Guys - I’m hoping to get a sanity check since I’m pretty new to the bolt gun world.
I have mounted a swarovski z5i+ scope on a rifle that has 20 moa built into the picatinny rail that is not removable. I was trying to zero at 100 yards and I’m still a bit high and it appears that I’ve hit the limit of the downward adjustment. I loosened the turret screws to make sure I was just not hitting the zero stop. I can rotate the elevation adjustment 2 full turns up which makes me think I am indeed at the bottom.
I have other brands of scopes on 20 moa rails and I have never encountered this situation.
Is there something I could have done wrong while mounting the scope? Is this model of swarovski scope known to have more limited downward adjustment and is designed for more long range shooting? Is the answer to zero the scope at 200 yards since I’m only about an inch high?
Certainly sounds like you’re hitting the zero stop. I’ve had several rifles with 20 MOA rails and never have trouble getting anything sighted in at 100
Quick way to find out. On the scope specs there should be total travel in Moa, convert that to clicks. Then count the clicks that you have available
But also check your rings. I recently had trouble where I thought I had a ring tightened down to the rail correctly but it was actually significantly off
The reason they updated to this version of the Swaro scopes was to give them a bigger tube so they could get more elevation adjustment. The precise issue you’re talking about was a big problem with the earlier version because they didn’t have enough adjustment.
so I can’t think it’s actually bottomed out. Have you looked through some videos or the manual to see how to adjust the zero stop?
I don’t know this scope very well or I’d be happy to walk you through it. The swaro scopes kinda work differently than most.
If maximum elevation is 80 MOA and adjustment is 20 MOA per revolution you should get 4-full turret revolutions of range but you said you are only getting 2-revolutions or 40 MOA in your post, so you may have not backed off the zero stop to provide a gap beneath it or maybe something else is off.
Try carefully removing the zero stop and putting in a safe place with the top up, then reinstall the turret cap and check to make sure you are able to adjust the full 80 MOA range or 4-revolutions. If that checks out, it was probably the zero stop. Zero the scope, then carefully reinstall the zero stop where you want it positioned.
If you cannot dual the full elevation range as expected, consider placing a mirror against the scope objective end to check optical zero by aligning the reticle with the reflection in the mirror. It should be near-perfectly aligned but don’t worry about perfect alignment because you are not in a laboratory setting using calibrated measurement equipment. You are using your eye at an approximate eye relief position. After confirming optical zero, recheck elevation above and below and windage left and right of optical zero. If optical zero is not approximately centered in the elevation or windage ranges, then you should probably contact the scope manufacturer.
Remember that your scope’s optical zero is going to be canted 20 MOA when mounted on the rifle.
I recently purchased a new scope and it came with the zero stop factory set to the optical zero, so I was only able to adjust through the upper half or 75 MOA of the 150 MOA total elevation range until I removed the factory zero stop setting to zero the scope on the rifle, then reset the zero stop where I want it set.
Thank each of you so much for the advice and I have finally figured it out which naturally comes down to the soft tissue behind the scope.
Most of the videos out there describe the previous version which as Jim mentioned is different than the new way. What I have figured out which I may not explain exactly right but here goes. There is the possibility of a total of 80 MOA but the turret can only be adjusted for 40 MOA within that range.
If anyone gets one of these scopes and needs some help, I’ll be glad to stumble through it with you.
The optics are terrific but I like elevation order of operation on leupold scopes better.
If the scope has 80 MOA of elevation, you should be able to dial 40 MOA above (up) and 40 MOA below (down) from the optical center.
If you cannot dial down 40 MOA below the Scope’s optical zero it likely because of the zero stop. Loosen the zero stop set screws or remove the zero stop, replace the turret, and try dialing down 40 MOA below optical zero.
More thoughts:
Your optical center is going to be canted 20 MOA by the base being used, so 20 MOA rail up + 40 MOA up above optical center will result in 60 MOA maximum up ballistically not taking into account the adjustment between the optical center and that needed for a ballistic zero at 100 yards on the 20 MOA canted base.
Simplified: scope total elevation of 80 MOA / 2 = 40 MOA . 40 MOA + 20 MOA base = 60 MOA maximum up ballistically from the optical center of the scope.
You probably don’t want to be using the scope adjusted to its maximum or minimum limits, so think about the canted base MOA needed to keep your scope elevation adjustment in the center 1/2 or 1/3 of its elevation range for best viewing at the ballistic distance ranges you intend to shoot after the 100 yard zero.