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Adjusting scope elevation using Sako rings

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Sakoshooter View Drop Down
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    Posted: September/18/2018 at 15:42
Looking for some peace of mind. I need to raise the rear of a scope using Sako optilock one piece ringmounts, can I use a few layers of electrical tape? Or perhaps that wouldn't hold up over time and I might get a shifting zero...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 16:09
Do not use electrical tape to adjust elevation.  It is a bad idea that will not do anything good for your scope and you will likely get weird zero shifts.

To be honest, you will get some user reviews on the Optilock rings that suggest that they are excellent when used as paperweights and hand propelled projectiles, but not much else.  My limited experience with Optilok rings is along those same lines.

Is something grossly misaligned that you need to raise the impact point?

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sakoshooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 16:23
I don't think it could damage the scope since the ring mounts use plastic inserts. Unfortunately, Sako doesn't have inserts designed to shift the scope alignment like The Burris plastic inserts do.

And yes, I need to gain about 25 MOA elevation.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 16:27
Sako's plastic inserts are harder than electrical tape, so the inserts do not deform when you tighten the rings and exert even pressure on the tube.  Electrical tape is soft so it is not clear where it will go and how it will shift over time.  I have seen these kinds of DIY inserts pinch the tube in the wrong place.

Have you considered using a picatinny base and different rings?  It is less pretty, but it works well.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sakoshooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 16:30
I should say, the plastic ring inserts are radiused on the outside so that an elevation change should allow them to rotate and maintain alignment with the scope tube. I'm more concerned about the stability of electrical tape lining the ring between the ring and the plastic insert, it might expand or contract with temperature changes?

Ideally, Sako would make inserts like Burris does designed to shift the point of impact.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sakoshooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 16:41
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

Have you considered using a picatinny base and different rings?  It is less pretty, but it works well.

ILya


I can use Burris steel standard rings and bases as they sell bases for Sako dovetails. I could then use their insert system to make a 20 moa adjustment, but I don't like the dovetai ring system to be honest.

There's also a fellow near me who builds rails called Near manufacturing, but I don't want a rail if I can avoid it.

I previously used Leupold 1" 1 piece ringmounts on this rifle, and they worked fine. I'm not sutr why the Sako 1 piece ringmounts are so poorly aligned with the bore of the rifle, but they are forcing a 23-24 moa adjustment to zero the scope.

This is a 30mm scope, so going back to the Leupold ringmounts is not an option.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 17:52
Richard Near's products are outstanding.  I have three Near Alphamounts and 4 bases built by Mr Near.  Definitely worth consideration.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 17:54
A bunch of people make bases and rails for Sako rifles.  Which one do you have?  

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 18:23
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:



To be honest, you will get some user reviews on the Optilock rings that suggest that they are excellent when used as paperweights and hand propelled projectiles, but not much else.  My limited experience with Optilok rings is along those same lines.


That's a commonly held view of the 2-piece Optilocks that use the separate clunky bases that raise the rings way too high, but he has the 1 piece Optilock Ringmounts. Unlike the former, the Ringmounts are actually very nice rings, since you eliminate the bases and mount directly to the Sako dovetails. Sako also ditched the soft screws (the other complaint about the original Optilock rings) in favor of hardened Torx screws. I hate the original 2-piece Optilocks with the white hot heat of hell fire, but I love the OL Ringmounts.






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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 18:24
I've had a set of Optilock's on a Tikka 695 for 20 years now.  I consider them to be some of the best rings made, even today.   The inserts work great, they are very tough and very well built. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sakoshooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 18:42
Originally posted by Kickboxer Kickboxer wrote:

Richard Near's products are outstanding.  I have three Near Alphamounts and 4 bases built by Mr Near.  Definitely worth consideration.


His shop is less than a half hour from me. I had a good conversation with hin this afternoon.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sakoshooter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 18:48
And yes, I'm using the one piece ringmounts, which I like in theory and in appearance. I'm not yet sure that the rings are the problem, but considering that with the old scope and Leupold ringmounts I don't recall an issue....I'm leaning towards the rings.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 18:52
Originally posted by Sakoshooter Sakoshooter wrote:

Looking for some peace of mind. I need to raise the rear of a scope using Sako optilock one piece ringmounts, can I use a few layers of electrical tape? Or perhaps that wouldn't hold up over time and I might get a shifting zero...

Do you have a 1" or 30mm tube scope?

The reason I ask is because Burris makes eccentric (offset) Pos-Align inserts for their Signature rings for this very purpose, and if by chance you're using a 1" scope, I've heard that the 1" Burris eccentric inserts also work in the 1" Sako Optilock rings. I'm not sure on the 30mm rings, but they may be compatible as well. The eccentric Burris inserts are inexpensive, so you're not out much money if by chance they don't work. I think I'd just buy a set and put calipers on them to see if they're the same thickness and width and appear to have the same OD radius as the Sako inserts. You could try calling someone at Burris and ask if they can give you the insert dimensions over the phone, but I've had very little luck getting that sort of information from anything other than small scale custom manufacturers.

On the 2-piece Optilocks, you can add inclination by machining some material off the top of the front base where the ring joins the base, but there is no good way to add inclination to the ringmounts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/18/2018 at 19:02
I'm just not a fan of having to use separate bases to adapt rings onto a dovetailed receiver. To me, that negates the whole reason for a dovetailed receiver in the first place. The integral dovetails are your bases. 
Ted


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/10/2018 at 22:34
Hey Sako...just curious, how did you end up resolving your scope mount inclination project, assuming you did?
Ted


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/11/2018 at 05:11

Originally posted by Sakoshooter Sakoshooter wrote:

Originally posted by Kickboxer Kickboxer wrote:

Richard Near's products are outstanding.  I have three Near Alphamounts and 4 bases built by Mr Near.  Definitely worth consideration.


His shop is less than a half hour from me. I had a good conversation with hin this afternoon.

I would love to visit his shop sometime.  Have not been up that way in a LONG time.  I've only spoken with him over the phone and not recently. 

Does he still do custom mounts?

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