Do scopes improve accurracy all that much if you don't sporterize?

[Ballbearing]

I've been thinking about getting one of those scope mounts for my M44 that fit in the rear sight cradle because there is no damn way i'm going to drill holes in my rifle and i can always put the sight back on if i want without damaging it. Reason being, i want to know how much my accuracy is really improved by using a scope, but the only way to find out, is to try it. In the state that i live in, most game is taken at ranges under 200 yards. At 150 yards and under, i can hit what i aim at with most rifles with iron sights. I'm not talking tack-driving, minute of angle accuracy by any means, I'm not Sergeant York, but i can hit a deer and kill it at that range, no problem. When i was in the Navy, we'd paint empty 55 gallon steel drums yellow and set them adrift to simulate mines and shoot at them and sink them with M-14's (and btw they weren't scoped, the Navy couldn't afford it, they were too busy paying $400 for a screwdriver and $1000 dollars for a hammer.) all the time at much greater ranges than 150 yards. But if a scope can considerably narrow that circle without having to tear up and re-build my rifle, i'm willing to try it. That having been said, my question to you all is:
Without putting on a new stock, removing metal, glass bedding, drilling and tapping, and otherwise permanently altering my rifle, will putting a scope on top of it significantly improve my accuracy?

[marion57]

It will if your having problems seeing with open sites if not it wont help At least thats why I stick with my open sites

[samuel]

The difference is looking through big sights at a tiny target(open sights) and looking through a small sight at a large target.(scope) sam.

[Mike82]

i use scopes only for coolness....cuz they make it look cool....and helps me differentiate between a tree and a deer at long ranges....cuz my sight gets blurry past 100yrds....errr not really blurry, but I lose my sharpness, so fuzzy i'd say....but main reason i use scope is cuz when I use iron sights I get too tense, especially when shooting targets over 100yds.

of course since I've started using bipods, I can relax more :P

[Windwalker]

At longer ranges they make the target appear clearer and larger allowing better shot placement.

[marion57]

Exactly!!

Originally Posted by samuel

The difference is looking through big sights at a tiny target(open sights) and looking through a small sight at a large target.(scope) sam.

If your not a good shot your just not doubt the scope will help unless you need glasses>> As far as sporterizing it that has nothinfg to do with aim !!

[mym1a]

Originally Posted by Ballbearing

I've been thinking about getting one of those scope mounts for my M44 that fit in the rear sight cradle because there is no damn way i'm going to drill holes in my rifle and i can always put the sight back on if i want without damaging it. Reason being, i want to know how much my accuracy is really improved by using a scope, but the only way to find out, is to try it. In the state that i live in, most game is taken at ranges under 200 yards. At 150 yards and under, i can hit what i aim at with most rifles with iron sights. I'm not talking tack-driving, minute of angle accuracy by any means, I'm not Sergeant York, but i can hit a deer and kill it at that range, no problem. When i was in the Navy, we'd paint empty 55 gallon steel drums yellow and set them adrift to simulate mines and shoot at them and sink them with M-14's (and btw they weren't scoped, the Navy couldn't afford it, they were too busy paying $400 for a screwdriver and $1000 dollars for a hammer.) all the time at much greater ranges than 150 yards. But if a scope can considerably narrow that circle without having to tear up and re-build my rifle, i'm willing to try it. That having been said, my question to you all is:
Without putting on a new stock, removing metal, glass bedding, drilling and tapping, and otherwise permanently altering my rifle, will putting a scope on top of it significantly improve my accuracy?

keep in mind that once you mount that scope you probably wont have the proper weild you might find your self lifting your cheek off the stock to see throught the scope, then you will probably need a cheek pad to put over the stock to align your face. I haven't had very good luck finding one that stays in place after a few rounds.

[ingous]

Plus, if you shoot at a range you won't need a spotting scope to check your target.

[Ballbearing]

Originally Posted by mym1a

keep in mind that once you mount that scope you probably wont have the proper weild you might find your self lifting your cheek off the stock to see throught the scope, then you will probably need a cheek pad to put over the stock to align your face. I haven't had very good luck finding one that stays in place after a few rounds.

It sounds to me like the more you add, the more you need to add. That doesn't sound like such a great deal after all.

[SwedeSteve]

Depending on the mount, and how high it elevates the scope, you may or may not need a cheek rest to maintain proper stock weld. However, you have to remember that Russian snipers shot with their scopes no problem. I believe that if you have the rudiments of basic marksmanship down, a scope will improve accuracy. To what degree is subjective.

[Cyrano]

If you're using a scout scope arrangement, won't your head be almost as low as it would be using iron sights? I can't see this would be that much of an issue.

[.22guy]

Originally Posted by Cyrano

If you're using a scout scope arrangement, won't your head be almost as low as it would be using iron sights? I can't see this would be that much of an issue.

It's not really an issue for me.

[SwedeSteve]

The concept behind stock weld is to align your shooting eye with the sights/scope. With iron sights, that usually means your cheek on the stock. The goal is repeatability each and every time. If you look at pics of Russian snipers, you see that a lot of them are almost using a chin weld! Not as steady for sure. But i you repeat it each time, you should do fine.

[billy]

i know i am just being picky but a scope does nothing to make a firearm more accurate.
either it is an accurate weapon or it isnt.

[Mike82]

one thing sporterizing may help with is the "ripple-effect" that occurs when you fire your rifle, aka barrel warp, etc..... also with what billy said, if you really get down to it, if a barrel/rifling isn't 'true', it wont just send a bullet lil to the left, but could send it different ways each time, lol....is that correct billy?

[mym1a]

Originally Posted by Ballbearing

It sounds to me like the more you add, the more you need to add. That doesn't sound like such a great deal after all.

If you can find a good cheek
pad that will stay inplace you will have the problem licked maybe some guys/gals in here have some good suggestions on check pads. I'm assuming you want to keep your firearm original and not want to drill holes??? another thing to consider will the bolt clear the scope if you put a short eye relief,( scope over the receiver) I have a long eye relief on my mauser i tried 2 or 3 different types of cheek pads and as i previously mentioned after a few shots it starts shifting!

[billy]

Originally Posted by Mike82

one thing sporterizing may help with is the "ripple-effect" that occurs when you fire your rifle, aka barrel warp, etc..... also with what billy said, if you really get down to it, if a barrel/rifling isn't 'true', it wont just send a bullet lil to the left, but could send it different ways each time, lol....is that correct billy?

there could be any number of things going on.
crown
ammo
loose stock
bad form
etc.
p.s. the bad form is why i like to get one of my buddies that is a proven great shot to give me a second opinion on a particular firearm.

[SwedeSteve]

No, a scope doesn't make the rifle more accurate, it makes the target more visible through magnification.
So the shooter/rifle combo becomes more accurate.

[DANA]

With iron sights you can't focus on the sights and the target at the same time. A scope places the scope sight and the target on the same focus.

DANA

[marion57]

Originally Posted by SwedeSteve

No, a scope doesn't make the rifle more accurate, it makes the target more visible through magnification.
So the shooter/rifle combo becomes more accurate.

couldnt have said it better swede