When / how often do you check Zero?

[shovel leaner 7,650]

After reading some posts in this section, there seems to be varying opinions on when or how often you should check Zero . For what it’s worth,  this is what I do . Once zeroed, I leave it alone, I don’t check it every time I go out . If I drop or knock the rifle , I will go home and check zero before my next outing , but I have also shot rabbits to put my mind at rest after a miss . If I miss ( sometimes you know it’s you and not the rifle) and think there is something not right , I go home and don’t continue . I will check zero before my next outing . 
           If I am trying a different load or batch of bullets, these get a check . But apart from that , I can go for months and not put a bullet on paper . 

[si brown 8,486]

Same as you sl.. I check when I do a new batch or if I miss something and I felt confident it was a good shot. 
The pard was on a rifle that long that I had to Google how to zero it when I put it on a different gun.. it had been bouncing round back of the truck for about 8 months dropped in the field and was still bang on. 
my 6.5 scope has never been touched since I fitted it years ago and between new batches of home loads it’s only ever been half a bullet poi shift

[wilbur foxhound 480]

An old lad up the road from me had a 308 with a Swarovski scope on it and he told me in twenty five years he has zeroed it twice,I occasionally check with a hooded crow if I haven’t shot a fox or deer for a little while,wf 

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

Only check zero if I have a miss that I cant explain .

The old scope on my .22 once zeroed only got checked 0nce in 20 odd years because it fell off my back , guess what it was fine.

People like to blame the scope for a miss but in reality I have found it's always pilot error.

I like to use my rounds on quarry and not paper

 

[shovel leaner 7,650]

I had an accident on a quad and rolled it . The quad went over my CZ .223 with a Schmidt and Bender scope .The  rifles barrel was stuck in the ground and the rifle was squashed into the damp ground. After pushing all the soil  out and cleaning it , I was amazed,  It was bang on . 

Edited September 4, 2022 by shovel leaner

[BenBhoy 4,706]

  On 04/09/2022 at 09:27, si brown said:

The pard was on a rifle that long

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Was that original mount what it came with? This new 008S of mine the mount seems to work loose just going about on bike... gonna loctite it. 

I don't intentionally check zero, but I have 3 permanent gongs around different parts of farm, quite often (5+ times a week) shoot them from different ranges when going about on bike, just a shot here & there. Just an excuse to avoid getting some work done!! 

Edited September 4, 2022 by BenBhoy

[BenBhoy 4,706]

I mean loose the two nuts fixing mount to picatinny, not the hex screws holding unit onto the actual mount. 

[Sausagedog 7,381]

Pretty much do what you and others do Ben.

I'll check it on a crow or tiny lump of sheep poop.

The 30-30 might get an occasional shot at a rock or something similar I can view the result. Being open sighted it's pretty solid.

[si brown 8,486]

  On 04/09/2022 at 10:40, BenBhoy said:

I mean loose the two nuts fixing mount to picatinny, not the hex screws holding unit onto the actual mount. 

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Yeah the original mount works fine and it’s never come loose, you shouldn’t have to loktite it though:(

[Dervburner 2,549]

I don’t bother with any of that nonsense………

[BenBhoy 4,706]

  On 04/09/2022 at 12:29, si brown said:

Yeah the original mount works fine and it’s never come loose, you shouldn’t have to loktite it though:(

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Original 008 I had never came loose. This one, on exact same rail, day of  vibration on quad & it needs nipping quarter turn. 

[Sausagedog 7,381]

  On 04/09/2022 at 15:09, BenBhoy said:

Original 008 I had never came loose. This one, on exact same rail, day of  vibration on quad & it needs nipping quarter turn. 

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There must be a high spot somewhere.

[Born Hunter 17,837]

With the Tikka/Swaro, once a year maybe. I've supreme confidence in that tool.

With the Ruger/Hawke, between every shot.