Scout scopes and eye relief

[PawPaw]

Okay, guys.  Help me work through this mentally.

I'm thinking about putting a scout scope on my .30-30 Handi, probably a Burris Scout scope. 

I don't want to mount the scope out over the forearm, but have the eyepiece of the scope just marginally forward of the breech.  I just had my wife measure the distance from my eye to the breech and she came up with 7.5 inches while the scope rifle is normally shouldered.  The specs on the Burris scout say that the eye relief is 8.5-14 inches, so I could mount it an inch or so forward of the breech and still have a light, handy rifle with the scope mounted low over the bore.

I'm sure I'm not the first guy to think about this.  What has the accumulated congregation learned about such an arrangement?

Thanks in advance.

[PowPow]

You know the saying "a good question is one I have an answer for; a great question is one I have a slide for".
Quick posted a photo somewhere else where he did exactly what you are saying.

You probably want to use that long Weaver rail.

[trotterlg]

NC star makes a 3-9 "pistol" scope that has about 7 inches of eye relief that may work out about right.  Shotgun scopes usually clock in at about 5 inches.  Larry

[woodchukhntr]

I haven't tried that, but I have mounted a pistol scope over the forend, using the rear sight base screw holes.  I like the way that the gun can be carried at the point of balance without having to wrap my hand over the scope.

[quickdtoo]

There are two links in the FAQs on scout mounts, one with links to previous discussions on them, what you're thinking of is sort of a modified scout mount, there are a couple pics of that in one of those links also. Someone recently did something similar using an extended ring on the front of a standard length base, the other option is to buy, beg, borrow or steal one of the discontinued Ultra rails which is an inch longer than a standard base.

Tim

[Gallahad]

I have done 3 setups with weaver 82 mounts, weaver quadlock rings with 1 front extension ring and nc star pistol scopes. has worked very well. recently set up a leupold scout scope the same way. 8" eye relief for me. worked great, but I just had to try peeps. never used em before, and figure it's time to go iron sights for a hunting season. Its been @ five years or so, and I'm getting bored showing up everybody at deer camp.    coincidentally, The leupold scope is for sale. 8" long and 8-14" eye relief.

[wreckhog]

If you only use one ring, you can mount the scope pretty far forward. Perfectly adequate for a low recoil plinker IMHO. Plus you get the weight reduction from 1 ring, low ring, no hammer extension, non monte carlo stock, etc.

[canon6]

My solution to the situation.Weaver 82, new slots cut and a 2 1/2 power shotgun scope.  hth  Doug

[PawPaw]

but I just had to try peeps. never used em before, and figure it's time to go iron sights for a hunting season. Its been @ five years or so, and I'm getting bored showing up everybody at deer camp.    coincidentally, The leupold scope is for sale. 8" long and 8-14" eye relief.

I've got Weaver peeps on both my Win 94s.  And I've got a peep on my Handi 45-70.  Great sights.  You'll like them.

[zoner]

FYI i have two handi rifles set up just like Doug's(canon6).....2.5 Simmons shotgun scope, weaver 82(modified). The rear of the scope is forward of the hammer. You don't need a hammer extension and you can see thru and around the scope at the same time, and the scope is short and light...Mike

[gcrank1]

With that Weaver 82 and the weight cantilevered 'away on out there' do you need anything to provide support or up pressure to keep from flexing (bigger kickers, of course)?

[canon6]

gcrank1,  I have had this setup on a 45-70 and never had any problems  .If you needed some support a single screw tapped ,like at least one of the old H&R  NEF scope bases, should suffice.   Doug

[petemi]

I did one with a .357 useing the rear sight holes and it worked fine........that is till the sun hit the horizon.  The little 4x32 didn't admit enough light for these old eyes to see anything so I took it off and put a red dot on it.

Pete

[spikehorn]

With that Weaver 82 and the weight cantilevered 'away on out there' do you need anything to provide support or up pressure to keep from flexing (bigger kickers, of course)?

I have a 45-70 set up this way wih a simmons pro diamond 4X32. I shoot hornady LE and have had no problems. I had to cut a new slot. The scope is mounted foward of the hammer but not the breach.

[kawie]

what are some good scopes that are in the 100-200 dollars range(200 tops) for this kind of mounting.whats the down side of using a pistol scope this way.
thanks
Kawie

[Winter Hawk]

'Bout 7 years ago I used Burris LU-Scout mount for the Remington 700 to mount a pistol scope on a .30-06 Handi.  It was up forward.  After putting the rings on the scope and fastening them to the mount, I held the rifle in shooting position with one hand, then moved the scope forward and back with the other until I had a good sight picture.  I marked the barrel where the mount was with white out, then had my local gunsmith drill & tap the barrel for the mount.  I have some photos somewhere (at work?) I can post later, if anyone's interested.  Foolishly I sold the rifle....

-Kees-

[gcrank1]

Go down to your 'local' big mane store and pick out a pistol, shotgun, and rifle scope of comparable power. They should have a 'try stock' to strap them to (or use one of their 'Handi's') and get a real sense of what you are thinking of. A lot will depend on how you hold the rifle too. Do you hunt from a bind or stand where it is more of a bench position, or stillhunt and take offhand shots? You head (eye) position will vary a good bit and might make the difference.
BTW, all the pistol scopes Ive looked thru (not many) I had to have out at a good arm extension length to view through.