Any advice would be most welcome.

Finally got around to doing up my old HW80 in .22. It used to shoot great with a rubbish old tasco4x40 scope on it but I recently picked up a Hawke Sidewinder 30 tc 8.5-25x42. Fitted a new spring and guides from TBT and put back together fine.

However, when zeroing (at between 10-20 yards all the shots land about 5 inches high! Swapped and changed the rings...no difference. Elevation totally topped out still had shots about 3" high of point of aim. Have googled it and followed instructions on optically zeroing the scope and setting the rings properly. Loosened the bolt in the rear mount (arrestor block) too. Still no joy. Any ideas?

One thing I should add is that the breech seal in knackered and needs replacing. Totally flat if not lower than the breech face and doubt it seals at all well (although it doesn't leak air above the join). Could this cause the barrel to point slightly skywards resulting in the high impacts? Got one on order anyway.

Other than that Im at a loss. Help please!!! :-)