Why Optic Leveling Matters
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to talk about why optic leveling matters. Specifically, we are going to discuss the negative effects yielded by an unlevel optic and how they impact shooting. Additionally, we are going to delve into means one can utilize to level their reticle along with other considerations. Without further ado, let’s go over why optic leveling matters.
Does My Optic Actually Need to Be Leveled?
Put plainly, yes, your optic should absolutely be leveled and mounted properly. Doing so ensures proper installation instructions are followed and maximizes one’s chances for success when shooting. One should not settle for or ignore an unlevel optic, just as one should ensure that torque specs and other firearm related installations are done properly.
What Optics Need to Be Leveled?
With the wide range of optics on the market, there are many which should be properly leveled during their installation. Optics such as traditional scopes are perhaps the most notable examples of units which should be leveled properly. It is easy for a scope’s reticle to become misaligned during the mounting process as one installs it into its rings. For maximum accuracy, especially at extended ranges, one should take care to ensure their scope is leveled and squared away. Red dot sights are also optics one should ensure are leveled. Of course, this distinction applies to red dot sights in a primary or piggybacked configuration rather than those that are offset.
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Reticle Can Be Misaligned
One of the most obvious effects on an unlevel optic is a misaligned reticle. Notably, this phenomenon does not apply to simple red dot reticles and mainly applies to more complex reticles in electronic optics and those found in scopes. This is to say that a reticle is not oriented properly and is canted to either side. With the wide range of reticles available today, a canted reticle can be more prominent with some scopes than others. If has a minimal reticle, such as an LPVO, cant levels may be less noticeable. Scopes with prominent duplex reticles and intricate long range reticles will be more noticeably skewed and disrupted.
Adjustments Are Thrown Off
If an optic is not leveled and installed squarely in its mount or on a rifle, the adjustments will be thrown off and inaccurate. This is because a canted optic will not correspond to the usual “up” and “down” directions of an x-axis and y-axis. If there is significant cant, adjusting the reticle upward will move it diagonally upward. This effect is present on both electronic optics such as red dot sights and traditional scopes. The impact is more appreciable and severe on magnified optics such as traditional scopes, particularly those with complex reticles. With inaccurate and skewed adjustments, one will not be able to properly utilize their reticle and make proper adjustments on the fly.
Harder to Zero Optics if They are Not Level
Due to the misalignment of a reticle and disruptions to the adjustment process, it will be harder for an end user to zero an optic that is not properly leveled and centered. This is a reality for those with improperly mounted scopes in addition to those who utilize offset sights. These factors will complicate one’s zeroing process as “up” and “down” adjustments will be skewed and essentially redirected. As mentioned earlier, depending on how canted an optic is, adjustments can vary significantly from their usual “x” and “y” axes.
How Do You Level an Optic?
Optics can be leveled in a variety of ways. There is a classical, low tech means to level an optic which involves hanging a plum line at a moderate distance. This plum line will utilize gravity to hang straight down, providing the user with a perfectly straight reference point. This plum line can be utilized by looking at it through the scope itself or projecting the reticle onto the plum line via a flashlight through the objective lens. Other optic leveling methods include levels and wedge kits which can be used to quickly square away an optic. Shooters can utilize levels to ensure that their rifle, mount, and scope are level throughout the mounting process. This allows for an end user to immediately catch an inconsistency and correct it as needed.
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Some Scope Mounts Aid in Leveling
Notably, there are some scope mounts which aid shooters in leveling their optics. Spuhr and Scalarworks are among the manufacturers of companies who produce mounts of this type. In the case of some Spuhr mounts, some models come equipped with a slot for an included wedge which runs beneath the optic. This wedge is used to locate and level the bottom of the scope as it is mounted. The Scalarworks solution is to include a set screw at the bottom of the mount which contacts the bottom of the scope. These two types of mounts and others aid shooters in simplifying the leveling process. Of course, one should verify with a level or other instruments to ensure everything is level.
Conclusion
All in all, it is important for one to understand why optic leveling matters. An unleveled optic can impede one’s shooting experience and ultimately hinder one’s performance in extreme cases. We here at True Shot Ammo carry several optics in addition to our wide range of ammo for sale. Our ammo offerings encompass popular calibers and gauges such as 9mm, .223, 12 gauge, and .22 LR to name a few. Whether you are looking to buy a red dot sight or want to buy bulk ammo, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
