I consider the scope/barrel gap to be close on my 300Rem Ultra at 1/16" but I was reading an article in VH last night on a custom 223AI (blocked barrel)that the author said a dollar bill would slide between!!! I have wondered with all that I have read about barrel whip how close is too close? I have looked for any evidence of touching on mine (none noticible)but wonder,espicially with the larger rounds,how this cannot be a problem.

As long as the scope isn't touching no trouble. the scope and the gun recoil as a unit. I guess if you only had a 1000 of an inch and shot enough the barrel might exspaned from heat to touch but I don't think that well happen.

Ultraman,

Scopes and rifles do not recoil as one unit.

While the rifle is recoiling upward the objective end of the barrel is being bent downward, with the front scope ring as the bending point. Generally in sporting rifles with normal scope positions 0.010 inches should be sufficient clearance.

Good Hunting !

PUMBA your reply makes absolute since but doesnt the barrel whip back up? Pertaining to say .400's and up since the scope is attached to the action, as the barrel returns from its downward bend back up it just seems like more clearence would be needed. I see many mounted close so I guess my concern is perhaps unfounded, I just don't understand why.

sense (not since)

Ultraman:

I have a .375 H & H mounted with a Leupold 2-7X which clears the barrel by so little that you have to have a bright light in the background to see the gap. I have had sterling performance from this gun and scope.

While a clearance of this amount out at the muzzle end of the barrel might result in barrel-scope contact, the stiffness of the barrel and action at the point where the scope lies is such that no relative movement between scope and barrel can be detected.