How to Mount a Scope on an Air Rifle
Air rifles are ideal for marksmanship enthusiasts who don't wish to shoot powerful firearms. Pellets are far cheaper than bullets and produce much less noise. Adding a scope to an air rifle adds even more versatility. Even so, the scope must be properly mounted for its benefits to be fully realized. Mounting a scope properly can be a tricky process but becomes much simpler once the mounter understands a few basic scope installation principles.
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Instructions
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Cover your flat workspace in an old sheet to prevent accidental scratches.
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Attach both lower scope ring assemblies to the scope rail on your rifle. The scope rings attach via a bracket that is tightened by rotating a screw, which is almost always in the Phillips style. Tighten these screw loosely for the time being.
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Place your scope atop the lower scope ring assemblies. The lower assemblies have a curved edge to them, thereby cradling the scope easily.
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Place the upper scope ring assemblies atop the lower assemblies, thereby sandwiching the scope. The upper and lower assemblies of most scope rings are secured via two Phillips screws. Tighten these screws just enough on both scope rings to ensure that the upper and lower assemblies will not separate.
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Hold the rifle up to your shoulder, as if you were to fire the weapon. As a matter of personal preference, determine if the scope is too close or too far away from your aiming eye (known as "eye relief"). Slide the scope forwards or backwards along the scope rail so that it is the desired distance from your eye.
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Place the rifle back on the work surface. Without changing the lateral position of the scope, slide the scope rings outward until they are as far apart as the scope with allow. The farther apart your scope rings are positioned, the sturdier and more secure the scope will be.
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Tighten the brackets connecting the lower scope ring assemblies to the scope rail. Don't be afraid of tightening these screws too hard, as scope rails are built for high amounts of pressure.
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Tighten the screws attaching the upper scope ring assemblies to their lower counterparts. Tighten these screws one turn at a time in an alternating fashion to avoid stripping the metal.
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Tips & Warnings
To prevent scope slippage due to recoil, place thin strips of felt between the scope and scope ring assemblies. The felt will compress and grip your scope without adding too much pressure.
No not overtighten the scope rings when mounting your scope. Doing so can warp the scope or even break internal lenses.
References
- Photo Credit boy with rifle image by Joyce Wilkes from Fotolia.com
