Anyone ever have a scope get bumped off zero? After a re-sight in was everything ok?

I have a Nikon Monarch 3 4-16x42 on a Tikka T3 mounted with Talley rings. Sighted in 5yrs ago, been nails and taken beatings for 10+ days in the mountains each year. No issues. Long story short, it suddenly was off 4" left and 1/2" high.

Last year I shot a doe off a rockpile which left a decent scratch in the bottom of the stock so a weird recoil path during that shot is all I can think of. Also on that hunt I may have put a ding in the scope bell (surface only, nothing bent it appears). Checked rings and chassis torque and everything is to spec, can't see any indication scope slipped in the rings. Had no issues with things moving or not grouping while getting it back sighted in. Just nervous now I'll have to baby it or constantly worry if it did take a bump.

Should be resighted. If you can't, it may be broke. Sometimes it happens in an odd way. But usually it is just off a little.

Very few scopes out there are manufactured to withstand more than basically a minor bump and hold zero. As long as nothing broke you can re-zero, I'd personally get a new scope though.

I would recommend box testing your scope. There are several variations one is in the link below.

Also take a fine paint pen/maker and mark your scope to the rings and the heads of the screws so that you can visibly see any movement.

https://tractoptics.com/blog/how-to-box-test-your-riflescope/
https://www.boxtobenchprecision.com/target-instructions-2

Other reasons your scope may be off:

• shooter issue
• Environmental conditions
• change in ammunition
• Combination thereof.

Swaros can handle a tumble, so that's what i carry in the mountains. I couldn't trust that monarch anymore if it was me, besides sounds like you busted an erector

I fell on my rifle slipping on volcanic rock in Sonora, Mx even leaving a ding looked like it was a bb strike on tin. Knocked it off zero and would never hold after zeroed again. It was a Shepard that I really liked but went ahead and retired it

I dropped my Rem. 700 30-06 awhile back while climbing out of a deer blind. Strap broke. The blind tower is 20' tall. It hit a crossbar on the tower on the way down. Shattered the stock and put a very small ding in the scope. Bought a new stock off of ebay. When I went to sight it back in, it was shooting about 4" to the left. Adjusted the scope back to zero. I has never given me a problem since. This happened probably 10 years ago. The scope is a Leupold Vari-x III.

If your scope can be "bumped" off zero, then you have a problem with your scope, mounts, or installation that really needs to be addressed. Mechanically sound scopes cannot be bumped off zero unless they get seriously damaged in some way. Don't buy mechanically weak mounts like the ones that have the windage screws in the rear base.

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like time to go scope shopping. Rings/bases were Talley lightweight rings which have never caused me issues before.

The scope did track and rezero'd it with no oddities over 12 shots yesterday. Was partially tempted to go home and smack the scope around some tonight and see if that had an impact. But probably just a mental bandaid and first missed shot I'd be wishing I had a replaced the scope

And recommendations for rings/bases for Tikka T3 other than Talley?

stdeb11 said:

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And recommendations for rings/bases for Tikka T3 other than Talley?

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I like the DNZ mounts with the integral bases.

You can also go with Warne, but I prefer the Talleys to them.

Or you could buy anyone's picatinny rail for Tikka, which then opens up a world of options for rings.

NEAR makes a nice Alphamount for Tikka that is very solid as well as being aesthetically nice looking, but it's also very expensive.

stdeb11 said:

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Thanks for the advice. Sounds like time to go scope shopping. Rings/bases were Talley lightweight rings which have never caused me issues before.

The scope did track and rezero'd it with no oddities over 12 shots yesterday. Was partially tempted to go home and smack the scope around some tonight and see if that had an impact. But probably just a mental bandaid and first missed shot I'd be wishing I had a replaced the scope

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Sounds like you don't need anything new but make it a habit to confirm zero more often.

We also forgot to ask you if that was a 400 yd shot within 1moa or if hard cross wind unaccounted for. That said I have a Vortex Razor I am probably gonna separate from a HMR Bergara I am going to sell.

i believe this is why single piece mounts have the edge over scope rings

Sportsmatch. They use the integral dovetail on the top of the Tikka action and the recoil pin.

They are incredibly good rings.

I use them on all but 1 of my Tikkas.

I have a spare set if you'd like to try them.

Good point on yardage. 4" left and 1/2" high at 100yds compared to previous zero. Turrets hadn't moved. Indoor range so no wind/weather.....full story I guess I discovered the issue in June. But it was the end of a long outdoor range day shooting other rifles and chalked it up to being tired/weather/7 mag and my shoulder hurt/etc and something to check into another day closer to hunting season. That day I missed my first 4 shots at 300yds on 10" gong and then was off paper at 200yds for one shot and then just put it away.... Finally got around to shooting in a controlled environment yesterday and found out that it was actually off

Thanks for the recommendation on rings, DNZ comes next day on prime so that might be the deciding factor.

Sportsmatch seems really interesting. Kinda throws me off it's available thru air gun sites

There's a whole little corner of the internet on Rokslide dedicated to testing scopes, and a lot of them lose zero from 18" drops to a shooting mat on dirt/snow or from riding on a padded case in the back seat of a truck.

Thaddeus Beauregard said:

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If your scope can be "bumped" off zero, then you have a problem with your scope, mounts, or installation that really needs to be addressed. Mechanically sound scopes cannot be bumped off zero unless they get seriously damaged in some way. Don't buy mechanically weak mounts like the ones that have the windage screws in the rear base.

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Strongly disagree. There are very few manufacturers who have proven to actually make a scope that will hold zero even after minor bumps. Does it happen every time, probably not. But don't go read those Rokslide posts because it's probably gonna hurt a lot of peoples feelings.

Charismatic Megafauna said:

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Swaros can handle a tumble, so that's what i carry in the mountains. I couldn't trust that monarch anymore if it was me, besides sounds like you busted an erector

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I know how that feels.....

The Euros and Kiwis love em on the Tikka. They haven't really taken off here in the US, but there is a strong following over on Rokslide.

They are stout. Much stronger mounting set up than Talley.

I can get some photos when I'm back home. But lots of reviews of them over on Rokslide.

Love mine, no issues in 3 or 4 years I think. Between snow and mud hunting September bear through late season cow tags in CO I've fallen down plenty. No issues with zero retention for my SWFA 3-9x.

If I wanted "excitement" I'd have a Leupold or Vortex....great warranties!

meggy09 said:

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Thaddeus Beauregard said:

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If your scope can be "bumped" off zero, then you have a problem with your scope, mounts, or installation that really needs to be addressed. Mechanically sound scopes cannot be bumped off zero unless they get seriously damaged in some way. Don't buy mechanically weak mounts like the ones that have the windage screws in the rear base.

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Strongly disagree. There are very few manufacturers who have proven to actually make a scope that will hold zero even after minor bumps. Does it happen every time, probably not. But don't go read those Rokslide posts because it's probably gonna hurt a lot of peoples feelings.

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I realize that. Ergo, they aren't mechanically sound scopes. One reason I stopped buying Leupolds.

I'm now wading into forms reviews and testing over on rokslide. Is there a highlights list of stuff that doesn't crap out during his testing?

I'm super interested in a pic of those rings and maybe buying them if you're interested in selling. Although at the moment any scope I'm interested in seems to fail drop testing miserably

I have a swaro 3-12x50 habicht (not nova) in talley rings (i bed them to the receiver with marine tex or jb, whatever is handy) that i was letting cool off after confirming zero before an elk hunt several years ago. Gust of wind got under the soft case it was laying on and threw it to the concrete from the bench. I thought i was taking my backup rifle elk hunting but i threw a couple more shots right in the middle of the pre-tumble ones and i took the gun hunting. Don't have to get the latest z8 or whatever, $1000 gets you great used austrian glass. I have nikons and very nice leupolds that just decide to get finicky once in a while, and don't even get me started on weaver, but if i am picking one scope to trust its swaro

Cliff notes are to just buy NF.

I've got a pretty wide gamut of glass on my comp rifles but they get zero checked before each match and are babied. Nothing but Nightforce on hunting rifles.

That's a rabbit hole that's not worth jumping down.

'Twas it me, on a Tikka hunting rifle (and not knowing budget), I would:

1) Swap out Talley for Sportsmatch
2) Pick any 3-9/4-12 and just go hunt.

Bc RTZ and erectors and drop tests and etc etc don't really matter for 99% of hunting conditions in Tx.

Unlimited budget? Sure go NF (or SWFA SS) and sleep easy.

I was afraid of that. I spent several hours reading last night but barely made a dent in his reviews...insane amount of time shooting and putting up info

I definitely agree with your assessment for hunting in TX. And sportsmatch would definitely be an upgrade over the Talley's.

However, I'm in CO so the rifle gets strapped to the pack, takes the occasional tumble with me, or gets shot off a rock pile during most of my trips. After reading thru the drop tests and how badly some fail, I'm not so sure I didn't just take a fall somewhere and cause the issue.

And I'm not a dialer, but do antelope hunt once a year or so, thus far I used BDC holdouts to 400yds with good success but I could see the advantages being able to dial and RTZ

May have to give into SWFA or one of the drop test passing ones...however, guess I'm old now because some of these newer "hunting" reticles on some optics seem really cluttered and difficult.

It would be nice if SWFA offered the SS line with a duplex.

Let me know if you'd like to try the SM rings. I'm pretty certain I've got a set of mediums or lows I can send your way

I'd love a set

stdeb11 said:

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I definitely agree with your assessment for hunting in TX. And sportsmatch would definitely be an upgrade over the Talley's.

However, I'm in CO so the rifle gets strapped to the pack, takes the occasional tumble with me, or gets shot off a rock pile during most of my trips. After reading thru the drop tests and how badly some fail, I'm not so sure I didn't just take a fall somewhere and cause the issue.

And I'm not a dialer, but do antelope hunt once a year or so, thus far I used BDC holdouts to 400yds with good success but I could see the advantages being able to dial and RTZ

May have to give into SWFA or one of the drop test passing ones...however, guess I'm old now because some of these newer "hunting" reticles on some optics seem really cluttered and difficult.

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totally agree

Got it

meggy09 said:

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Thaddeus Beauregard said:

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If your scope can be "bumped" off zero, then you have a problem with your scope, mounts, or installation that really needs to be addressed. Mechanically sound scopes cannot be bumped off zero unless they get seriously damaged in some way. Don't buy mechanically weak mounts like the ones that have the windage screws in the rear base.

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Strongly disagree. There are very few manufacturers who have proven to actually make a scope that will hold zero even after minor bumps. Does it happen every time, probably not. But don't go read those Rokslide posts because it's probably gonna hurt a lot of peoples feelings.

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yup. most Leupold lines are consistently poor performers at holding zero and holding true line on elevation adjustments after taking a bump.

You guys used the swfa ss ultralight? I've been hoping they would offer it with a milquad because i don't dial in the field, but if you like duplex it might be the ticket. If they made a semi-ultralight 3-9x42 milquad with no knobs I'd buy 3. The closest I've found is the trijicon accupoint 3-9 and minox za3

I had an ultralight with the BDC reticle on a 300 wsm Tikka in Sportsmatch rings. Nice little scope, ridiculous how light it is. I just did the math to adjust the reticle to my ballistics.