New scope / new adjust rings ALL over place

[Jack726]

Benjamin Trail XL .22
About 500 pellets through it
Original scope shooting tight out to 45yds. Then suddenly all over so I bought new scope and rings.

Now have sun adjustable rings and Hawke 4-12x50mm Sport HD. After messing with it I figured out how to adjust rings. I shot in close 15 yards to get it on paper then pushed to 30yd to zero. It's just all over the place. The most I can get is two shots to group. It will almost do a clock wise pattern around the bull.i figured it was just getting loose so I tightened everything down just to try and group and I can't do it.

Even tried some JSBs. They were slightly better, maybe. I haven't locktite anything cause I need to get it close first. Any advise I'm pretty out of ideas at this point.

[Motorhead]

Time to Tighten up barrel pivot post ... OR replace the thrust bearing washers while your at it 

[del]

I recently visited with a Hawke representative.  They do not recommend adjusting more than one full turn from the center of the adjustment range to avoid point of impact problems.  On the HD model the center is 3 full turns out from the "in" stop.  You should give them a call.

[Roadworthy]

Jack, you're getting some good advice here.  The first step is to ensure you start from a solid platform.  Replace the nylon pivot washers if you have not already done so with brass pivot washers or bronze bearings.  Get a GRT trigger for your gun.  A difficult pull will affect your aim.  Tighten the pivot screw until it's snug.  When cocked the barrel should move up and down with some resistance.  The ability to stand on its own at ninety degrees may be too tight for the latch up to position consistently.  A little light lubrication on the alive jam chisel will help free movement.  Be sure stock screws are all tight.  Now you should have a pretty solid platform.  I like to do my initial setup at twenty yards because I know it will be pretty close at forty as well.

Optically center your scope.  It is best to start from the true zero point.  Mount the rings on your gun securely.  Sun rings hold pretty well when tightened.  Looking down on the rings adjust each ring horizontally until the gimbal is centered.  Be sure no part of the gimbal screw extends above the bottom of the ring.  It WILL dig into your scope.  Place the scope in the mount and snug everything down.  Fire a few test shots for elevation.  Adjust if needed.  I like to adjust the elevation first because you can lose your azimuth if you need to change it.  Finally dial in your windage.  Put Loctite (blue) on the windage screws before you finish.  They have the annoying habit of working loose.  Caution, do not strip them!  Once set up, put it away overnight to allow the Loctite to set.

I have been using the Sun mounts with pretty good results.  I don't know that they're perfect, but neither am I.  I'm currently searching for the right pellet.  I think at this point the pellet is the bigger problem for me than the gun or the scope.  Think of the gun and scope as a system and everything has to work together.  Then you have to be able to do your part.  Of course the proper pellet helps.