I've been around a while but I'm in a pickle at this juncture. I have never had a hard time mounting a scope in the past but I now stand at the crossroads of indecision and quandry.

I am completing a Savage build up and teh scope that I am mountingis just touchint the barrel. ( NOT GOOD ) My problem is 1) I'm cheap and don't want to buy new High rings and 2) I hate High Rings so I won't buy them anyway!

My question and quest for information is as follows:

1) Has anyone here ever shimmed scope bases.
2) How thick of a shim did you use.
3) Did your bases ever move/slip?
4) would it hurt shimmint the rear base .010 - .020 higher than the front in order to
gain more vertical adjustment ability?

The reason that I am going this way is that it appears that I only need about .020 to get the clearance I need between the scope and barrel and the next higher rings will raise the scope .130".

I have always kept my scopes as close to teh center of the bore as possible, that way there is no need for a high comb on your stock.

Yup, I can hear all of you now, " What a cheapskate!" Yup, I agree!!

Yes I have shimmed stuff. I typically use strips of aluminum from a popcan as the material. I've also used black electrical tape within the ring itself to raise a scope higher. Thus far I havent noticed any real movement in the point of impact so I think its pretty sturdy. One thing to note is the more you add shimwise the more unsteady it will become.

.130" is quite alot to shim IMO... I think I would go with a higher ring rather than fight it, after all the scope is going to end up at the same height regardless of it being from shims or from a med height ring.


-DallanC

Howdy.( LOL ) I use the soda can method like Dallan good ole red neck fix and have not had a problem with shifting.

DallanC wrote:

after all the scope is going to end up at the same height regardless of it being from shims or from a med height ring. -DallanC

I agree with DallenC 100% if it is going to end up at the same height you might as well use the proper tools.
Good luck getting it to work.

Knifeboy

Never thought of soda cans, I have a bunch of stainless steel shim stock but it is .010 and .005 thick. I was thinking of using 3 .010 under the rear base and a .010 & .005 under the front. That would give enough clearance.

I should have specified the .130 would be going to the higher rings. I would not be shimming that much at all. Thanks for the input. Flint54

Howdy. It works rather well i always have some pre cut in my range bag, when sighting in a new combo sometimes there needed, i have used them more than once with positive results.

Flint54 wrote:

:roll: Never thought of soda cans, I have a bunch of stainless steel shim stock but it is .010 and .005 thick. I was thinking of using 3 .010 under the rear base and a .010 & .005 under the front.

If I had access to stainless steel shims I would use those but I didnt... everyone has access to aluminum cans soo....


-DallanC

Hey (skin)Flint, if you're really that tight - file the barrel where the scope touches it. Hey presto, problem solved!

Files take too long, I'll use my DEWALT 4" grinder!! HEHEHEHEHEHE

Flint, don't use the red centre blades as they are for stone only and will give a crap finish. If your 4" one doesn't do it you are welcome to borrow my 9" but you will have to pay shipping for me to deliver it personally!
Del.

Flint54 wrote:

:twisted: Files take too long, I'll use my DEWALT 4" grinder!! HEHEHEHEHEHE

OOohhh! You SAVAGE!

Aaah...Can't we all get along???

And added thought: my preference is for low mounted scopes and I have gone to great lengths in the past to achieve this only to find that under the stress of fire with high recoiling rifles there was enough flex in the barrel that it was slapping the objective! I thought that .030" clearance was enough. It wasn't.

Now, I prefer at least 1/8th inch clearance.

I have one scope permanently shimmed with photographic film. It works fine.

IF YOUR GOING TO SHIM THE BASES YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THE BASE SCREWS WILL STILL BE LONG ENOUGH. YOU DONT WANT TO END UP WITH A STRIPPED SCREW OR WORSE, A STRIPPED HOLE. IF IT WAS ME I WOULD JUST GO TO THE HIGH RINGS OR THINK ABOUT GETTING A SCOPE WITH A SMALLER OBJECTIVE. GOOD LUCK.