Method and apparatus for alignment of firearm sights

Abstract

An apparatus for aligning a sighting device mounted on a firearm. The apparatus has a first indicating device adapted to be positioned on a surface of the firearm to determine a rotational position of the firearm relative to a reference plane and a second indicating device adapted to be positioned on a surface of the sighting device to determine a rotational position of the sighting device relative to the reference plane.

1 . An apparatus for aligning a sighting device mounted on a firearm, the apparatus comprising a first indicating device adapted to be positioned on a surface of the firearm to determine a rotational position of the firearm relative to a reference plane, and a second indicating device adapted to be positioned on a surface of the sighting device to determine a rotational position of the sighting device relative to the reference plane.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first indicating device comprises a firearm level, said second indicating device comprises a sight level, and said reference plane is a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 2  wherein said firearm level and said sight level each comprise a bubble level.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 2  wherein said firearm level comprises a base for mounting on the surface of the firearm.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 4  wherein said firearm level further comprises a level support projecting laterally from the base for supporting said sight level.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 5  wherein said base further comprises a magnet for removable attachment of the firearm level to the firearm.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 5  wherein said support defines a cavity for supporting said firearm level.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 7  wherein said firearm level is retained in the cavity by interference fit.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1  wherein said firearm comprises a receiver and said surface of the firearm is a surface of the receiver that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the firearm.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for aligning a sighting device mounted on a firearm having a longitudinal axis and a receiver with a surface generally flat and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising a firearm level having a magnet for removable attachment of the firearm level to said surface of the receiver to determine the rotational position of the firearm relative to a horizontal plane and a sight level for mounting on a generally flat surface of the sighting device to determine the rotational position of the sighting device relative to said horizontal plane.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 1  wherein said firearm level and said sight level each comprise a bubble level.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 11  wherein said firearm level further comprises a base and a level support projecting laterally from the base for supporting said sight level.  
   
   
       13 . A method of aligning a sighting device mounted on a firearm, the method comprising the steps of: 
 using a first indicating device positioned on a surface of the firearm to determine a rotational position of the firearm relative to a reference plane; and    using a second indicating device positioned on a surface of the sighting device to determine a rotational position of the sighting device relative to said reference plane.    
   
   
       14 . The method set forth in  claim 13  wherein said first indicating device comprises a firearm level, and wherein the steps of determining the rotational position of the firearm comprises attaching the firearm level to a flat surface of the firearm.  
   
   
       15 . The method set forth in  claim 14  wherein said firearm has a receiver and said flat surface of the firearm is a surface of the receiver that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the firearm.  
   
   
       16 . The method set forth in  claim 15  wherein said firearm level has a base comprising a magnet, and wherein the step of attaching the firearm level to the firearm comprises attaching the magnet to the surface of the receiver by magnetic attraction.  
   
   
       17 . The method set forth in  claim 16  wherein said sighting device comprises a scope and said second indicating device comprises a sight level, and wherein the step of determining the rotational position of the sighting device comprises placing the sight level on a flat external surface of the scope.  
   
   
       18 . The method set forth in  claim 17  wherein said sight level has a base with a generally flat surface, and wherein the step of placing the sight level on the scope comprises supporting the generally flat surface of the base with the flat external surface of the scope.  
   
   
       19 . The method set forth in  claim 13  further comprising comparing the first indicating device to the second indicating device to determine whether the sighting device is rotationally aligned with the firearm.  
   
   
       20 . The method set forth in  claim 13  further comprising adjusting the position of the sighting device relative to the firearm based on said determining steps.