5/7/10 20 MOA Scope Bases

Today my 20 MOA Nightforce Scope bases got a test run.  20 MOA bases point the scope downward in relationship to the bore. This gives you added elevation travel from the scope (since you really never need to adjust down, when you are zeroed at 100 yards). Overall, my Vortex Viper Scope has 258 clicks of elevation from the bottom to the top. This of course translates to 64.5 minutes of angle in elevation travel. Since at the factory, they make sure that the scope will be in the middle of it's elevation travel when held level, you really only get about 30-32 MOA of "up" elevation travel with a normal setup.

With the 20 MOA bases, it points the scope "down", meaning you need to compensate with the elevation knob to enable a zero at 100 yards. This is great because now after zeroing at 100 yards, this is what I have left for adjustments on the scope: 176 "up" clicks (44 MOA), and 82 "down" clicks (20.5 MOA). Since calculations seem to indicate that it will be around 36 or so MOA, to get the bullets in the vicinity at 1K yards, the rig is set up for the shots (more of less).

These pictures show that for whatever reason, I am not yet (with this current stock gun setup) claiming any better than 1 MOA at 100 yards. Interestingly enough, once I was sighted in with the 175 grain Black Hills Match ammo, I shot in the same basic place using my 168 grain hand-loads.