How To Measure Scope Ring Height

This article is for you if you’re wondering about How to Measure Scope Ring Height for mounting a riflescope. I hope you didn’t already buy the wrong scope rings and are now trying to figure out how to correct them. 

To save you the trouble of purchasing the incorrect ones, having to return them, and having to get what you think are the correct ones, I’ll go over how to measure scope ring height. That’s a lot of back and forth, but we’ve all experienced it at some point. I won’t even go there because it’s practically difficult to adjust scope mounts while in the field. You’ll avoid a lot of hassles if you do it perfectly the first time.

You might wish to install those vintage attachments on your rifle, but buying brand-new parts that come with all the necessary screws and show no signs of wear and tear will provide better results over time. Purchase some new bases that are appropriate for the kind of rings you desire, and for the greatest fit, attempt to match the brands of your rings and bases. 

You only need to be aware of the type of mount whether it is a dovetail, Weaver, or Picatinny if it is machined into the receiver of your long rifle. Weaver and Picatinny rails can accept Weavers, but only dovetail mounts can accept dovetail rings. Dovetail for dovetail is the simplest route to go; If not, make sure that your mount is a Weaver or Picatinny rail.

Too High of a Scope Ring

Having the scope placed too high might result in several problems. To acquire a sight picture, you have to adopt an uncomfortable stance, and this bad posture makes your shoulder feel more recoil. If it’s a higher-recoil caliber, a shooter may take one on the chin if they are that far away from the cheek weld and their head is up to look through the scope. 

Unnecessarily high scopes will eventually sustain damage or failure due to the additional recoil. No of how many times they had zeroed their scope, several owners still reported accuracy problems. Even if there are techniques to lessen these effects, it is preferable to focus on keeping your rings from being too high. When your scope is as low as it can be on the gun without contacting any other parts, it will provide you with the best precision.

Scope Ring Height is Insufficient

Scopes that were simply positioned too low were the most frequent problem we observed coming through the doors. The front scope rings couldn’t be fully screwed down without crimping the scope tube because the objective lens was touching the top of the barrel. 

In the shop, measuring scope height was primarily done by eyeballing, applying past knowledge, becoming comfortable with the task, and making a few mistakes. As soon as we inserted the scope into the bottom of the rings, it became clear if we had chosen the incorrect scope ring height. Then we would simply take the next larger size off the wall and make the necessary repairs. 

The only way for online shoppers to have that option is to buy a whole slew of rings, find the ones that work, and return the rest. That’s pretty expensive and time-consuming.

The ideal mounting position for a scope is as low as feasible, but the objective lens shouldn’t come into contact with the barrel. You also need to be aware of clearance on the bolt handle when using a bolt-action. Nothing is worse than finishing a task and attempting to replace the bolt or operate the action only to discover that it is impossible because the bolt struck the scope.

Many businesses use several methods to gauge their scope ring height. The best thing to rely on when dealing with this proprietary annoyance is measuring scope height, after which you may visit the manufacturer’s website and obtain the correct measurement for their rings. If you don’t understand how they’re calculating it, “Low, medium, high, or extra-high” doesn’t signify anything. The two most popular methods used by manufacturers to gauge scope height are as follows:

1. Measuring from the base to the ring’s center.
2. Measuring from the bottom border of the ring to the base.

The right scope ring height for your rifle is essential for comfortable shooting and optimal accuracy, but this procedure may be, to put it mildly, irritating due to the huge diversity of mounting methods and the different ways that many manufacturers label their products. Fortunately, we’ve simplified it into a straightforward method, so keep reading if you’re seeking a system that will ensure you receive accurate readings.

How do determine the height of a scope ring?

There are two approaches to calculating scope height. One must first determine the distance, using a ruler, between the scope’s center and the center of the bolt housing. To find the radius, or the distance from the middle of the bolt to the edge, multiply the diameter of the bolt’s back by two using digital calipers.

The importance of proper scope ring height

The proper scope height is crucial for several reasons. First and foremost, if your rifle sight is so high that you can’t keep a steady cheek weld or obtain a clear image, making you have to shoot in an uncomfortable posture, your accuracy will suffer tremendously.

In severe circumstances, the scope may be placed so low that it makes contact with the barrel, applying pressure to the scope and perhaps affecting your optic’s accuracy.

Second, an incorrect scope height might cause parallax problems, causing a black halo or “ghosting” appearance surrounding the lens and complicating target acquisition. Additionally, it could obstruct bolt clearance.

Finally, knowing your scope height is crucial information for practically any major ballistics program if you love shooting at great distances or with accuracy.

read more: how to measure scope click

How Do I Calculate the Scope Height?

Simply said, scope height is the separation between your barrel’s center line and your scope’s center line. So how do you calculate the scope height? Both an easy and a more exact method exist.

The simple approach only requires one measurement: measure the distance between the centers of the bolt housing and the scope using a ruler. Even though it’s not a precise dimension, it’s enough unless you’re attempting to make your rifle as small as possible or get the most performance possible out of a bench rest rifle.

Here are the steps for the measuring approach that is more precise:

1. Put your base, rings, and scope in place.
2. Back out the bolt of the rifle until it is nearly parallel to the end of your eye.
3. Calculate the radius by measuring the diameter of the bolt’s back using digital calipers and multiplying the result by two (the exact distance from the center of the bolt to the edge).
4. Calculate the radius by taking the diameter of the ocular bell of your scope and dividing it by two.
5. Measure the distance between the scope’s bottom edge and the top edge of the bolt.
6. To determine your precise scope height, add these three values together.

Measurement Procedure for Scope Ring Height

Once you are aware of the height of your scope, you may determine how close to the bore your scope’s center line must be positioned. The next step is to determine the smallest combination of a scope ring and a scope mount that is taller than the height of your scope. For instance, if the height of your scope is 25mm, your ring and base combination must be at least 26mm tall.

Remember that there are two commonly used ways for measuring scope ring height, and you must know which one is being used by that specific firm to accurately measure scope ring height. Measuring from the ring’s base to its center is the quickest and most straightforward technique. 

Some makers of scope rings, however, measure from the base to the ring edge, which necessitates a bit more calculating. In this instance, depending on whether you’re using a scope body with a 1-inch tube or a scope body with a 30mm tube, you should additionally add either 12.7mm or 15mm to the total when combining the base and ring height.