Win 94 project question

[handirifle]

When I inherited my 94 BB, 375 from my father, he had a red dot scope on it, mounted on a side mount designed for the '94. I have pics and will post in a second, but for now, it's not mounted on the rifle.

Being that it's designed for a RH shooter, and I'm a leftie, it doesn't work for me. It doesn't mount over the center, but rather off center to the left side of the receiver, when looking from the butt end, and I would have to lay my face way over the stock, not good.

I do want to re-mount it but more in the fashion of a scout mount. here's my thought, looking for ideas.


It would be easier to imagine if it were mounted, but I'll try. This pic shows how it would look mounted on the left side of the receiver (ALL references will be from butt end). The hole in the center, is for the extended lever stop screw (I think that's the name). There's two holes in the rear that are used as well. These mount this bracket to the receiver. You can almost see one of the other mount holes at the far right edge.

This pic



Shows the bottom of the bracket that mounts to the receiver. The rings are seperate and mount to the base through the 3 holes you see along the bottom edge.

Now, my idea! I want to mount the base, to the receiver. When mounted (stay with me) the two holes in the left end of the base, extend forward of the receiver, around the side of the forend about one inch. This places it partly beside the front receiver ring and forward of it as well, and about 3/4" from the top of the barrel.

What I want to do, is mount the side bracket, and make an "L" shaped bracket that mounts to the top of the bracket and attached by the two holes you see. The "L" part, will go up and over the barrel, right in front of the receiver. The rear ring will mount to the "L" bracket, hopefully aligning it centered over the barrel. The front ring will be modified or replaced. It will mount to a dovetail insert in the rear sight dovetail. This insert will be drilled and tapped for this ring. So that is one hole in the front, and two in the rear.

No scope base needed in this scenario. The front ring aligns almost perfectly with the dovetail insert. I want to do it this way for a number of reasons, first I want no new holes in the rifle, second it keeps the sight plane down very low this way for an easy eye alignment, and good cheek weld.

Ideas, suggestions, thoughts?

[Griff]

handirifle,

I don't recall if this rifle was an Angle Eject or top eject BB375. If an AE, or even a TE, I'd consider doin' a "scout" mount forward of the ejection port vs. doing a mount on the right side of the receiver. Not sure how long the eye relief is on your red dot scope, but... that seems to be the best option for ensuring there's no interference with the ejection of empties.

I believe that using the rear sight dovetail for the forward portion of the mount, drilling and tapping the top strap of the receiver above the barrel for the rear mount. That would put the centerline of the scope closer and directly over the centerline of the bore. Yes, it would preclude the use of irons, but...

[handirifle]

griff
That was in the plan, as a scout setup, I mentioned that early on but you may have missed it.

It is a top eject, and this setup will put the entire sight ahead of the receiver, out of the way of ejection.

Eye relief is unlimited on this scope.

There's be no iron sigh back up on this, unfortunately.

[Pete44ru]

[There's be no iron sigh back up on this, unfortunately.]

I know you want no more holes in the rifle, but if you use the original, short, LeverScout mount (not the newer extended version), and use plain-ole Weaver rings on the red dot (the XS LeverScout rail is a Weaver rail), you can have your cake & eat it too.

The XS mount's front end uses a dovetail adaptor to anchor it in the barrel dovetail, and 2 holes need to be D/T inline with the bore atop the front receiver ring for the rear of the XS mount - BUT that will allow you to use both the red dot and an XS clip-on peep sight that goes in place of the red dot when wanted.

[gtaylor]

Handirifle-

We've always had a scoped 94 or two around (Grandad's eyes went at about 50), and I grew up learning to shoot them "canted" so that the scope was directly above the bore. I shoot right and left handed, and actually find left handed to be more comfortable, and solider, with this setup. On a side note, a K2.5 on his old 25-35 left the irons available as well, as does a J4 on the 30-30.

Now, to your project. I am going to try to paraphrase a bit, in hopes of either clarification or muddying!

The side mount will be "spun", so that it will be secured to the rifle by the "extended lever stop screw" only, and the two holes that previously held the mount to the receiver site will be used for the L bracket, which will hold the "back ring" (is that correct nomenclature for the ring closest to the shooter?) The "front ring" will be completely independent of this setup, mounted in the rear sight dovetail.

If my understanding is correct, my only caveat would be that the "extended lever stop screw" will be carrying quite a load, especially in your 375. I had a aluminum sidemount (ebay special) on an Ackley that I couldn't get tight enough to stand that recoil.

Good Luck!

[handirifle]

Handirifle-

We've always had a scoped 94 or two around (Grandad's eyes went at about 50), and I grew up learning to shoot them "canted" so that the scope was directly above the bore. I shoot right and left handed, and actually find left handed to be more comfortable, and solider, with this setup. On a side note, a K2.5 on his old 25-35 left the irons available as well, as does a J4 on the 30-30.

Now, to your project. I am going to try to paraphrase a bit, in hopes of either clarification or muddying!

The side mount will be "spun", so that it will be secured to the rifle by the "extended lever stop screw" only, and the two holes that previously held the mount to the receiver site will be used for the L bracket, which will hold the "back ring" (is that correct nomenclature for the ring closest to the shooter?) The "front ring" will be completely independent of this setup, mounted in the rear sight dovetail.

If my understanding is correct, my only caveat would be that the "extended lever stop screw" will be carrying quite a load, especially in your 375. I had a aluminum sidemount (ebay special) on an Ackley that I couldn't get tight enough to stand that recoil.

Good Luck!

Yea you almost got it right, but if you look at the text in between the two pics you'll see this "There's two holes in the rear that are used as well. These mount this bracket to the receiver. You can almost see one of the other mount holes at the far right edge."

They, combined with the extended stop screw, will be enough. I think. This red dot doesn't weigh much.


Pete44ru
I have wrestled with this for a LONG time, trust me. The two holes are 1,000% easier, but I'm going to give this a try first, and if it doesn't work out, then I'll D&T for sure. The short scout setup is cleaner looking too.

[Griff]

Ah, therein lies my problem, I was trying to visualize the mount on the RIGHT side of the receiver. Pete's description of what I was thinking of was dead on, my communication skills failed me.

[gtaylor]

I think I got it now, the mount will not be spun, but mounted as originally designed, with all three screws. The change comes about in that you will only use the old front ring mounting holes to be the new back ring mounting holes, and the rear sight dovetail will become the new front ring connection point.

Fabrication of the "L" bracket may be cut and fit, as will the dovetail front ring, but it seems workable.

[handirifle]

I think I got it now, the mount will not be spun, but mounted as originally designed, with all three screws. The change comes about in that you will only use the old front ring mounting holes to be the new back ring mounting holes, and the rear sight dovetail will become the new front ring connection point.

Fabrication of the "L" bracket may be cut and fit, as will the dovetail front ring, but it seems workable.

You nailed it. I think this setup will allow me to set the red dot scope lower than a conventional scout mount.