Scoping the Long Ranger: Rings, Rails and Eye Relief

Mounting a scope is mostly about measuring twice. This walk-through covers the base, rings, eye relief and the checks that keep a scope from shifting.

Safety first, then measurement

Before any tools come out, the rifle must be unloaded. Remove the magazine, open the action, look into the chamber and the magazine well, and feel for any cartridge. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction throughout. A scope mounting session involves wrenches, level and plenty of handling, so make it a habit to confirm empty state again after any interruption.

Step 1: Identify exactly what your rifle has

The Long Ranger comes in more than one version, and listings show variations in sights and furniture. Our Long Ranger family guide notes that many versions are drilled and tapped for scope bases, but that is a statement to confirm for your own rifle. The two versions we cover are the Long Ranger in 6.5 Creedmoor and the Long Ranger in .223. Check Henry's page and manual for yours:

• Is the receiver drilled and tapped, and for which base?
• Does the rifle ship with a rail, a base or neither?
• Are iron sights fitted, and would they interfere with low rings?

Then verify with your own eyes. If the manufacturer's documentation and your rifle do not match, stop and contact Henry rather than improvising.

Step 2: Choose the base and rings

You will need a base that fits the mounting provisions you found, and rings that match both the base and the scope's tube diameter.

If you are unsure which base fits your rifle, ask the maker of the base or Henry, and do not force fasteners that do not align.

Ring height, specifically

Lower is generally better for comfort and cheek weld, because it keeps your eye closer to the line of the bore. The constraint is clearance:

1. Check clearance between the scope's objective bell and the barrel or iron sights.
2. Check clearance for the lever and for loading or magazine changes with the scope in place.
3. Check that the scope turret and parallax controls are accessible.

To test height before purchase, measure the objective bell diameter and add a little margin above the barrel. Better still, use the optic's published dimensions and the mount maker's height tables.

Step 3: Pick the scope for the cartridge

The two Long Rangers call for different optics approaches, and the principles are straightforward.

• 6.5 Creedmoor: a variable scope with a moderate magnification range suits a rifle that can reach beyond typical lever-gun distances. Think about the distances you will actually shoot.
• .223: a lighter, lower-power scope often matches a lighter-recoiling rifle used for varmints and range shooting. Smaller scopes also keep the rifle handy.

For optic selection, the network's optics site covers many options, including a rifle scope and LPVO guide. Pick the scope based on the use, and then pick the rings.

Step 4: Mount the base and rings

1. Clean the threads and the mating surfaces. Degrease screws and holes so the fasteners seat consistently. Follow the base maker's guidance on thread-locking compound, if any.
2. Install the base with the screws the maker supplies, tightening to the stated torque in a crisscross pattern.
3. Set the lower ring halves on the base and confirm alignment.
4. Lay the scope in the rings, without tightening yet.

Step 5: Set eye relief and level the scope

Eye relief is the distance from the eyepiece at which you see a full, clear image. Every scope has a stated eye relief, so check yours. The general principle:

• Mount the rifle as you would shoot it, with a natural cheek weld and the same posture you will use in the field.
• Slide the scope forward or back until you see a full circle of view with no black edges, at a distance that leaves a safety margin from the eyepiece.
• Leave margin. Recoil moves the rifle back toward your face. A .223 is mild, and 6.5 Creedmoor is moderate, but both can cause a cut if the scope is too close, and awkward shooting positions change the distance.

Eyewear matters here too. The network's shooting glasses and scope eye relief article covers how protective eyewear changes the picture.

Once the position is right, level the reticle. Use a level on the rifle and on the scope's turret, or a plumb line at a distance, and make sure the vertical crosshair is truly vertical when the rifle is held level.

Step 6: Tighten to the right values

Tighten the ring screws gradually and evenly, in a crisscross pattern, to the torque listed by the ring maker. Use a torque driver rather than relying on feel. If you do not have one, buy or borrow it before you start. A scope that moves under recoil is almost always the result of loose fasteners, poor surface prep or mismatched mounts. The network's why your scope won't hold zero article lists common causes.

Step 7: Boresight and verify zero

Boresighting uses the bore as a reference to get you on paper at short range, but it does not replace live-fire confirmation.

1. Use a boresighting method appropriate for the rifle, with the rifle unloaded.
2. At a safe range, fire a small group with the ammunition you plan to use.
3. Adjust the turrets as the scope instructs, and confirm with another group.
4. Recheck screw tightness after the first range session, and again after a few more.

The network's guide to zeroing an optic goes through the process in detail. Remember that the Long Ranger's box magazine lets you use pointed bullets, so choose a load you will actually hunt or shoot with before you finalize zero.

Bottom line

Mounting a scope on a Long Ranger is a straightforward job if you do it in the right order: confirm what the rifle offers, match the base and rings, set eye relief with a safety margin, torque to the makers' values and verify zero live. Read the manuals for the rifle, the mount and the scope, and when any of them disagree with this overview, follow them.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.