newbie question: scope does not seem to work predictably

[Gorlash]

First of all, I'm using a Ruger break-action pellet rifle, with a 4x32 Ruger scope... this is the first firearm that I've used since my teens, several decades ago!! I'm trying to zero in the scope, but things aren't cooperating with me... first of all, I'm firing in my back yard, so I can't get 100 yards away from the target, I'm probably about 25 feet away. I'm resting the gun on a bench, and gently squeezing the trigger (to avoid jerking the gun as I fire). My shots are consistently hitting about 6 inches to the right of where I'm aiming. However, no amount of adjusting the scope in the "left" direction is moving the hits at all!! After numerous iterations of adjustments with no effect, I wondered if maybe the sight was already at its left-most setting, so I tried turning it about 60 clicks counter-left, then shooting again, and the shots still hit in the same place.

Am I doing something wrong? Is there some other trick that I need to know about using a scope? It *seems* pretty simple, except that it just doesn't work...

 

[Oddbod]

See if you can hold the rifle steady & at the same time turn the windage adjustment.
If the crosshairs remain pointing at the same place, then the scope is broke.

 

[pisgah]

My experience, and that of 2 friends who bought the gun/scope combos within a few days of me, is that the scopes that come with them are pure crap.

 

[pisgah]

The scopes that come with them are junk. My rifle, and those of 2 friends, are tackdrivers with the open sights, but simply will not zero with the scopes.

 

[Snake45]

First off, what kind of scope is it? Is it airgun rated? Spring action airguns like yours are actually harder on scopes than high-power rifles and require special airgun-rated scopes.

If it's not so rated, it might be broken already.

It's also possible that the internal adjustments are stuck. I've had luck when adjusting scopes giving the scope tube several gentle raps with something like a screwdriver handle. Wouldn't hurt to try it. :?

 

[Gorlash]

Interesting; I will need to put it back on the scope and try oddbod's suggestion of looking through the scope while I adjust it, to see if I see any change....

I don't know whether the scope is airgun rated (it doesn't have an ID or anything), but it's a Ruger scope, I would have expected that anything made be them was good quality... but then, their expertise isn't in optics! The fact that it doesn't have any model or number or anything, doesn't exactly inspire confidence, eh?

If it *is* broken, I'll just replace it with a better-quality scope. BTW, have there been any threads on this forum regarding reliable scopes for airguns?

 

[jjbabin]

Interesting; I will need to put it back on the scope and try oddbod's suggestion of looking through the scope while I adjust it, to see if I see any change....

I don't know whether the scope is airgun rated (it doesn't have an ID or anything), but it's a Ruger scope, I would have expected that anything made be them was good quality... but then, their expertise isn't in optics! The fact that it doesn't have any model or number or anything, doesn't exactly inspire confidence, eh?

I'm willing to bet money the scope is MADE IN CHINA!!

Jerry

 

[Gorlash]

Well, I don't know if the scope is made in China, but the rifle itself is!! I guess that gives us a good guess, eh? 8-{)

 

[pisgah]

Rifle and scope are made in China. The rifle, they did OK on; the scope, nope.

 

[SteelShooter]

My experience was not with a Ruger but with several other break action pellet guns.

The scope is mounted to the receiver, but the sights are both on the barrel. Barrel is helled closed by a detent spring and ball bearing. It does not always repeat to the same point of impact relative to the receiver...

Had an expensive pellet gun, good scope. Took scope off and happy with iron sights. Bought new pellet gun that was a side cocker/fixed barrel. Much happier with the scope and accuracy on that one.

If you check, I don't think RUger made eithier, only put their name on them....

 

[Richbaker]

Ruger does NOT make the air rifle or the scope, they licensed the use of their name on a cheap chinese product....

 

[RR]

"Chinese" Made Rugers! whats next? Chinese made Smiths? The Fire arms industry as a whole needs to step back for a minute and ask them selves "is this what the american people really want? CHEAP products made in China? I personally am sick of everything Chinese made, they just don't care about quality, they just mass produce for the sake of making money, then they STEAL the American Co's designs and start to produce copies of what they are supposed to be mfg for the American Co., slap a different name on it and voila there you have it, more chinese crap!, I pity the American Co's that have fallen victim to this "Chinese Greed", I will continue to do my best to avoid chinese products of any kind, because I know that if I buy one I will have to buy another one after the first one craps out, so I avoid buying one in the first place, fake Leupolds and fake Eotecs are everywhere, these companies should have sued the chinese company that stole their designs, however it's these same co's that have sent their designs down there to mfg the lower lines of their product, the chinese probably think that they are superior simply because they are willing to pay their people 3 bucks a month to build these products, and know that another American co will be there soon to drop off their designs as well, and the copying continues, when are we going to say enough is enough, we should be sending back firearms poroducts to them by the boatload just like they flood the market with boatloads of their crap Sorry, for the rant but a Chinese made Ruger?

Rich

 

[RR]

BTW I know the Rifle / Scope combo you have there, it is all chinese made and the quality is sorely lacking, you would have been better off buying an american made rifle scope combo, there are plenty to be had, we as forum members should tow the line when it cames to buying american, after all Firearms are one of the few items actually made in the US, and we should support these american companies.
a good scope for any springer air rifle must be Air Rifle Approved as some of these rifles produce more recoil to a scope than a .416 Rigby, cheap scopes usually won't hold up very long on springer, invest in something well built and you won't be sorry, however, in your case you still have to contend with the Chinese rifle you bought with it.

Rich

 

[Gorlash]

Just for completion of this topic, I took the Ruger scope out back, mounted it on a platform, looked through the scope and lined up on a point, and adjusted the left/right and up/down screws through dozens of turns; in no case was any adjustment in the target position observable... so it looks like all the observations here are valid. Damn... maybe I'll go back to the iron sights then.

 

[Gorlash]

BTW, I sent a support request to Ruger about this issue, shortly after I got the gun and observed the issue. Finally today, two weeks after my original message, I got a response from Ruger:

"Response:
We recommend you consult a competent gunsmith for help. "

Well, at least they don't have over-inflated impressions of their own competence, eh??

 

[Richbaker]

Why would Ruger support a product that isn't theirs?? They don't market or produce it..... Send Umarex an email, it's their product. Or, take it back to the store you got it from...

 

[blume357]

Easy out for them.... simple answer is your scope is broken... shoot the rifle with iron sights anyway.... your back yard is perfect for it. Scopes have their place but real mean use iron..... you can probably pick up a cheap 'chinese again' rim fire scope for a song .... that should work but keep in mind even with rim fires the parralex is set at 50 yards.

 

[SteelShooter]

The Leupold air rifle grade scopes are great... only problem is you could likely pick up several of the rifles for the price of a good air gun scope :)

 

[Gorlash]

SteelShooter: yeah, that's part of the problem! I don't really want to pay Olympics prices for something to pick off sparrows in the yard...

Richbaker: thank you for clarifying my error! I didn't realize that the support card with the rifle, in fact told me to contact Umarex USA, not Ruger!! Oops... That, by itself, tells me that Ruger is not involved with this product at all, except for labelling it. Oh well...

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

There are numerous big marketers of air guns and associated products online, including Beeman's and Pyramyd Air. You'll find some interesting info about using scopes on some of the sites, such as this one at Pyramyd:

http://airgun-academy.pyramydair.com/

As mentioned, spring air guns will kill optics not designed for them, and these guys advertise a lot of scopes that won't break the bank for just splattering sparrows, as well as the "good" ones that will make a hole in your wallet! I'd venture anything that costs the same or less than your original gun/scope combo will be Chinese, so don't have a clue which ones are ok, which aren't, except to read the reviews...

Rick C

 

[CoyoteDown]

Hey Troops-

I had a similar problem with my triple deuce Savage 340E- bout drove me up the banana tree. Mine were going into thin air - no holes any where. Went inside to think things through - and decided to re-center the cross hairs. In the process I noticed that the windage turret seemed to bit stiff in one direction so I turned both of the turrets lock to lock several times - like 6 or 8 times then back outside. Gloryoiski - there they were - a good 6+" to the left!! I set the scope to go right (according to the direction on the turret) and it was back into thin air again. Pause - turned the turret to the left and there was my group. As I adjusted my scope left, my groups walked to the right. Go Figure!!

Try re-centering the cross hairs.

Been there - done that.