My personal opinion as a 25 year veteran (55 y/o) who worked with SOC South in multiple missions, this is by far the best instructional video I’ve ever seen. Gary is a true professional, thank you for putting out great useful information.

I went and bought a gun vice. Over the years I have mounted quite a few scopes and you have now taught me all that I was doing wrong. Much appreciated. My oldest brother was LRRP sniper in 'Nam 63-65 before regular hit boots on ground. We talked about his working with 'Nards going into Camcodia BUT he refused to shoot after he got back. So much respect for what you guys do and in 1 video I learned more than my previous 62 years shooting. Subscribed!

The Wheeler level-level-level kit is a must have, IMO. Been using it for years with good results. One good way to adjust eye relief is to shoulder the rifle with the scope in the rings, but loose enough to slide with some effort. Once you get close, shoulder your rifle with your eyes closed, then open your eyes. If you're good, you will have a nice clear picture from your natural hold.

1. Thank you for your service. 2. Thank you for sharing your knowledge through these videos. Very much appreciated.

Thanks for taking time and going through each step slow so everyone can learn from you 👍

I used this method and it turned out great. First time mounting a scope and there are so many different suggestions on KZfaq but this seemed to make the most logical sense. Thanks for the video!

This is the most informative video on scope mounting I have ever seen. I have mounted a lot of scopes over the years but now I see a lot of mistakes I have done. Thank you so much for producing this video. And thank you for your time in the service. I too am a first-time viewer and just subscribed to your channel. Thank you again for the lesson on mounting scopes.

As a retired SeaBee who knows very little about this stuff, I am grateful for the “plain speak” delivery of knowledge and information that is necessary now that I’m craving an understanding of distance shooting. Thank you. You’ll hear from me again.

Simple, easy to understand. Great job

Just found your channel as I'm looking to mount a scope on my AR, and wanted to get it right the 1st time. You nailed it for me! It's not my first time, just a first for AR's. You gave me a lot of good tips to consider, and my OCD thanks you. Subbed and liked! Thank you for your service 🇺🇸

Very well done, you verified many things I currently do now, learning them the hard way, plus A few tips I will add to my scope mounting regimen. Your video is the most comprehensive vid on this subject I have seen so far. Thanks!

Thank you for a very comprehensive guide, and for disclosing the reasoning behind the method.

This is the best video on mounting a scope correctly on KZfaq.

Very good vid ! As a hunter and all the glass I've installed on my hunting rifles have always worked just fine. Now I'm wanting to get into long range PRS and this is going to help A LOT Thank you for the vid and Thank you for your service!

I’ve been mounting scopes just like this for twenty plus years. Great video!

Very detailed, informative. Gary seems to really know his stuff. Unlike many other videos, there is no fluff. I like his straightforward style.

I use plain ole line levels. They work fine. Very practical advice offered on this video. Beginners will find it useful. Not all receivers are the same. So there are times the barrel mounted level will come in handy. I manage fine with my line levels, but the barrel mounted level is worth getting.

I just happen to come across your channel this morning, thankfully. I have seriously been looking at getting a Ruger Precision in 17 hmr. I’ve been researching scopes as well. I had no idea how precise you need to be to make all this work. Once I saw the how and why it was so obvious. Thank you so much. I’m a reasonably new shooter but I’m learning quickly as I am already changing out parts and improving my guns. This will be another extension of my knowledge with this new project. I will be looking at your courses for sure.

In my opinion, the best explanation I've seen for scope mounting.

Excellent work ! It is the same method of what I did to all my scopes . But i also used plum Bob and flash light method to check on my work if the vertical line of the scope is not line up with the other ... i then returned the item back to the manufacturer!

Thank you for the great content. I found the tutorial and recommended products very helpful. I’m just getting into marksmanship after many years and really wanted to up my scope knowledge. Thanks again

I've been doing this stuff for a long time, with nary a lesson other than logic, some personal experience working on car stuff, and looking around for data from the optics companies. I do this exactly (almost to a "T") like you do. I am delighted to find out my own method meets your considerable experience and that my skills were honed by doing things incorrectly - which means I learned how to do it right by doing it wrong many times.

im new to precision scopes and thank God i found your video. Your explanation and instructions made it simple to get done.

Thanks for posting

I was always a bit skeptical of this method since I'm a long range person and have my own system. I went ahead and bought the Wheeler kit and replicated your process, then proceeded to look through the scope at a plumb line I set up ahead of time (verified zero degree cant every 4 inches all the way to 60 inches with my digital degree/angle finder). I also turned on my Tough Tactical precision digital scope level, which I mounted ahead of time. I was delighted to see that everything was perfect and I'm convinced your method is indeed a good one.

As a veteran and former Correctional Officer on a Super Max Prison SRT squad for 10 years; I can definitely say this is the most complete and comprehensive scope mounting tutorial I've ever seen. Very informative and accurate. You absolutely do it the correct way. I have the exact same set up as well as the Wheeler Digital F.A.T Wrench. You have gained another follwer.

Wow this is the most thorough scope mounting tutorial PERIOD

I have followed your directions explicitly with the Wheeler mounting kit. Being somewhat of a skeptic however I hung up plumb line and the reticel was perfectly in line with the plumb line. thanks

I am so glad I found this channel! Thank you Gary for your service, and for making these awesome videos! Great content!

Great video. As a mechanic who has built engines, and torqued many bolts to spec, I will add that if you remove a fastener that has loctite applied, the loctite needs to be cleaned off the threads and fresh loctite applied before retorqueing. This is necessary for accurate torqueing of the fastener. This would be difficult to do in the field. I know I would probably lose the fastener, being a bit of a butter fingers. I an glad you instructed your viewers to use the proper stuff for torqueing scope fasteners. Thank You.

Just purchased my first precision scope and mounting myself. This video was perfect! Subscribed

Thanks for the video!

I’ve used the bubble method as well effectively. My dad was a WWII sharpshooter and he taught me the same way of leveling that you use. Recently I found a device called “Fix it Sticks Scope Jack”. It works without a rifle vise, no bubble centering and it works easily as well as bubble leveling and just as accurate. It takes about 3 minutes. Love it more than words can say.

I was a tanker for 32 years so I don't have much experience with Little Guns, but your credentials and professional instruction are enough for me. This video helped me set up my rifles the right way and also got me to spend a few hundred bucks to enhance my tool kit. Thank you!

Most informative video I have found to properly mount a rifle scope. Thanks for the information and a HUGE THANKS for your Service!

Great information! Thanks.

Great intel - thanks for sharing. I specifically like that you turn the screws 1/8 at a time and constantly check the gap as you make the adjustments.

This past weekend I mounted my strike Eagle 5-25 onto my bergara b14r. I used the wheeler leveling system you have there. I noticed the little reference bubble level was not equal. Meaning If i sit the level with the logo facing forward the bubble is in one position then turn the level 180 degrees with the logo facing rearward the bubble has moved with in the level to a different position. I checked it against a few different carpenters levels I have in my workshop and it showed it was off. I adjust the level myself til it was good. The wheeler is a great product but this is a heads up for those who own it and be sure the little reference bubble level is still good.

Great video, thanks for posting

Bought a bundle. It was super easy to add the items that I didn't already have. Thanks! Hoping to get my Ruger Precision rifle and scope going in our club competitions soon. Recommending to anyone who will sit still and listen to me for a minute (i.e., all the other old guys at our club! ) :)

Omg this was PERFECT! I'm still rather new to firearms but it's becoming an overwhelming addiction, "in a good way". I finally was able to get my HQL here in Western Maryland so I could finally and legally own a pistol for home defense. Before owning my new Walther PDP I was using a Ruger AR 556 16" 1-8 twist rifle with a compact holosun red dot for home defense. Now that I have the pistol I wanted to turn my AR into a medium - long range firearm and picked up a primary arms 1x-8x LPVO. I've never put a scope on a rifle before and was nervous as hell and apprehensive to start because the last thing I want to do is screw anything up or mount it in a way that may conflict with effectively using the scope in conjunction with the rifle. This video was absolutely perfect! Thank you so much! I'm now in the process of trying to save up for one of your in person classes and can't wait to actually take part of your legendary training!

Congrats, you're the first person that I've seen talk about leveling the rifle muzzle to stock. Yes it is important, you cannot get an accurate cross level unless the rifle is level muzzle to stock. The slightest incline will give false readings across the pic rail unless you're lucky enough to hit it perfect. It takes out potential error. Nice video.

Thank goodness you showed the proper cant install. It really helped out!

This one of the best mounting videos out.

I'm watching this, like I'm capable of taking advantage of a properly mounted scope.

Question: As it seems the anti-cant device on the picatinny rail is plumb right away, why not mount that first, ensuring a plumb rail/barrel? Seems that could save the first few level on rail - barrel level steps (ie basically replacing the barrel level with the anti-cant device's level).

Great information, thank you

I've watched numerous videos on scope mounting, but yours is by far the best I've watched. You are a great teacher and communicator. I feel like I can mount my next scope with much more assurance that I will be doing it correctly and with more confidence. Thank You. I have subscribed to your channel.

Many times the turrets are not parallel with the reticle lines I use a machinists parallel rubber banded to the bottom of the scope turret block this allows you to set your level on the parallel. i have seen numerous scopes that look canted but the reticle is dead nuts on. go figure. thanks for the vid. i have been a Smith for 27 years now and have progressed to this method since starting to shoot F-Class about 10 years ago. You'd be surprised (maybe not) how many canted scopes we see daily.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm new to rifles and scopes, and this really helped me understand everything I need to do. Subscribed!

Great video thank you. Saved it to my how to list.

Great video, thanks bro

Gary, the only “problem” with the Wheeler levels is their lack of exactness. I have the same vice and levels that you used. The specific problem with the wheeler levels that I have is that the bubble is too small and there is no line in the very middle that would visually enable one to have greater confidence that the bubble is actually in the center. Or, if the bubble was bigger so that it would touch the two lines on the left and right of center then you would have greater confidence of the scope and rail being level with each other. With all that said, your video was excellent! On guns that will be used for long distance I still use a plumb bob AFTER I have mounted the scope to verify that it is level. I do this because I don’t trust the levels (or at least my aging eyes) to know (or trust) both levels are actually perfectly aligned. Further, it’s an issue of stacked tolerances. It you level the rail, and then establish another new level on the barrel with the first level, and then establish the scopes level with another level…. Well, you can understand, I hope, that stacked tolerances can come into play. I only mount a couple scopes a year and I am sure that I would have greater confidence with your experience in mounting so many scopes. So, with all my blather I hope you can see why I verify everything with a plum bob (gravity doesn’t lie, but my eyes might with the level). I mount my plumb bob in the depth of my garage (no wind) and then set my bench up at the end of my driveway, chuck the gun in my Tipton vice, and see if it tracks while adjusting the elevation. But, as I said, excellent video. I have it saved as a video to share with others on how to mount a scope. Also, it appreciate you mentioning VC-3. I have started using that in the past year after finding out about it from C&H precision while using their plates to mount my dots on my handguns. I have subscribed and shared this video and look forward to seeing more of your videos. Thanks.

Just to mention, the flashlight/plumb bob method is still a very viable way to check your work, especially when using cheaper scopes. Sometimes the reticle and scope body are not perfectly in line and can need adjustment to level the reticle properly. Also the tops of scopes are rarely completely level and can also be checked using the flashlight/plumb bob method, but I wouldn't use that method to begin with but rather as a check and balance.

Very informative. Thanks

Thanks for your service.

Very informative - excellent job. I must point out tho - not everyone can afford the high dollar ( different for everyone ) base mounts & rings. I have done a few scopes. I had a machinist friend make me 2 one inch diameter billet alum. shafts about 4 inches long. Each one is machined down to a point on one end. I place those in each ring. Which tells me how far off the rings or base is out of alignment. Then one would need to lap them in. BUT - one must also use care & have some COMMON sense when doing this. Because one can mess things up in hurry if they are mindful of details. Other than that - excellent detail & explanation !!!!

Yes, I liked it before I watched it. It was a judgment call. 😏😉

KZfaq is awesome. The plethora of information is great. Weeding thru the bad info has its issues but this video isn't one of those. I appreciate the free information given where decades ago you'd have to pay for something like this.

Thank you! That’s a great video!👍

Thanks! I've been struggling with this more than I should have.

This is great. Lots of pointers. Pushing the ring forward while tightening. Excellent

I appreciate all the info. A lot of good knowledge. No one has Ever broke it down like you did thanks for your time.

Thank you for simplifying that for us! It’s greatly appreciated. Bought off your site just now.

Best instuctional video on scope mounting ever. Awesome step by step instructions and product recommendations.

Great video, thanks

Great video. Excellent how-to! Thanks so much

Thank you for this video. I so happen to have all the same tools minus the rifle cradle. My vise worked just fine. Yes, I did level my rifle before installing. You made something I was a little anxious about doing and made it easy and achievable.

Nicely done.

Very simple and straight to the point. Thanks

Love it…..finally the correct way explained!

Saved me a lot of trouble, I was going to wing it with the string method on a high end scope, especially the gap setting on the rings. Thanks, best video on scope mounting on youtube

Great instructive video... the right way.

Thanks for sharing your expertise :)

Great content. Thank you

Great video and timely since my Arken PRS and one-piece mount/rings have recently arrived. I'm now following Paramount Tactical and will be looking for more of your videos and descriptions.

Wow never watched a video that was so clear for even beginners to follow until now! Great video! 👏🏻

Thanks for your time and experience.

Great video thanks again

Great video! I used this video to mount my SHV4-14 nightforce to a nightforce mount on my AR-10. The leveling system from wheeler is very worth it. The most difficult part for me was tightening the scope rings down evenly prior to torquing them.

Brilliant process! Excellent tool reference too. Thank you for the time and information.

Nice and easy! Thanks

Excellent video. Just ordered a new scope and will follow your instructions!

Thank You for you Service to our country, and your knowledge!

Great video. Was able to install my first scope perfectly. Thank you.

Very thorough presentation. Loved it!

Great job Gary. Cheers!

The Works Tool Kit is good stuff. It was one of my purchases of 2022 that I use the most.

Excellent video! I've mounted quite a few scopes over the years, and had to learn on my own what you have carefully and clearly demonstrated in this video. I use the Wheeler tools, as well, and confirm on a plumb line when I'm all buttoned up. One thing I like to do as I'm slowly tightening the cap screws down, is incrementally increase the torque setting on my Wheeler driver as I go. I typically start around 3-5 in-lbf and increase by about 5 in-lbf on each pass through all the screws. I've found that it gives me more confidence vs. feeling the torque as I progress through the screw tightening procedure. I wrench on all my guns and cars, so I have a pretty good feel for fastener tightness, but it's always worth using the calibrated tools for me! I have also used feeler gauges on the cap gaps to make sure I'm not binding those screws on that first pass. Not necessary, but it makes for a very nicely finished result, especially on other folks' rifles. Awesome video!

Great segment, after seeing it done in one of the PTS long range courses, it's good to get a refresher again. I will need to upgrade to the Tipton Ultra, maybe for my birthday. See you in the spring.

This has been my technique for installing scopes for over 20 years!!Excellent presentation 👍 Just follow your procedure in this video: Your Scope Will Be Mounted Perfect! B Deacon Manitoba Canada 🇨🇦

I dont follow anyone or subscribe but the way you said almost free and proved you were knowledgeable I paid the price to watch more. Good pitch brother and thank you for the great content I'm on my first build.

Thank you for the advice

Thank you for your service and your knowledge

Thank you Gary for your service!

Gary, thank you for your time with this video, it is very informative.

I've been a cabinet making instructor for 22 years. That being said, I applaud the fact that you kept your instructions simple on every phase of installation. I always called it to keep it simple, stupid too, my students. A saw runs at 10,000 rpm. Shapers about 20,000 rpm. Fingers get cut off very, very quick. Thanks good instructor. You also drove home important points.

Just bought a new MPA from this company and his instructions for this are right on

This is the best mounting tech video out here ! Thanks again!

Great video!