People will spend umpteen thousands of dollars on a rifle and spend as little as possible on a scope. Same with archery hunters, they’ll spend thousands for a bow and buy Walmart arrows and broad heads and then can’t figure out why they can’t get good groups or wound deer.
I’ll take a $300 rifle and $1000 scope over a $1000 rifle and $300 scope all day.
Just like traps, you get what you pay for, but at least with traps you can mod them and make them into something.

Just went off sale cross fire ll vortex 99 bucks . Yes you can buy a good scope fir 100 bucks Vortex will outlast most of us if not dropped. If it is they will fix it

Jeff you are a old hand up there and your moose are a big target so just sneakum up close and that scope and rifle will do just fine .!

When I went to remove the base mounts, the screws were a bit loose. The gun kicks like a mule might of shook loose. I tightened up the screws and backed off the Right side I maxed out and will try it again and see if I can get it sighted in before I run out of shells. I have one box left.

Your Right G Smith, a foot really don't really matter on a moose up close

I have a 30-06 with a really old K-4 Weaver on with see through mounts. its been on for 40 years and I never had to resight it.

I have a 222 and 223 both have Leupold's and both have been great scopes as well.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

If it groups fine I would try to shim it off the opposite way that it is cranked way up? If that makes sense.

If the screws were loose, that could explain the whole problem right there.

Jim

Yes I am hoping thats it. When I mount a scope, I always hammer tight the screws.

This gun was second hand and great deal. It put down about half a dozen moose with it so far and like the gun. Hits hard.

Myself,I wouls switch the sope with another gun,then you will know if it the scope or mount/rifle
Boresighting by eye, like said above,at 25 yards will save you some ammo.

I got to ask how much clearance between barrel and scope? From pics it's doesn't look like much if any.

A dime wont slide under it but that was never the problem. It was great and right on the money until I fell on it.