How to projection level your scope?

Are you ready for something different? Ever wonder how an ELR  pro shooter can hit a target two miles away? Today we are going to transform your rifle scope into an old-school movie projector. Doing this may seem odd: trust me, if you’re serious about sending airmail, How to projection level your scope like a pro is a good start.

I think it’s fair to say. I have used every technique under the sun to level a scope. Then one day, I happened upon a video demonstrating what I am going to call projection leveling. Since this is a relatively new technique, this article will be longer than usual. I want to give enough detail so everyone can master the technique.

Step one

Purchase a CTK Precision Scope Level. (recommended) This product will ensure a perfect level of your firearm during this process.

Step two

Place your firearm in a gun cradle or vice with the back facing a white wall (your projection screen). The primary goal is to gain the ability to slide your entire rifle (projector) back and forth.

An alternative is to take your rifle out of the stock and place the action/barrel in a barrel vice. As long as you have a wall behind it, you are good to go. It makes this whole process much more pleasant, but it depends on your location—kind of a luck-of-the-draw situation.

Step three

We are going to make what is known as a Plum Bob on the wall behind your rifle.

First, hang a string with a weight attached to one end. It will give you a perfectly straight vertical line on the wall (Screen) due to gravity. I use Paracord with fishing weights attached to it.

Note: patch up any holes before your spouse gets home. (Ask me how I know?)

Step four

Here is where an extra set of hands comes in handy. Using a flashlight, LED, or Something annoyingly bright, shine through your scope’s objective lens. That will project an image on the wall of your reticle.

Step five

Move the entire rifle back and forth until you get a broad picture on the wall, just like teachers used to do with projectors in class. (Yes, I’m that old.)

Step six

At this point, you have to mess around with your rifle’s magnification, scope, and focus. You do that until you have a clear picture projected on the wall. There is no exact recipe to accomplish this part. You merely have to monkey with it until you hit the sweet spot.

Step seven

Place your level on your scope mount. Next, rotate your rifle side to side until the bubble is centered, and lock it down. Now your firearm is level, and your reticle is projected on the wall.

Step eight

Finally, we have arrived at the fun part. Rotating your optic within its rings, match the vertical line projected on the wall with the Plum line you made earlier. Double-check the bubble level on your mount to make sure it’s centered. Now, torque your scope rings to the manufacturer’s specs.

Congratulations, this is how to projection level your scope. It won’t even be 1° off. Get a roll of stamps and have some fun.

Another step ELR shooters take is to do a scope tracking test. The article on How to do a Scope Tracking Test like a Pro will guide you through that process if you’re serious about sending airmail.

Update: A company now makes a tool that speeds up this process.

Disclaimer: Reloading/handloading can be hazardous to your health like many things in life. You take full responsibility when performing these procedures. 5 Gun Nation is not liable for your decisions. Don’t be an idiot, and if you are, it is not our problem.

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