GTA

General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => The Shop => : March 13, 2008, 02:43:19 AM

: scope mounts
: March 13, 2008, 02:43:19 AM
I am thinking of making my own scope mounts to adapt my crosman scope to my gamo whisper. I am doing this because I want to drop the scope lower (remove that riser thing) and I like the crosman scope more......just a personal preference I think. I also like the idea of being able to switch scopes if I like.

I have been a machinist for 14+ years now, so I have all the ability, I just wanted to know if anyone else has done something similar and if there is anything I should watch out for.

I will probably make them out of aluminum.

anyone have some input on this?

-Mark
: RE: scope mounts
: Splash March 13, 2008, 02:48:39 AM


Mark, under the riser should be a set of doves, just remove the riser and mount the scope.



Mike

: Re: scope mounts
: March 13, 2008, 03:13:01 AM
I removed the aluminum riser from my Whisper just last week.  I think this is crucial for a sure fit that will not let the scope stray.  The aluminum riser's scope stop hole was already egg shaped.  Proof the scope was slowly creeping backwards.  Without the riser my Centerpoint 4-16X40 scope sits very close, almost touching the action but still very usable.
: Re: scope mounts
: March 13, 2008, 04:34:05 AM
I would just remove the riser, but as I said I want to use my crosman scope on the whisper, I don't like the gamo scope.

I want to switch scopes, and they are different mounts, one is 9mm and the other is 11 I beleive.

Basically I am doing it just because I can, I have the means and ability to make something for it on my own. Also I'd like to see just how far I can safely get it down.

edit: I should have also said, the main reason for this is to drop it as far as possible and not touch anything. I know I can probably just go buy the mounts that will adapt one to the other, but they seem to have a generic larger distance (center of scope to top of dovetail) so they can be used with some interchangability between brands. I want to see how much lower I can get it.

edit again: also forgot to say the scopes are different diameters where the mounts attach, so I can't just switch the scopes and leave the mounts there.

: Re: scope mounts
: March 13, 2008, 06:27:21 AM
Just my opinion, you're going through more work that it's worth.  I think you'd be better off with a new scope and mount that is 11mm than to hack the receiver of your gun.  Suppose something goes wrong with the gun and Gamo "Would Have" fixed it.  Machinist or not, they will dis-own you if you mill down the receiver.  The amount of time spent doing this change is money to some.  My time is more valuable than a good scope and mount costs.  Again, just my opinion.
: Re: scope mounts
: March 13, 2008, 07:04:56 AM
I agree with that, but I am not machining anything on the rifle, or any of the original mounts.

I am making my own NEW mounts, just with my own specs on height.

-Mark
: just to clarify....
: March 13, 2008, 07:17:00 AM
I believe what I have been writing is being misunderstood.

I am planning on making new scope mounts for the rifle to attach a crosman scope to a whisper.

as I said, I am removing the lower existing part of the gamo mount, and not using the circular parts. past that nothing is being touched on the rifle.

the crosman and gamo scopes are different diameters where the circular parts of the mounts mate. they are also different heights center to center.

what I am machining out of a new chunk of aluminum is two new circular mounts that will fit the crosman diameter and the whisper's dovetail, and be lower in height than both of the stock configurations.

right now to sight anything in I need to rest my cheek much higher than I want to, and I don't care for the gamo scope, so I wanted to make something for myself.

-Mark
: Re: scope mounts
: March 13, 2008, 01:07:31 PM
I am not sure what you mean by "nail them together". its not really that complicated, I was going to use allen bolts to secure (clamp down) the scope just like everything else has.

I was thinking of machining each part out of .5" aluminum.

like with any scope you need two of them to mount it to the rifle, the custom ones I will make will have the ID of the crosman scope and the adapter to fit the dovetail of the whisper, just they will be closer together to drop the scope to the height that I like.

-Mark
: RE: scope mounts
: Splash March 13, 2008, 02:06:52 PM


$15 you can buy a Accushot 1pc low mount and save alot of work, but more power to you. Let us know how it works out.



Mike



: RE: scope mounts
: Machinist March 13, 2008, 07:10:37 PM


Go For it!



The learning experience will be invaluable. I don't know what grades of aluminum you have access to, but would suggest using a decent grade like 6061 although if it were me, I would not rule out steel. It might be easier to make your mount in the double ring with single base style, that way you only have to set-up once to make your scope dia. line bore. Would also suggest setting/creating the scope ring split line first (after your stock is all squared up of course), drill & tap through the cap plate(stock for rings upper half) then do the screw clearance hole (screw nominal dia.) and then c'bore for SHCS. Don't forget to use a c'bore with an on-size pilot(500 series) rather than one with the 1/32" over pilot(300 series). Also might consider ring width great enough for 4 screws per ring.
If You Are Satisfied - That's What Counts!



Let us know how you come out.

: Re: scope mounts
: Dave CAG March 13, 2008, 08:02:09 PM
 

Hi Mark

I agree with the Machinist Go For it!

You might come up with some thing new or better then what is out there you never know
look at BKL Technologies!! Let us know how it works out.




Dave CAG

L.I.F.T. : Long Island Field Target
Web site: Cobra Air Guns
http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/ (http://"http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/)


Each Air Gun should have a purposes it is not all about velocity or power its
about walking away after a day of shooting,Smiling looking down and saying
"God I Love this rifle"



(http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/images2/cobra-airguns-logo.jpg) (http://"http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/)




: Re: scope mounts
: March 13, 2008, 11:24:36 PM
thanks eveybody!

note to machinist: thats what I was thinking of doing. I like the 6061 grade aluminum too, I used that allot in waterjet. The place where I am now doesn't have the right stuff for cutting steel, so I'll have to go aluminum. I work at a plastics company.

I am looking forward to just trying it out for fun. I know I can just go buy a set probably, but I would probably still want it lower.....

.....and I really need a project to keep me busy until I can go fishing again! waiting for open water every year makes you nuts and I need something to keep me out of trouble.

-Mark
: Re: scope mounts
: March 15, 2008, 01:28:43 PM
very correct!
: question: 1 or 2 piece?
: March 17, 2008, 04:32:28 AM
what is the going theory on preference of 1 versus 2 piece units?

which do you prefer and why?

-Mark
: RE: question: 1 or 2 piece?
: March 17, 2008, 06:07:20 AM
For springers, most prefer 1 piece, since the clamping surface is then larger, hopefully allowing a better grip.  2 piece gives more mount flexibility (some small scopes only work with 2 piece mounts it seems).  2 piece is drastically cheaper (much easier to manufacture) in most cases.

J
: Re: scope mounts
: Machinist March 17, 2008, 07:08:52 AM
Mark:
Jason makes an excellent point about small scopes sometimes requiring 2 pc. mounts. Small scopes also have less mass to control during a spring gun firing cycle.
My preference for 1 piece double ring mounts, when applicable, on "full-size" scopes is based on three things: Rigidity, alignment and friction.
Rigidity and ring alignment are pretty obvious. Friction? With the much longer base of the 1 pc. mount, there can be 4 to 6 times more contact area with a rifle's mount rail or dovetail. More contact equals more friction. Thus, with with equal or less clamping pressure (in theory) the mount would have an improved "grip" on the rail or dovetail thereby reducing the probability of "scope walk" during a springers firing cycle.
Example: Point the handle of a 10" cast iron skillet at the ceiling, then wrap just your thumb and index finger around the handle and shake hard. Now do the same thing wrapping all you fingers around the handle and shake hard.
I hope you don't have to explain a dent in floor to your wife after that first try!