Thread: Maintaining zero after flying

ya right Kelton good scopes dont move - our rifles used to get shite used all day and never really shifted - the old standard 4x leupold and 2.5 leupold were pretty robust and simple - some of these new ones with a heap of adjustment may be a little more temperamental - the early tascoes were not good but surprisingly the early Nikko Sterling were actually not bad for the price - I did have early redfields fog especially one I tried with a wide angle lens fogged first time I used it - some cullers had Pecar and they seemed robust

Looking at the advice I’ll start carrying a target just in my bag just case. My rifle has good rings and a rail and has not shifted with flying before, I recently upgraded my case to one with pillar locks also to avoid crushing. In travel and on the hill it stays with a small neoprene cover on the scope also unless I’m expecting game.

One trip tahr hunting my mate had a shocker with his new rifle, bad rings with the big side screws and they came loose, and then the mag dropped out the next day lol. Found the mag and had a multi tool,got the scope back on, zeroed in on some rocks and he managed to get a good sized bull thar the next day.could see the worry etched on his face though.

those big trips carry a spare scope and the right sort of screw drivers or allen keys to change it - my first trip to fiordland bloody new redfield fogged first day never touched once since -- had prepared and rifle had open sights and had zeroed those so rest of trip open sights - had gear to remove offending redfield and the trip to Stewart Island after woods all open sights - if I had a spare scope could have fitted that -but my back up plan was open sights - worked out okay but had the right tools

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

those big trips carry a spare scope and the right sort of screw drivers or allen keys to change it - my first trip to fiordland bloody new redfield fogged first day never touched once since -- had prepared and rifle had open sights and had zeroed those so rest of trip open sights - had gear to remove offending redfield and the trip to Stewart Island after woods all open sights - if I had a spare scope could have fitted that -but my back up plan was open sights - worked out okay but had the right tools

That's been my system for over 15 years, many trips across the ditch, dall's sheep hunt in the Yukon, and one trip from the bottom of Aus. to mid Qld. Zeroed 1.6/6 and 2.5/8 Leupies in Talley screw lock detachables. Carry only two allen keys to fit both guard screws and scope screws. I've never needed the keys either, but nice to be able to check guard screws and scope screws

Some don't like the vertical split on the Talleys, but it has never been a problem for me. Never needed to use the spare, but rather have it etc etc.

Only time I have had travel induced issues was a Leupy knocked off by 5" on a trip to Central Asia. That was on what I though was a fully sealed wood stock, and the change in climate may have had something to do with it, but having seen the way my gun case was handled, I doubt it.

The spare doesn't need to be some hooley dooly, turret festooned boat anchor, just something that you can rely on. 4x Leupy is ideal, but good luck finding one.

I would invest in the best hard case you can afford, that should eliminate most risks of zero shifting.

Make a rifle suit case out of 10mm ply,line with foam rubber cut out of a old clean bed mattras.Cut the rifle scope shape out of the foam.It wont break in transit unless somebody it hitting it with a 20oz hammer.
Not ideal for flying in to yr hunting spot but good for transporting yr rifle around on bumpy river beds n tracks.