No. 5 — Optics & sighting
Optics and sighting.
A scope mounted wrong will ruin a good rifle’s reputation. This is where most accuracy complaints end.
- Starting at
- $30
- Bench time
- 1–2 weeks
When you need this.
- A new scope, or a new rifle, and you want it mounted once and mounted right.
- The zero moved and you don’t know why.
- The crosshair looks tilted when the rifle is level.
- An older rifle that was never drilled for bases.
Bore-sighting gets you on paper. It is not a zero, and we won’t call it one.
Bring the person who will shoot it, so eye relief is set for them.
The work and what it costs.
| Service | Starting at | Bench time | Drop-off or send |
|---|---|---|---|
Mount, level and bore-sight a scopeBases and rings installed, the reticle leveled, eye relief set for you, everything torqued to spec.What this involves: Mount, level and bore-sight a scopeScrews are degreased and torqued with a wrench that clicks, the reticle is leveled to the rifle, and eye relief is set with you behind it. Then it is bore-sighted, so your first shots land on paper. | $65 | Same weekat a booked visit | Drop off at the shop in Boerne. |
Lap the ringsThe inside of the rings trued so they grip the scope tube evenly.What this involves: Lap the ringsA steel bar and lapping compound bring both rings into line with each other. It stops the rings bending or marking the tube, which matters more as the scope gets better. | +$40 | Same weekat a booked visit | Drop off at the shop in Boerne. |
Bore-sight onlyA rough optical alignment that gets you on paper.What this involves: Bore-sight onlyWe line the scope up with the bore using a collimator or by eye through the barrel. It is not a zero, and the rifle still has to be shot. | $30 | While you waitat a booked visit | Drop off at the shop in Boerne. |
Zero at the rangeA live-fire sight-in at 100 yards with your ammunition.What this involves: Zero at the rangeThe rifle is shot from a rest, the barrel allowed to cool between groups, and the scope adjusted until it prints where it should. You get the target back. | $115+ ammunition | 1–2 wks | Drop off at the shop in Boerne. Needs time at the range. |
The full scope jobMount, lap, level, bore-sight and zero at the range.What this involves: The full scope jobEverything above, done as one job and proved with live fire. It goes home ready to hunt, with the target and the torque values written down. | $175+ ammunition | 1–2 wks | Drop off at the shop in Boerne. Needs time at the range. |
Drill and tap for basesThe receiver drilled and threaded so scope bases can be mounted where there were none.What this involves: Drill and tap for basesThe receiver is set up in the mill and the holes are located off the bore, so the bases sit in line with the barrel. It is $80 for the first hole and $25 for each one after, so a two-base job of three or four holes is usually $130 to $155. On an older or collectible rifle we’ll talk first, because it can’t be undone. | $80first hole | 1–2 wks | Drop off at the shop in Boerne. Ask before sending a whole firearm. |
Install iron sightsDovetail or screw-on front and rear sights fitted.What this involves: Install iron sightsSights are fitted to the dovetail by hand, tight enough to stay and not so tight they raise a burr. They’re set to mechanical center, ready to be zeroed. | $55 | 1 wk | Drop off at the shop in Boerne. Ask before sending a whole firearm. |
Shotgun beadA front or mid bead replaced or installed.What this involves: Shotgun beadThe old bead comes out, or a new hole is drilled and tapped on the rib’s center line. A small job that is easy to do crooked. | $35 | Same weekat a booked visit | Drop off at the shop in Boerne. |
Labor only. Parts and ammunition are extra. Confirmed once it’s on the bench.
What changes the price.
- Whether the rings need lapping to sit true.
- Range time and ammunition, if you want it zeroed and not only bore-sighted.
- Drilling and tapping is priced by the hole.
How long it will take.
The shop takes one job at a time, and only work it can do well. When yours could start is settled at the consultation, and your dates come in writing when the job is accepted.
- Reply
- within3business days
- Bench
- 1–2weeks
The bench time is the work itself, for the usual job of this kind. Each job’s own figure is in the ledger above.
Optics & sighting
Replies by email within 3 business days.
Questions about this kind of work.
My rifle won’t group. Where do you start?
With the cheap things. Loose action screws and scope mounts cause more misses than bad barrels. We check torque, mounts, crown and bore, then try a couple of loads. Machine work comes last, and only if it’s needed. The Journal has the whole list, in order, so you can check most of it yourself first.
Do I need an appointment?
For bench work, yes. Start with a request. Philip reads every one himself, and if it’s work he can do well, he’ll book a consultation with you, in the shop or by phone. The shop’s hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and consultations, drop-offs and pickups are booked inside them. If you come in, bring the firearm unloaded and cased, your ID, the ammunition it’s having trouble with if there is any, and any parts you’re supplying. The one exception is a live round stuck in the chamber: write before you bring it, so we know it is coming and can tell you how.
How long will it take?
It depends on the job. The time each one usually takes is printed beside it on the price list. The shop takes one job at a time, so when yours could start is settled at the consultation. You get your dates in writing when the job is accepted, and an email if they change.