Dovetail scope rings

[Lazarus]

I'm wearing multi-focals these days which means open sights are totally useless to me.
I can focus on the rear sight and can't see the front and vice-vesra and without the specs, can't see anything but blur

Having a few spare scopes I decided to put one on my BSA Super Meteor for indoor plinking on days like today when it's clear and sunny but blowing a bloody gale.
One of the scopes came with dovetail mounts but they're alloy and when I tried to tighten them they popped out of the grooves and chipped the sharp edges off them.

I've just done some googling for a steel set but the prices seem a bit silly, as in ~$90 delivered.

Does anyone use them or have any suggestions?

I've had a look at the grooves on the rifle with a loupe and they look ok but I can't rule them out as part of the problem.

[bladeracer]

I'm wearing multi-focals these days which means open sights are totally useless to me.
I can focus on the rear sight and can't see the front and vice-vesra and without the specs, can't see anything but blur

Having a few spare scopes I decided to put one on my BSA Super Meteor for indoor plinking on days like today when it's clear and sunny but blowing a bloody gale.
One of the scopes came with dovetail mounts but they're alloy and when I tried to tighten them they popped out of the grooves and chipped the sharp edges off them.

I've just done some googling for a steel set but the prices seem a bit silly, as in ~$90 delivered.

Does anyone use them or have any suggestions?

I've had a look at the grooves on the rifle with a loupe and they look ok but I can't rule them out as part of the problem.

All of my rings are aluminium, except two steel Lynx one-piece mounts that came on Swede Mausers.
I think the biggest issue with dovetail mounts is many of them are not cut high enough to reach over the curve of the receiver. If that's the case get a round file and file out the middle until they fit when seated on the bottom surfaces of the dove-tail.

[Lazarus]

All of my rings are aluminium, except two steel Lynx one-piece mounts that came on Swede Mausers.
I think the biggest issue with dovetail mounts is many of them are not cut high enough to reach over the curve of the receiver. If that's the case get a round file and file out the middle until they fit when seated on the bottom surfaces of the dove-tail.

Thanks Blade, I never even considered looking at that

[Lazarus]

Unfortunately that's not the problem, there's 3mm of clearance.

[bladeracer]

Unfortunately that's not the problem, there's 3mm of clearance.

I can't visualise what the issue could be then, sorry.
Can you post pics of the dove tail and the jaws of the rings?

[NTSOG]

G'day Lazarus,

Is this an accurate picture of your BSA air gun looking down at the dovetails?

https://www.vintageairgunsgallery.com/i ... 38e3e6.jpg

Or is it this model which has longer dovetails:

https://www.vintageairgunsgallery.com/i ... 646e89.jpg

I haven't handled any BSA air guns but I wonder if there were special mounts made just to fit for some [early?] BSA models? On my various air rifles I mostly use BKL but also some Sportsmatch rings on the rifles of lower power. As the BSA is a UK air gun I wonder if Sportsmatch makes [or made] a set of rings to fit the two-section dovetail being a British company. On the other hand a BKL mount might fit and 'stick' in position if your rifle has extended dovetails. Spring air rifles are great for destroying scopes and dislodging them from where they have been mounted. That's why I use the BKL mount [below] on my springers. They don't move even on my air rifles shooting close to 20 ft.pds.

https://www.bkltech.com/v/vspfiles/photos/BKL-460-2.jpg

Jim

[Lazarus]

G'day Jim

Thanks for that input, the second pic is the one.

I know what you mean about springers, this one has destroyed 2 old fashioned 4x25 cheapos many years ago and has as you say, flung them off, so I went back to the open sights.

I rarely use it now because of the multifocals except for the occasional rat.
I love the look of the mount you posted.
While I'm brain picking, do you have any suggestions on a scope choice, considering it will only get minimal use?

[Gamerancher]

You can get scopes designed for springer air rifles that can take the shock that's involved. Apart from mounts, springers will destroy the internals of a scope as well.

[NTSOG]

G'day Lazarus,

Choosing a scope for a springer is tricky as Gamerancher states: some years ago I mounted a Bushnell Banner scope on an old FWB 127 [.22] air rifle which was shooting at 650 fps only. The Banner scope was rated as safe for air rifles by Bushnell. It took only three shots for the scope's 'guts' to be destroyed. Have a look at Arctic Fox air rifle scopes. I have a couple and they are holding up well on big springer air rifles, e.g. HW 80 [.177] and HW 90 [.20].

https://arcticfoxoptics.com.au/product- ... le-scopes/

The BKL one piece ring mount is the best I know. It's self-centering and has 6 bolts which really do lock it in place. It costs a bit and you will need to check the width of the dovetail before buying one.

Jim

[Lazarus]

I've learned the hard way that "buy once, cry once" is the way to go with most things.

Bargain or budget is usually directly translatable to cheap and nasty or even fake.

A case in point, I've been looking for some new waterproof hunting/military boots and found a site calling itself Dannerbootsonline.
The prices were half what the Danner factory site advertises.
Turns out it's the Chinese, again, selling nothing and set up to harvest card numbers.

It's fair enough to have to find reviews of products, silly if you don't, but now we have to get reviews of the sellers as well

Thanks Jim, Gamerancher,

[northdude]

Hawke scopes if you have them over there are airgun rated and seem a good scope

[Lazarus]

G'day northdude

Love the Hawkes, I've got a 10-50×60 Sidewinder on my .223 and it's magic.

I looked at them 1st but $400 is a bit more than I'm looking to spend just for random wet day plinking, but I appreciate the input.

[northdude]

Nikko stirling are supposed to be airgun rated as well. Not sure which ones tho

[NTSOG]

G'day,

I had Hawke scopes on two powerful spring air guns and the reticles became unstable for want of a better term. That is, the reticles were in the correct place sort of, but seemed to move a bit. I junked both. Perhaps they're better now; that was a few years ago.

Jim

[Lazarus]

G'day,

I had Hawke scopes on two powerful spring air guns and the reticles became unstable for want of a better term. That is, the reticles were in the correct place sort of, but seemed to move a bit. I junked both. Perhaps they're better now; that was a few years ago.

Jim

I could be wrong here, but I think they all have etched reticles now.
My Sidewinder does and so does the Airmax range.

Am I correct in thinking that would eliminate any movement?

[Tiger650]

If you can find a Bushnell 4x12 Trophy it will make a good air rifle scope.
The BKL mount NTSOG posted is what you will need [not want] to keep a scope on a springer air rifle.

[Wm.Traynor]

FWIW,
I just looked at the Arctic Fox site and could see no mention of the word, "Warranty".

[Lazarus]

FWIW,
I just looked at the Arctic Fox site and could see no mention of the word, "Warranty".

https://arcticfoxoptics.com.au/product/ ... fle-scope/

[NTSOG]

Arctic Fox: "Limited Lifetime Warranty" - Does that mean the warranty expires when I drop dead?

So far my Arctic Fox scopes are 5 plus years old and are holding up as is a Leapers UTG Bugbuster scope on a very accurate Anschutz 335 low-power air rifle that I use to eliminate pest birds [swallows] in my big machinery shed. I get sick of the beggars pooping on my machinery and tools:

https://www.4komma5.de/media/image/prod ... ehen~2.jpg

The Bugbuster I have is illuminated which is a blessing in a very large shed with a high roof and poor lighting. I have a couple of Leapers scopes. They're pretty good.

Jim

[northdude]

what use is the warranty to you once your dead
got an arctic fox scope that came on a rifle I bought had never even heard of them before so thought this wont last long. 10 years later....

[NTSOG]

"what use is the warranty to you once your dead"

Stop being so sensible. Maybe I believe in reincarnation!

Arctic Fox scopes aren't flash, but I'm happy with mine.

Jim

[Wm.Traynor]

FWIW,
I just looked at the Arctic Fox site and could see no mention of the word, "Warranty".

https://arcticfoxoptics.com.au/product/ ... fle-scope/

Thank you Lazarus; I see it now under Description

[Billo]

Hey Lazarus Ive just gone thru my bag of spare rimfire rings and I found and old set of steel Redman rings which have a lovely sharp edge that should get a good bite on ur dovetail, send me a pm with ur address and Ill send em off tmw. They are of no use to me so they may as well go to a new home

[Lazarus]

Hey Lazarus Ive just gone thru my bag of spare rimfire rings and I found and old set of steel Redman rings which have a lovely sharp edge that should get a good bite on ur dovetail, send me a pm with ur address and Ill send em off tmw. They are of no use to me so they may as well go to a new home