An observation on some rail height comments

[MikeVV]

I see people make comments on...how much better it is when the rail (Picatinny/Weaver) is closer to the barrel bore centerline. The scope can be much better aligned to the barrel........

BUT...then everyone that I can remember seeing in photographs...has...TALL scope rings used !!! So the scope Center Line ends up right back where it would be with a higher rail, or at least within about .06" or maybe .09" .
OK...yeah...it's adjustable, heightwise. Makes no difference, when the scope ends up mounted in the nosebleed section anyway, to be...usable !

Just a funny observation.

Mike

 

[L.Leon]

I won’t claim to understand the ballistic principles, but I like my scopes as low as I can mount them. Some rigs have scopes so high they look like the superstructures on aircraft carriers…

 

[Solo1]

Your scope height affects at what point the flattest part of your trajectory lands. That’s why you see 12 fpe ft rigs sometimes with very high scopes so they can range more at closer distances and be right on at 55

 

[Airgun-hobbyist]

Your scope height affects at what point the flattest part of your trajectory lands. That’s why you see 12 fpe ft rigs sometimes with very high scopes so they can range more at closer distances and be right on at 55

True facts here. Setting up the rifle for shooting with it's intended purpose in mind makes for a more accurate rig. Striving for good shouldering and sure eye placement behind the scope or sights is essential, but in shooting sports such as FT where estimating yards and holdover matters, a high scope to take advantage of trajectory seems priority.

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Depends on rig; sometimes my xl fingers need more room to load certain breeches under an optic

 

[Hangtown-Shooter]

Sadly with most PCP’s, the protruding magazine is the determining factor as to how low you can mount your optic…

 

[orangeokie]

Magazine height is the key limiting factor for me lowering my scope closer to the barrel height on my Crown. Also, the butt stock height and eye alignment plays a part on a couple of my rifles (Akela and P-Rod carbine)

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Magazine height is the key limiting factor for me lowering my scope closer to the barrel height on my Crown. Also, the butt stock height and eye alignment plays a part on a couple of my rifles (Akela and P-Rod carbine)

That's what is unique about my hatsan supertact; when the attached buttstock extends, it does so at a downward angle. Essentially moving the gun up versus when collapsed. So on it I can mount a scope low enough that I have to lower the rear iron sight all the way*I dont wanna take it off* and it's break barrel so no breech worries

 

[Miami Airgunner]

For guns where I will be shooting close range and / or vertical, I like super low sights (pistol red dots rule!) because they reduce the point of impact shifts at close range to the minimum possible.

For air guns where I want a flat trajectory from 15/20 to 40/50 yards, a bit of height is great, as it allows for a double crossing of the line, from under, to over, back to under the zero point, since the scope is pointed down through the parabola at a distance some ways away from the muzzle.

 

[dizzums]

well, mag access is one consideration .. secondly a general rule of thumb is 'on an airgun' specifically, a higher scope will skim the trajectory arc further out .. so if your shots for instance favor popping critters out at the fenceline 50-75yds a higher scope will promote a better ideal zero ... for that compact chicken coop patrol close-in gun a lower scope will favor an ideal zero on those 10-30yd shots ...

 

[Sqwirl57]

I set my scopes up at a height that is comfortable to use in whatever position that particular gun will be used most often. Some are higher, and some are nearly touching the barrel. Comb height and whether I'll be shooting more from a bench vs more offhand are the 2 main factors in my decision. Height over bore really isn't that big of a deal. Get the scope on as true to the barrel as possible and don't cant the gun differently between shots.

 

[JimD]

I am in the "as low as possible" camp but my favorite airguns are my 3 P35s. It has the cocking rod over the barrel pushing the scope up to over 2.5 inches (center line to center line) above the bore. They are bullpups so my face is up pretty high over the bore anyway but it does make the trajectory different from my more conventional guns with medium rings. I have to aim high out to about 20 yards but then I am pretty flat all the way to about 40 yards. My lower scope guns would cross first inside 15 yards but only be flat to 30 or 35 yards. Not a right or wrong kind of thing, something to be aware of and compensate for.

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

That is why I'm not a fan of Bullpups, the nature of the design force you to have a high over the bore scope so fot hunting i much prefer a rifle/carbine where I can put the scope as low as possible.

However if you just target shoot at known distances the scope high don't really matter, and if you want to go long distance a high scope actually helps

 

[Solo1]

well, mag access is one consideration .. secondly a general rule of thumb is 'on an airgun' specifically, a higher scope will skim the trajectory arc further out .. so if your shots for instance favor popping critters out at the fenceline 50-75yds a higher scope will promote a better ideal zero ... for that compact chicken coop patrol close-in gun a lower scope will favor an ideal zero on those 10-30yd shots ...

I kind of disagree with it not being good for hunting. By adjusting your scope height you can tune your gun to be affective at the ranges you most often shoot the same as adjusting the zero range. I try to tweak so everything fits what I’m doing

 

[AirNGasman]

If you think about it, it might make some sense for shooters preferring celestial-quality (and sized) telescopes to mount them as close to the stratosphere as possible.

 

[Solo1]

If you think about it, it might make some sense for shooters preferring celestial-quality (and sized) telescopes to mount them as close to the stratosphere as possible.

Isn’t that why many are on the tops of mountains? There are some radio telescopes in Brazil I think at 14,000 ft!

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

I kind of disagree with it not being good for hunting. By adjusting your scope height you can tune your gun to be affective at the ranges you most often shoot the same as adjusting the zero range. I try to tweak so everything fits what I’m doing

Depends what kind of hunting,.....if you hunting on the ground and shots present from as close to 5 yards to as far as 50 a very, very low mounted scope is way more conducive since it will diminish the hold under/over, and that is exacly why I moved away from Bullpups and rather carry a rifle where I can get the scope as close as possible.

 

[Solo1]

Depends what kind of hunting,.....if you hunting on the ground and shots present from as close to 5 yards to as far as 50 a very, very low mounted scope is way more conducive since it will diminish the hold under/over, and that is exacly why I moved away from Bullpups and rather carry a rifle where I can get the scope as close as possible.

Different strokes ya know. If it’s works that’s fine. That’s why I said kinda disagree cause all situations are different. For me I like to be on 20-45 or as close as I can get with my crosshairs for squirrels round here

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

Yup,.............. and if you have a high scope on a pup and you even zero at a relatively close range like 25 yards and a shot opportunity arises at 10 yard your POI is way, way low.

 

[Airgun-hobbyist]

Here's a couple examples of what a 1.85" scope height compares to a 2.85" height looks like, using .177 20.5 grain slug .075 bc in Strelok Pro. The zero distance is 40 yards. @AirArcher66 is spot on with the correlation between a low mounted scope and a 10 yard shot. It s a 3/4" difference there and nearly a double of the moa holdover. 7.28 moa to a 14.41 moa is is a lot of difference for precise placement. This same 3/4" impact difference is seen at the 70 yard range as well, but opposite in holdover and only about 1 MOA of difference out there.