Spring Hunting in Australia: Is Your Riflescope Ready?
Spring is a great time to get out hunting in Australia. The days are getting longer, the weather is warming up and, depending on where you are and what you're hunting, you may already have a trip or two planned.
But when was the last time you gave your riflescope and mounting setup a proper check?
It's easy to assume that because everything was working perfectly the last time you used your rifle, it'll still be fine when you next head out. Often it will be. But scopes get knocked, screws can loosen, batteries go flat and a rifle that hasn't been used for a while may not be quite as ready to go as you think.
The important bit is to find that out before you're heading away.
Don't leave your scope check until the night before
If you've got a hunting trip planned, give yourself plenty of time to check your setup.
Finding a problem the evening before you leave doesn't give you many options. If you discover that a ring has been damaged, a mount needs replacing or the scope itself isn't behaving as it should, you'll need time to source the right part, fit it and confirm your zero again.
A couple of weeks beforehand is a much better time to find a problem than the night before the trip.
Start with the scope and mounts
Before worrying about zero, have a good look over the complete setup.
Check the scope body for any obvious signs of damage and look closely at the rings, bases and mounting points.
You're looking for anything that appears loose, has shifted or simply doesn't look quite right.
Even a small amount of movement in the mounting system can affect your zero, so don't automatically assume that a change in point of impact means there's something wrong inside the scope itself.
If anything has moved, sort that out before you start making adjustments to compensate for it.
Check that everything still operates properly
Run through the controls on your riflescope.
Turn the magnification ring through its range and make sure it moves normally. If your scope has adjustable parallax, check that too.
Test the windage and elevation turrets and, if your scope has a zero stop, make sure it's still operating as expected.
If you have an illuminated reticle, switch it on and check the different brightness settings. A battery that has been sitting in a scope for months is an easy thing to overlook, so it's worth checking before you need it.
This is also a good opportunity to make sure the reticle still appears straight and everything looks as you expect when you're behind the rifle.
Check your eye position and eye relief
If the scope or rings have been changed, or if somebody else has used the rifle, check that the scope is still sitting in the right position for you.
You should be able to get a comfortable, full sight picture without having to move your head backwards and forwards trying to find it.
A setup that feels awkward at home isn't going to become easier when you're outside trying to get into position quickly.
Give the lenses a check
Have a look at both the objective and ocular lenses.
Dust and the occasional mark aren't unusual, particularly if the rifle has been used outside, but make sure there's nothing affecting the view.
If the lenses need cleaning, use an appropriate optics cleaning method rather than rubbing dirt or grit across the coatings.
More importantly, look for anything unusual inside the scope. Internal fogging, moisture or a sudden deterioration in image quality deserves further investigation rather than being ignored.
And then check your zero
This is the big one.
Even if everything looks perfect, confirm your zero before you head away.
A rifle and scope that were zeroed last season aren't automatically still zeroed today. The rifle may have been transported, knocked or stored for months since it was last checked.
If you've tightened or replaced anything in the mounting system, moved the scope or made any other changes to the setup, confirming zero becomes even more important.
Don't assume. Check it.
What if something isn't right?
First, don't panic and immediately start turning turrets.
If your point of impact has changed, work through the setup logically.
Check the rings and mounts. Check that everything is secure. Check that the scope hasn't shifted. Make sure there isn't an obvious problem elsewhere in the setup before assuming the riflescope itself is at fault.
If something does need replacing, this is exactly why it's worth checking early.
It gives you time to find the correct rings or mounts, or choose a replacement riflescope if necessary, then get everything fitted and properly tested before the trip.
A few minutes now can save a lot of frustration later
Your riflescope doesn't need endless tinkering before every hunt.
But it does deserve a proper check.
Make sure the scope and mounting system are secure, run through the adjustments, check the lenses and illumination if fitted, and confirm your zero.
Most of the time, everything will be exactly as you left it.
And if it isn't, it's much better to discover that at the range a couple of weeks before your hunt than once you're already out there.
If something isn't right with your current setup and you're not sure what you need, get in touch with ScopeUOut Australia. We're always happy to help work through the options. And if you originally bought the scope from us, let us know, as the issue may be covered under the manufacturer's warranty. If it does need replacing, or you need new rings or mounts, we can help with that too.
And if you've got a hunt coming up, don't leave it until the last minute. Give yourself enough time to get everything sourced, fitted and tested before you head away.
