Have you ever been curious about how to mount a scope for hunting? Mounting a scope is something that oftentimes people shy away from. Most people will buy a scope and have the store they bought it from intall it on their rifle or shotgun. But it isn’t a difficult process and it’s something that you can easily handle yourself. Don’t let yourself be at the mercy of a gun store, but rather take ownership of all of your firearms and feel comfortable doing everything you need to do. The video walks you through the process, but I wanted to offer a quick written synoposis for you as well.
Step 1
Pick the proper scope and accessories for the firearm that you will be shooting, as well as for the situations that you will be shooting in. In this case, I’m mounting the scope on a 12 guage shotgun so I had to make sure and select a scope that could handle the kick that a 12 guage offers. You may be hunting at long range with varying yardages, in which case you would likely want a BDC scope to allow for zeroing in on multiple yardages.
The scope rings and rail you select need to be able to mount to your firearm, as well as be the proper size for the scope you are installing. A quick check of the label and what the accessories fit will give you all of the information you need.
Step 2
Before working on your firearm, always ensure that the chamber and magazine are empty and the gun is in safety. It is also a good practice to use a trigger guard prior to working on your firearm. Remove the screws from the top of your firearm that are meant to protect the threads that are used to mount a scope. Once removed, you can place your rail into position and use the screws that came with the rail to fasten it securely into place.
Step 3
Install the ring mounts onto the rail by lining up the slots in the rail and mounts, inserting the set screw, placing the locking collar, and finally attaching the screw head.
Step 4
Place the scope into position and snap the scope rings over the scope. Only tighten the screws enough to hold position at this point.
Step 5
Aim the firearm in a safe direction and ensure that the reticles are lined up properly. Pay close attention to make sure the crosshairs run perfectly vertical, and perfectly horizontal. Once complete, tighten the screws and double check to verify the reticles didn’t shift during tightening.
That’s all there is to it! Now your scope is intalled and ready to be boresighted before you take it to the range for sighting in. (Side note, I did notice that my firearm wasn’t on safety. I did verify that there were no rounds present before installing but I should have paid extra care to ensure the firearm was locked into a safe position and installed a trigger guard). Stay outdoors, and stay strong!!!
Author: Josh Westmoreland
