Rifle scope vertical alignment apparatus and method

Abstract

A rifle scope vertical alignment apparatus includes first and second plates, each with a bottom surface shaped as an inverted V. A vertically oriented elongate slot is formed in one of the first and second plates and a receiving channel is formed in one of the first and second plates to slidably engage the other of the first and second plates. A level is positioned on one of the first and second plates such that it is visible from a rear surface of the apparatus. A threaded screw extends through the slot and into a threaded bore on the other of the first and second plates so that the plates can be held in a selected position relative to each other with the inverted V bottom surfaces aligned. The alignment method involves positioning the inverted bottom V of the first plate of the alignment apparatus atop the rifle barrel just in front of the objective end of the scope, placing the inverted V bottom surface of the second plate atop the scope barrel and then tightening the threaded screw. The rifle, scope and alignment apparatus are then leveled and a user sights through the scope at an external vertical reference line and rotatably adjusts the scope until the vertical reticle is precisely aligned with the external vertical reference line and then tightens the scope in position.