Most of us have mounted scopes on our rifles. Given even a modest amount of hand skills it is not a difficult task. However, one part of it that can cause frustration is getting the reticle level with the rifle.

I have discovered a handy, inexpensive little tool to solve this problem. It is called the Reticle Leveler and is made by Segway Industries. For those of you who care about such things, it is made in the USA.

The reticle leveler is constructed of two rectangular white plastic wings connected with a square brass rod. The plastic pieces have four bold black horizontal stripes about 1/8" wide, spaced about 3/16" apart. They have hooks at the bottom for attaching a rubber band to hold it steady on the rifle when in use.

During the scope mounting process, leave the rings loose enough that you can move the scope against some friction. Set the scope's eye relief to suit you then place the rifle on a rest. Pull the reticle leveler apart and slide the brass rod between the top of the mount and the bottom of the scope. Slide the wing back on and push the wings together until they touch the scope. Make sure the black stripes are facing you. Hook the rubber band from one side, underneath the rifle, to the other side. This will hold it steady while you level your scope.

Now look through your scope. The black stripes on the reticle leveler provide a reference with which to align the scope reticle. Turn the scope slowly until the reticle aligns with the black stripes. When the scope is level, tighten the ring screws slowly, alternating sides. Check the reticle frequently to make sure the scope is not turning as the screws are tightened. Once the rings are tight make a final check and you are good to go. Your scope is now mounted square with the axis of your rifle.

If the Segway Reticle Leveler is not available to you locally, you can find it at mail order houses like Midway USA for around $20. Once you've used it, you won't ever want to mount a scope without a Segway Reticle Leveler.