(Disclaimer, my internet went out when I started this, and without the net up I had time on my hands. Lookout, as the kids say this could become a chapter book)First I must eat a little crow. In an earlier post I stated that:
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I rather doubt if I will buy another scope over 40MM again. I prefer 38MM to 40MM on a 9 or ten power scope.Here is a good example of a 44MM objective mounted on a rifle using a medium height rings. The design of the receiver and the base mount in this case allows the scope to clear the barrel and provides a low mount. Bottom scope is a 2x10-44MM.
Here is another bird on the plate, crow is a little chewy.
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If I was taller and had a very long neck I might like taller mounts.
This top rifle was my Dad’s deer rifle. I made three changes to it, installed a recoil pad, replaced the scope, and handloaded the ammunition.
I was looking at this old 722 the other day after reading Charles p post and was thinking I need to buy another pair of the medium or low mounts for the scope. But after handling the rifle and memory kicking into gear I remember why it has high mounts. If you look at the picture the rifle has the old style stock designed around low iron sights. The stock has a very low comb. In this case the scope comes up before my eye. I recall with a different scope the rifle had low mounts on it. The rifle has large front sights that use to show up in the scope, frankly it bugged me. That is not an issue now. Dad had removed the front sight from the ramp, but I put it back in along with a folding Lyman rear sight. I like have the iron sights as backup.
For the hundredth time I must post the picture of the mule deer I killed on the run with Dad’s rifle. It is hard to beat success.
The difference in build and style make a big difference when it comes to fit. The real game changer in the U.S. after WWII was the availability of rifle scopes at a price within reach of the common man.
Compare the drop in two of my rifles the M760 and the M700. The M760 by serial number was manufactured in 1954 and must have set in a warehouse unit it was retailed by Monkey Wards in 1957. If you look at the picture of the rifle you will see the stock has a lot of drop, it was designed for iron sights. In fact the stock had enough drop to be a duck gun. (Picture in earlier post.)
There was a lot of discussion between my Dad, and his hunting buddies when I decided I wanted to put a scope on it. Even the local mechanic got in on the discussion. Nice guy but not very credible when it came to deer hunting. Had himself a 30-06 but it never got out of the house. He just set around and offered a lot of opinions.
So while the elders set around like a bunch of ducks on a pond discussing my rifle I went to work haying. A few weeks before deer season I caught a ride to town with my rifle and went into a local gunshop. I had a recoil pad installed, purchased a Japanese parallax special 4x scope, base mount and rings.
My Dad and the rest of the Ducks check it out and said it was okay.
Filling both my deer tags helped out.
During the winter with everybody gather around the oil stove at the local garage the mechanic was giving his opinion and demonstrating how to properly shoulder a rifle using a ghost gun, but we knew what he was communicating. One of the problems was his build. He stood about 6’4” and he was close to three hundred pounds. I was a skinny 5’8 teenage boy who on a good day came in around 130 pounds.
I am sure that coming up with a stock that fit both of us challenged manufactures. I know that Remington changed the stock on the M760 and in a few years Remington offered a couple different grades or stocks. Looking at an old Gun Digest Remington offered a “General Purpose” stock in the 1975 Edition which could be used with iron sights or a scope. Along with the general purpose stock came a new iron sight that was not in a dovetail on a ramp.
Remington actually change or offered a different 760 much earlier. Number 2 brother got his Remington M760 in 270 Winchester four or five years after I got mine. His had a “high cheek” stock which was much better to scope use. Admittedly I was jealous, his rifle fit better, and it was nicer looking.
I am sure few of you have noticed “most” women are built smaller then us guys. There are extremes with some being very tall or others petite, and those in-between. The standard issue Remington 870 beat them up real bad. In the LEO world the standard length stock was normally too long and rather than getting the stock to the shoulder it would stop on the bicep.
Sometimes a positive attitude can overcome a stock that does not fit. I got my first hunting license when I was ten years old. To young by law to buy deer tags, but doves were legal. I took advantage of dove season because there was large population. The only shotgun in the house was a double barrel 12 belonging to Dad.
I did not have many birds for my first box of shells and I do not recall a lot of coaching on proper form. I had a lot of coaching regarding safe gun handling.
Monday morning I was showing off a large, deep purple bruise on my right bicep to my to my school mates. The stock on the shotgun was too long for me and I was resting it on my bicep when it came time to fire at a dove.
On the qualification range I was watching the form of some of the women shooters. Not only were they stopping short bring the shotgun up to firing position but they were sporting bruised biceps.
Getting the stock shorten to fit a couple of the female officers was easy, and the shorter stock and new recoil pad was welcome. These officers quickly became very good with rifle slugs and buckshot. Low Recoil rounds need not apply.
Before I had my own deer rifle I hunted with a barrowed Savage 99A in 303 Savage caliber. The stock had a serious amount of drop in it. It was designed to work with the full buckhorn sights on the barrel. The drop in the stock kind of reminds me of the I like staring at the CZ rifles, but I prefer the American models.
http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-med-lux/The scope on the Remington 788 is the Simmons 2X10-44 that is part of the scope switching test.
I compared the latest Trophy with the Elite 3200 and the 3200 looked like a better scope. I did this at a shop the has a stock that different scopes can be inserted. The 3200 cost a little more but after taking it the to range I am convinced I took the right step.
