Rifles that make you chase your scope settings all season

A property rifle gets bumped. It rides in the truck. It leans against fence posts. That’s normal. What’s not normal is having to “re-zero” all the time because your setup can’t hold still.

A lot of this comes down to how the rifle carries optics and how people tend to mount them (cheap rings, tall mounts, weird adapters). These are models that commonly turn into scope-setting headaches if you don’t set them up right.

SKS (with receiver cover scope mounts)

The SKS is tough, but those receiver cover scope mounts are famous for shifting. They don’t lock up the same way every time, and a little movement up top turns into inches downrange. Guys chase windage and elevation, then blame the rifle.

If you want an SKS with glass, it needs a mount that actually stays put (and honestly, most people are happier running irons and calling it good).

Mosin-Nagant 91/30 (with bargain “scout” mounts)

Mosin “scout” setups are everywhere, and some are decent, but a lot of them loosen up or shift after recoil and bumps. Add in old surplus ammo and you’ve got a recipe for thinking your scope went crazy.

You can make one work, but it usually takes better hardware than people want to buy for a rifle they paid $200 for.

Ruger Mini-14 (older models with optics)

Mini-14s can be great ranch rifles, but some older ones and some mounting setups lead to frustration. Guys run high mounts, questionable rings, or cheap optics and end up chasing impacts that seem to drift after a few rides in the truck.

A Mini can be solid, but it rewards a clean, low-profile mount and a scope that can handle vibration.

AKM variants (with dust cover rails)

A dust cover isn’t a precision mounting surface. Some of the newer hinged systems are better, but a lot of budget dust cover rails move. And even a tiny shift becomes “my zero is gone.”

If you’re running an AK with an optic, a solid side mount setup is usually the safer path than a dust cover that flexes.

Winchester Model 94 (pre–Angle Eject)

These rifles were never designed around optics. If you’re forcing a scope onto a top-eject 94, you’re usually dealing with side mounts, awkward height, and eye relief issues. The setup can feel “never quite right,” and bumps can make it worse.

A peep sight is often a better “working rifle” solution on older 94s than fighting a scope setup that’s always compromising something.

Marlin 336 (top-eject era, side mount setups)

Same deal as the older 94s. Side mounts and tall optics can turn into a constant “something shifted” situation, especially when the rifle gets carried hard. The rifle itself can shoot fine, but the optics setup becomes the weak link.

If it’s an older top-eject, a good receiver sight keeps it simple and dependable.

Remington 742 / 7400

These older semi-autos have fed a lot of families, but they’re not always the best platform for “set it and forget it” optics if you’re rough on them. Between how they get used and how some are mounted, people end up re-checking zero more than they want.

They can still do great work—just don’t treat them like a modern optic-ready platform without verifying everything stays tight.

Ruger 10/22 (with cheap rails and tall rings)

This one surprises people because recoil is mild, but the 10/22 gets a lot of bargain optics, bargain rings, and rails that aren’t torqued right. It rides around, gets banged, and suddenly your impacts aren’t where you left them.

A 10/22 can be extremely steady with decent rings and a properly mounted rail. The headaches usually come from cutting corners on the little parts.

Savage Axis II

The Axis can shoot, no question—but it often gets paired with whatever cheap scope and rings came in a bundle. Then screws loosen, rings slip, and the shooter starts chasing turret clicks like it’s the rifle’s fault.

If you own one, upgrade the rings/bases, torque it right, and you’ll usually calm it down a lot.

Ruger American (especially “combo” packages)

Same story as the Axis: the rifle can be solid, but the scope-and-ring combo packages are where problems start. If the rings aren’t great or the mount isn’t torqued correctly, that “my zero moved” feeling shows up fast on a working property.

Spend a little on rings and mounting, and these rifles stop being annoying.