Need new scope mounted - Cabela's for free or gunsmith?

[Deleted member 22670]

Also, I have never lapped any of my rings ( I use Talley Low 1-Piece), but it probably is a really good idea to have that done. If the Smith includes the lap in that $50 price, it's probably a really good deal.

 

[carljohnson]

I would pay for the smith to do it if you don't have comfort level or tools. Many scopes have been damaged by being over torqued. I have had to redo everyone one Cabela's/Sportsman's has done for me. I'm sure some of the guys there know what they are doing, but that was not my experience. I finally got fed up and bought a bore sight, torque wrench, level. Probably about $200 all in for tools. If your going to mount one rifle and keep it on there for years, just pay the smith.

That was my concern too. I know that Cabela's will do it for free but I'm concerned about how good of a job they'll actually do. A gun smith takes pride in their work and specializes in that type of work.

 

[carljohnson]

Okay, I'm taking the rig to a gun smith to install. It's been decided.

 

[belly-deep]

I've never had a scope mounted by Cabelas (or anyone else for that matter) but judging by the talent I've seen on the other side of the gun counter, you could give the tools to a chimpanzee and probably get as good of a final result.

It baffles me that people don't mount their own scopes but to each their own.

I'd take it to a smith if I wanted it done by someone else.

 

[MJE2083]

I agree, with Cabelas you're taking somewhat of a gamble. Granted I'm sure that many of the people who work their know what they're doing, but some don't. Many people can mount a scope to a rifle and have it be good enough for some hunters, but you've got a real nice scope and a nice rifle so I would want it done right.

 

[Gr8bawana]

If you want it done absolutely perfectly, then yeah. Get a vice and a torque wrench and a lapping bar and a scope level kit.

Or just do it like 99% of hunters. Use a screwdriver and the universal german torque spec: "guttentite"

If this is a $1500 precision long range rifle, then, by all means, disregard my advice. Otherwise, just watch some youtube videos and set it up yourself. You won't hurt anything by trying and you will learn in the process. Consider getting some blue loctite as insurance on your bases and rings. Best of luck!

That's the way my dad mounted his scopes back in the 60's when no one knew any better. That's the way we still do it and have never had any negative effects.

If it effects my accuracy at 1000 yards I don't care, my longest shot in over 40 years of hunting was just over 400 yards.

 

[WapitiBob]

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Steiny77]

Interesting comments.
I've installed numerous scopes myself and have had them installed where purchased and never had an issue.

 

[Hammsolo]

Gun counters are a gamble. I wouldn’t let the guys at Sportman’s touch my stuff. A buddy had Cabela’s in Post Falls do it and it was embarrassingly bad; a tilted reticle, incorrect eye relief, and more.

My wife was just reading an article about competency to me. Women are attracted to competent men. Men that can fix a toilet, sprinkler head, or spare tire. This is the equivalent with the right tools.

El Jason has schooled me up and I always recap YouTube videos prior to and during chores.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Interesting 9 year old thread bump.

Mounting a scope is outrageously simple yet gun counter people are prone to messing it up. If you want it done right, do it yourself. I haven't lapped rings in years but if I had to use talleys or some other mount that isn't on a full rail i'd probably consider it.

 

[El Jason]

Mounting a scope is like changing my oil. I just don’t trust someone else to do it. 100% right

 

[Mallardsx2]

I only trust 1 person to mount my scopes, and its me.

 

[JohnCushman]

I only trust 1 person to mount my scopes, and its me.

Same here

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Mounting a scope is like changing my oil. I just don’t trust someone else to do it. 100% right

Shite, i dont even do that anymore but mounting a scope is less of a hassle than changing oil and the odds of someone else messing up the scope mounting is higher. For sure more likely to not have eye relief set appropriately!

 

[Point Creep]

This would be like asking somebody else to brush your teeth of wipe for you.

 

[Rhettster433]

I just recently mounted a scope and it was easier than expected. I made a makeshift vice with 4 foot of 2x4, a few screws, and a c-clamp. It just clamped the stock right around the mag box and sat on the kitchen table. I “shouldered” the rifle to level it by feel in the kneeling position and checked with a level on pic rail, wasnt perfect but was close enough that i felt comfortable. Mounted scope and reshouldered to check eye relief. Use plumb bob on wall to check reticle is straight. Snug all bolts first and then tighten in cross pattern. Use fingernail polish to mark the heads as a witness mark. Took me 15 minutes and it is only my second scope i have mounted. The first i did without much research but quickly sold the scope as it didnt fit my needs. Did more research this time. There is a really good write up on Rokslide about scope mounting that made it really easy.

 

[antelopedundee]

Gunsmith for aligning and lapping, or buy a kit from midway USA and do it yourself.

It's my understanding that if you're using a Pic rail or Weaver style base it's generally not necessary to lap your rings.

 

[antelopedundee]

This would be like asking somebody else to brush your teeth of wipe for you.

I was once offered to be wiped after recuperating from surgery. I declined the offer.

 

[antelopedundee]

What could possibly go wrong?

View attachment 72582

That's probably more of a cosmetic issue than anything. The top post in this forum is a video by Big Fin where he shows how to mount a scope and IIRC it's with dual dovetail bases. I avoid anything except rails. Also AFAIK only the bottom half of the ring gets lapped so the top half could still leave a mark. I have a drawer full of LH one piece bases with the front dovetail for a Remington 700 LA.