Generation A2 here. I have a question for my Old School silver-haired peers.
Do you feel overwhelmed by modern optics - LPVOs in particular? Because I sure as heck do.
I got out the Vortex Razor Gen II I got some months back, to check it out and study the manual. But real quick it became clear that I’m in way over my head.
Installing and adjusting an EO Tech or an Aimpoint is pretty much the limit of my expertise; I know exactly nothing about installing, adjusting, leveling, or torquing an LPVO - I don’t even own a torque wrench.
“What the heck was I thinking?” keeps running through my head reading all of this - makes me want to stick with irons and call it a day. I’m out of my lane.
I started with and A1 and find it no more difficult to mount a LPVO on an modern flat top AR than to mount a scope on a bolt action. The mount I prefer is the Burris PEPR or one of its clones.
IMO, there are two ways you can go on this. The first way (mine) is to use the M1A1 eyeball system to judge level, and just make the screws snug (a little more than finger tight) (I was an Army 32J20 B3 way back in the day). The second way is to use a couple of mechanical aids to help, as follows:
Same, I had mounted scopes on all sorts of rifles before I did an AR. A level is your friend, as are horizontally split scope rings. I normally work out eye relief then level the scope. I use Warne Xskel mounts and a Warne “torque wrench” and life is easy.
I believe the Razor is an excellent optic, so you are halfway there. My eyesight is getting worse with age; magnified optics are a Godsend for me.
If a else fails, take it to a gunsmith, they love installing scopes.
I support the rifle and level with a Harris bipod I can tighten down, and a rear bag, the kind with ears. With the mount installed on the upper, I drop the scope in the mounts and loosely install the caps/screws. Level the rifle, level the scope, start carefully tightening screws in a cross x pattern, gaps same on either side of the caps. Level, level, level, then you can verify with a plumb line, cell tower in the distance, etc. I’ve done this a lot lately…
Easiest way to level any good scope, go to the auto parts store and get what they use to measure the correct measurements on spark plugs, I forget the name. Attach your base to the gun, it works on any rifle. Attach the bottom part of the rings to the base. Then lay the scope in the rings where you want it, put the top rings on and just hand tighten them down so you can sickly move the scope still. Take the widget from the auto parts store, place it between the scope housing which is flat and the base. Then keep adding the spacers until it’s right in there. This levels the scope housing easily to the base. Then tighten ring screws accordingly. Back right outside screw, left front outside screw, back left ring outside screw, front right outside. Then repeat same order with the inside screws. Good scopes will be easily aligned every time. No fussing with levels or any other expensive tool.
