the_Scope_Mounts\" >Attach the Scope Mounts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope\/#Attach_the_Scope_Rings\" >Attach the Scope Rings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope\/#Adjust_and_Level_the_Scope\" >Adjust and Level the Scope<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Properly_Mount_a_Rifle_Scope\"><\/span><b>How to Properly Mount a Rifle Scope<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not properly preparing all the parts involved is a step that\u2019s often overlooked. And it can cause some problems. Anytime you handle a firearm, check to make sure the weapon is fully unloaded. A round should not be inserted into the rifle during any point of the mounting process.<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place your rifle on a secure platform. A gun vice is extremely useful, especially when torquing screws, but <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/various-rifle-rests-and-when-to-use-each\/\">shooting<\/a> bags or any other secure rest will work.<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Next, remove all oil from the <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/choosing-the-best-riflescope-for-deer-hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle and scope<\/a> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">mounts. Dip a rag and cotton swabs in acetone, and swab the mounting hardware, drill holes, and screws to ensure all oil is removed. Also wipe down the top of the action around the drill holes where the mount will sit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When new <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/attending-a-long-range-shooting-course\/\">rifles<\/a> are shipped, oil is generously applied to prevent corrosion. The same oil can cause screws to loosen and mounts to slip under recoil from the rifle. While the movement might not be obvious to the naked eye, any small adjustments can greatly affect your zero and consistency.<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5-cvOAWXQpM?si=fNnMKaIRHVMbO0mw\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p><p><em>Gun Builder Bobby Hart <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5-cvOAWXQpM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">takes you through the steps<\/a> in how to properly mount a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/videosview\/sean-utley-reviews-the-toric-22-45x65-spotting-scope\/\">rifle scope<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Attach_the_Scope_Mounts\"><\/span><b>Attach the Scope Mounts<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place a very small amount of blue Loctite on the mount screws. Seat the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/choosing-the-best-riflescope-for-deer-hunting\/\" title=\"Choosing the Best Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1259\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope mount on the rifle<\/a> and use your fingers to tighten all screws in the drill holes. Make sure the mount you use is specific for the model of rifle you are prepping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once the screws are finger tight, begin securing with a torque wrench until all screws are tightened to 25 inch-lbs. Make sure you don\u2019t tighten each screw completely at once; go little by little.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Attach_the_Scope_Rings\"><\/span><b>Attach the Scope Rings<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Remove screws from the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/benefits-of-a-side-focus-adjustment-on-a-riflescope\/\">scope rings<\/a> and install them onto the scope. Tighten each screw slightly and evenly. The rings should be tight enough where the <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/tag\/adjusting-a-rifle-scope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope doesn&#8217;t slide<\/a> <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">under its own weight but loose enough where you can barely rotate the rings on the scope with a little force. Do this so you can make adjustments after the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/finding-the-perfect-6-5-creedmoor-rifle-scope\/\" title=\"Finding the Perfect 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle Scope\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"452\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope is mounted onto the rifle<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With the rings lightly tightened on the scope, attach the bottom of the scope rings to the base. Lightly tighten the screws on the bottom of the scope rings. Push the rings towards the muzzle of the rifle to ensure the rings are mounted as far forward as possible on the base. When the rifle recoils, it will recoil backwards relative to the scope. With the rings seated forward on the scope mount, it will prevent microscopic gaps that can cause the scope to slide in the mounts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Adjust_and_Level_the_Scope\"><\/span><b>Adjust and Level the Scope<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once the scope is mounted, close your eyes, and mount the rifle to your shoulder. Make sure you do it naturally and comfortably. Open your eyes to check eye relief.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For proper eye relief, the shooter should not see a black halo when the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/high-power-binoculars-for-prs-shooters\/\" title=\"High Power Binoculars For PRS Shooters\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1788\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope<\/a> is zoomed to its highest power. If you see a black halo, slide the scope backwards towards your eye until the halo has barely disappeared. Sliding the scope too far towards the shooter\u2019s eye can increase the possibility that the scope will recoil into the bridge of the shooter\u2019s nose when firing, especially with larger cartridges. Because of this it is important to naturally <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/types-of-rifle-scope-mounts\/\" title=\"Types of Rifle Scope Mounts\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mount your rifle<\/a> when checking eye relief.<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With eye relief set, use a reticle level to ensure your horizontal reticle is perpendicular to the muzzle of your rifle. This is a critical step. If your horizontal reticle isn\u2019t perpendicular, your calculated drop can be drastically altered, and yet again your zero will not be consistent over distance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Place the magnetic bubble level on a flat part of the rifle, such as the action. Level the rifle with sandbags or a gun vice. Once the rifle is level, hang a plumb bob and rotate the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/moa-vs-mrad-rifle-scopes\/\" title=\"MOA vs MRAD Rifle Scopes\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1870\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope until the reticle<\/a> lines up with the plumb bob. Tighten screws little by little and evenly until they reach 18 inch-lbs of torque.<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For an alternate method, use a leveling card, such as the Segway Reticle Level. For this process, level your <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/videosview\/toric-1-3-15x42-review-ronspomer\/\" title=\"TORIC 3-15X42 1\u2033 Rifle Scope Review by Ron Spomer\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1301\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle before mounting the scope<\/a>. Then slide the card under the rifle scope. Look through the rifle with the cards in your peripheral vision. Rotate the scope until the horizontal level is perpendicular with the stripes. Once again, be sure to tighten screws little by little and evenly until they reach 18 inch-lbs of torque.<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4532 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/precision_torque_driver_for_firearms.png\" alt=\"How to Properly Mount a Rifle Scope\" width=\"1024\" height=\"547\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/precision_torque_driver_for_firearms.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/precision_torque_driver_for_firearms-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/precision_torque_driver_for_firearms-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/precision_torque_driver_for_firearms-562x300.png 562w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/precision_torque_driver_for_firearms-150x80.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/span><\/p><p><em>The <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/accessories\/real-avid-smart-torq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SMART TORQ<\/a> by Real Avid provides discrete inch-pound increment settings for spot-on torque adjustments.<\/em><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Knowing how to properly mount a<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/why-the-2-5-15x-rifle-scope-is-ideal-for-hunting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle scope<\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">can be a challenging endeavor. But with the proper tools and some practice it\u2019ll become easier over time. Plus, learning the process is one more step in becoming a true rifleman.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Take a deeper dive into the scope mounting process by clicking<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/help.tractoptics.com\/p\/5GBO-4DJ\/mounts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">HERE<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. We answer FAQs as well as show you the tools and demonstrative videos that walk you through the entire process. Good shooting!<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/r2.dotdigital-pages.com\/p\/5GBO-4VS?pfredir=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4528 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1.png\" alt=\"How to Properly Mount a Rifle Scope\" width=\"970\" height=\"250\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1.png 970w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1-768x198.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1-600x155.png 600w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/10\/Long-Range-Shooting-Guide-970x250-1-150x39.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/><\/a><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Properly Mount a Rifle Scope<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12038,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2275,2257,2265],"tags":[2330,2337,2690,2691,2692,2696,2697,2698,2699,2700,2705,2935,2958,3058,3189],"class_list":["post-1606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accessories","category-how-to-fix-adjust","category-rifle-scope","tag-adjusting-a-rifle-scope","tag-adjusting-scope-to-point-of-impact","tag-how-to-adjust-a-rifle-scope","tag-how-to-adjust-a-scope","tag-how-to-adjust-a-scope-on-a-rifle","tag-how-to-adjust-rifle-scope","tag-how-to-adjust-rifle-scope-for-elevation-and-windage","tag-how-to-adjust-rifle-scope-turrets","tag-how-to-adjust-rifle-scopes","tag-how-to-adjust-scope","tag-how-to-adjust-windage-and-elevation","tag-mounting-a-rifle-scope","tag-optics","tag-rifle-scopes","tag-shooting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1606"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12815,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1606\/revisions\/12815"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}