Having problems optically centering my UTG 4x32

[bnt55]

I just purchased a leapers UTG 4x32 airgun scope and I wanted to optically center it using the mirror, however I cannot bring down the "mirror image" using the elevation knob...it bottoms out before I can get close.  Am I doing something wrong?  It has the flip up sun shade and I kept that on so it would have a flat surface against the mirror.  I can move the scope up/down,  left/right and get the images to align however all I am doing is changing the viewing angle.  What should I do?

thanks
Bill

[condor22]

  Mechanically center your rifle scope.  Turn the turret until it stops, now count clicks while turning opposite direction until it stops turning. divide total clicks from stop to stop by 2.  Now do the same with the other turret.  Do not force the turret when it stops turning, turn turret gently.

  From the stop, turn the turret number clicks resulting from the division.  Total clicks = 40 divide by two = 20. Turn turret 20 clicks from stop to get mechanical center. No mirror required. 

[bnt55]

Yeah, I just did that...however I thought it would be easier to use the mirror method.  I guess this rubber sunshade doesnt allow for a centered scope on the mirror...so much for having fun looking at my scope in the bathroom mirror.

[bnt55]

just counted my windage clicks....680!!! YOWZA!  Now I have to go back 340 clicks.  Funny thing is when I look through the reticle, the crosshairs dont look far over to one side after bottoming out the right turns??

[nced]

Yeah, I just did that...however I thought it would be easier to use the mirror method.  I guess this rubber sunshade doesnt allow for a centered scope on the mirror...so much for having fun looking at my scope in the bathroom mirror.

I use the "mirror method' however the end of the scope "bell" needs to be perfectly perpendicular to the tube, and some are not. The 4x scope bell is rather small which makes holing it square to the mirror an issue. Another thing that needs to be done is to set the AO or side focus at infinity and the scope power at it's lowest setting, however this might not be an option with your scope.

As mentioned previously, count the number of turret clicks "stop to stop" and divide by two to mechanically center the reticle. This will put roughly equal tension on the erector springs which is what you're trying to do. With higher power scopes that are used for "rangefinding by scope" it's also good to have the scope "optically centered" but that isn't an option with only 4x.

[condor22]

    Of course, there's a third method. The V block method, in which you place the scope in V blocks and rotate the complete scope on it's tube..........? In this method the reticle spins like a propeller when centered, rather than making an arc when not centered.......