Scope bubble levels, who uses them and do they make a difference?

Yes, I've always used a bubble level on a scope. Because they just give me confidence that I'm not canting my rifle before taking that all important shot. And especially when I'm shooting up into trees where it's difficult to know whether I'm holding the rifle level or not.
 
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Never quite understood the science behind it.
Does your rifle need to be sat level, does the surface your rifle sits on need to be level, what if the floor isn't level that the thing your rifle sits on isn't level... Not trying to an arse I'm genuinely asking.
I've had many guns where the scope ain't spot on, but being lazy just left it with a wonky cross hair, once zeroed it made no difference because they shot to my zero just fine..?
 
The thread is about levels that are fitted to the scope tube so it doesn't rely on a flat surface. The bubble can be placed where it needs to be to show level.
 
Ian Cartmell said:
Never quite understood the science behind it. <snip>
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I used a good quality level and made sure my rifle rest was level. I put my rifle on the rest and checked the dovetail rail was level. I put the scope on and lined up the reticle with a plumb line. Finally I put the scope bubble on and set it.

Now when I set my rifle up anywhere I just need to adjust my rifle rest until the scope bubble shows level.
 
Ian Cartmell said:
Never quite understood the science behind it.
Does your rifle need to be sat level, does the surface your rifle sits on need to be level, what if the floor isn't level that the thing your rifle sits on isn't level... Not trying to an arse I'm genuinely asking.
I've had many guns where the scope ain't spot on, but being lazy just left it with a wonky cross hair, once zeroed it made no difference because they shot to my zero just fine..?
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At your zero point it makes no difference which orientation the set up is, but the error introduced gets bigger with range off your zero ie using mil-dots for ranging / targets / hunting etc at different distances (y)

edit: linky added
that explains
 
Andy from Sandy said:
I used a good quality level and made sure my rifle rest was level. I put my rifle on the rest and checked the dovetail rail was level. I put the scope on and lined up the reticle with a plumb line. Finally I put the scope bubble on and set it.

Now when I set my rifle up anywhere I just need to adjust my rifle rest until the scope bubble shows level.
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Blimey mate, I just use my eye and call it quits.
Plumb lines is taking it beyond my needs. 🫣
 
Yes. Have them on all of my rifles effectively as an anti-cant device. Often when shooting target cards I find myself subconsciously lining up the orientation of my gun/scope with the lines on the target, which is barely ever 100% level so it's just a quick reference without having to move, that the gun is level and everything I can see through the scope probably isn't, rather than the other way around.

This of course relies entirely on your scope being level in the first place, and the action sitting level in the stock.
 
I bought one that fitted to the dovetail, but I couldn't find anywhere I could put it where I could see it without taking my head off the stock/away from the scope. Toying with the idea of getting one that can be fitted to the scope, but more out of curiosity than anything else.
 
BallisticBill said:
I can understand why some shooters might want to use a level on the scope to avoid can't when shooting. Regarding any benefit in mounting a scope on a rifle, they are absolutely useless. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs their head testing. 🤪
🤣🤣
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Unless Bill .......your a nut case like me and have a real level 😂🤣😂🤣 this can see a blue fag paper under one end .
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IMHO definitely worth using.
If you’re unsure fire 3 pellets over about 40yds. one with the rifle precisely upright and then cant the rifle, one to the right and one to the left for the following two. Then look at the spread and permanently fix a level 😉 👍
 
Getting Crosshairs level is easy, I use either a plumb line or spirit level set about 10-15yds away and line them up that way.
The rifle is the problem.
If you imagine the scope now fixed in mid air and level but the rifle swinging left/right underneath how do you level that?
I wouldn't trust any flat part of a rifle to be square to its proper upright position but but you've got to pick somewhere to get consistency.
 
Yes I`ve always set my scopes/rifles up to a spirit level bubbled plum line- spot-on result, every time, good luck buddy
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Neil123 said:
I use one.
Mostly because I've got loads of the little bubble capsules lying around from work as they get supplied with some of the equipment we fit for setting it up.
I made my own using an old scope mount.
It helps with setup of a scope and I do look occasionally while shooting to check my position is right
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I use a spare bubble on my rail to set up scopes, just blue tack it in place on flat rails.
 
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