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How To Build A Budget "Sniper" Rifle Part 6 - Optics (Mount and Scope)
The key feature of any given sniper rifle is its ability to place precision shots, sometimes over very long distances and optics certainly make that a lot easier. Powered optics allow a marksman to see much further, and they utilize a much more precise targeting system than tradition iron sights. This helps ensure that the package is delivered to its intended recipient as efficiently and accurately as possible.
There are two main types of scope mounts available for the Mosin-Nagant series, and each type has their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. The two types of systems are referred to as "traditional" and "scout-style" - and the main difference between the two can be summed up in two words - eye relief.
EYE RELIEF
As quoted from Wikipedia (at the time of this writing) - "The eye relief of a telescope, a microscope, or binoculars is the distance from the last surface of an eyepiece at which the eye can be placed to match the eyepiece exit pupil to the eye's entrance pupil. Short eye relief requires the observer to press his or her eye close to the eyepiece in order to see an unvignetted image. An exit pupil larger than the observer's pupil wastes some light, but allows for movement between eye and eyepiece without vignetting. Conversely, an exit pupil smaller than the eye's pupil results in a vignetted image. The optical designer must also consider that the pupil of the human eye varies in size with lighting conditions and the age of the observer."
In English, eye relief is the distance your eye must be away from the scope to get a full, clear image when you look through the lenses. If you're out of range (either too close or two far) the image gets harder to see. This is a function of the scope, not the mount - but the location of the mount is what determines what scope is used!!
TRADITIONAL MOUNTS AND OPTICS
A "traditional" style scope is what you see about 99.9% of the time on sniper rifles and hunting rifles in movies, video games, on television, in books.... in fact, when you think "sniper rifle" I can bet you that the image you have in your mind has a traditionally mounted scope with somewhat traditional eye relief.
Note the location of the scope in the image above and where it is mounted on the rifle. The scope is very close to the cheek weld and is located just over the top of the bolt handle. This is considered "traditional" eye relief, as the scope is very close to the face. This distance varies not by rifle, but by the scope you choose as each commercial scope has a different eye relief.
Most modern sniper rifles are chambered for .30 caliber and greater, are bolt action (though this is changing) and have at least a 4x scope. In history, sniper scopes were fixed power and were much lower powered - in fact, the scope that the PU sniper variation of the Mosin-Nagant was equipped with was only 3.5 power. Modern military sniper rifles are typically equipped with adjustable 4-10x or 3-9x scopes, and police sniper rifles tend to have much higher powered optics as precision is typically a greater concern.
SIDE NOTE: The Mosin-Nagant PU has a traditional scope, though it isn't mounted traditionally - it has a side mount - which in Russia is referred to as a "traditional" mount!! Don't get all of this confused!
MOSIN-NAGANT TRADITIONAL MOUNTS
There are two common traditional-style scope mounts available for the Mosin-Nagant series, but the most common one is the ATI scope mount (shown on the right and above). As all traditional style scopes, because of its location above the bolt, the bolt handle has to be altered to fit underneath the scope rail - but the one pictured on the right is part of the kit available from Advanced Technology.
At the time of this writing, this kit is available from the ATI website for approximately $55 (without shipping) and includes the scope rail, the bolt handle and the necessary installation hardware. Some drilling and tapping is required to install the mount - which may require that the rifle is taken to a gunsmith, you should be warned that this mount permanently alters the firearm. You will still have to purchase steel scope rings (aluminum will not hold up to the recoil of 7.62x54R for a lifetime) and a scope to complete this system.
To learn more, visit the ATI website, linked HERE.
The advantage of using the ATI mount is that you can use a traditional rifle scope, which tends to have a greater variety available and typically these scopes are much less expensive than the LER/IER scopes used by a scout scope. There is a plethora of different scopes available but a good budget option would be any of the BARSKA or Weaver brand scopes. These scopes tend to be relatively durable and have decent image resolution - and most of their models are available for around $100 though the Weavers tend to cost a bit more.
SCOUT STYLE MOUNTS AND OPTICS
Scout style optics are named as such because of Col. Jeff Cooper and his "Scout Rifle" concept - a rifle that can do it all. In fact, many people have converted the Mosin-Nagant into scout rifles as the scope mount is available for the rifle.
The primary advantage of the scout style mount is that it is a gunsmith-free installation, and is also not a permanent modification. Also, because the scope is mounted forward of the bolt, the bolt handle does not have to be bent - and the rifle can also still be fed ammunition via stripper clips, meaning that reloads can be executed more quickly!
There are also two different scout mounts available for the Mosin-Nagant but the type used most often is the one sold by S&K Mounts. It comes with rings, can be installed at home with hand tools and costs a little bit more than the ATI mount - but is a lot less work.
To learn more about this mount and to read a review for it, visit http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/skm44scopemount/index.asp for more information!
The downside of the scout style mount is that you must use "Long Eye Relief" optics for the scope mount, which tend to be of inferior quality when compared to traditional optics - though some bargains can be had. Make sure to do some research on the optics that you intend to purchase before committing, and sometimes it pays out to spend a little more on a better scope.
OPTICS AND INSTALLATION
Please note that I am not going into great detail about different scope choices out there. Frankly, there are too many different types of scopes for me to possibly tell you what would be the best scope to go with. Also, my experience is extremely limited with regards to optics as I'm mostly an iron-sights guy myself, though I do have some experience.
Unfortunately, because of the sheering power and recoil of the Mosin-Nagant, I've heard that some of the less expensive "budget" scopes have been completely destroyed by the recoil and shock inflicted by the rifle. I cannot validate this as I've personally never experienced it, seen it, or know someone who has experienced it first hand but please take this possibility into consideration.
For the most part, optics technology has increase to the point that most modern scopes (regardless of prices) are more durable than even the most expensive scopes available 30 years ago, but this doesn't mean that scopes don't wear out or break. My primary suggestion is to do as much research as possible on any scope you intend to purchase that you can before purchasing, and make sure to carefully study the warranty and return policy of your vendor carefully - just in case you get a dud.
For the same reasons I am not going into the instructions on how to do either install as well - I am not a gunsmith and I'm not a teacher, nor do I pretend to be. There are excellent articles on various websites on the net (surplusrifle.com is a great source) that go into detail about installation and would serve to teach you better than I possibly could. Besides, I can't be there to supervise your installation job. If you have a question, feel free to ask and I'll be more than willing to point you in the right direction!
There are two main types of scope mounts available for the Mosin-Nagant series, and each type has their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. The two types of systems are referred to as "traditional" and "scout-style" - and the main difference between the two can be summed up in two words - eye relief.
EYE RELIEF
As quoted from Wikipedia (at the time of this writing) - "The eye relief of a telescope, a microscope, or binoculars is the distance from the last surface of an eyepiece at which the eye can be placed to match the eyepiece exit pupil to the eye's entrance pupil. Short eye relief requires the observer to press his or her eye close to the eyepiece in order to see an unvignetted image. An exit pupil larger than the observer's pupil wastes some light, but allows for movement between eye and eyepiece without vignetting. Conversely, an exit pupil smaller than the eye's pupil results in a vignetted image. The optical designer must also consider that the pupil of the human eye varies in size with lighting conditions and the age of the observer."
In English, eye relief is the distance your eye must be away from the scope to get a full, clear image when you look through the lenses. If you're out of range (either too close or two far) the image gets harder to see. This is a function of the scope, not the mount - but the location of the mount is what determines what scope is used!!
TRADITIONAL MOUNTS AND OPTICSA "traditional" style scope is what you see about 99.9% of the time on sniper rifles and hunting rifles in movies, video games, on television, in books.... in fact, when you think "sniper rifle" I can bet you that the image you have in your mind has a traditionally mounted scope with somewhat traditional eye relief.
Note the location of the scope in the image above and where it is mounted on the rifle. The scope is very close to the cheek weld and is located just over the top of the bolt handle. This is considered "traditional" eye relief, as the scope is very close to the face. This distance varies not by rifle, but by the scope you choose as each commercial scope has a different eye relief.
Most modern sniper rifles are chambered for .30 caliber and greater, are bolt action (though this is changing) and have at least a 4x scope. In history, sniper scopes were fixed power and were much lower powered - in fact, the scope that the PU sniper variation of the Mosin-Nagant was equipped with was only 3.5 power. Modern military sniper rifles are typically equipped with adjustable 4-10x or 3-9x scopes, and police sniper rifles tend to have much higher powered optics as precision is typically a greater concern.
SIDE NOTE: The Mosin-Nagant PU has a traditional scope, though it isn't mounted traditionally - it has a side mount - which in Russia is referred to as a "traditional" mount!! Don't get all of this confused!
MOSIN-NAGANT TRADITIONAL MOUNTSThere are two common traditional-style scope mounts available for the Mosin-Nagant series, but the most common one is the ATI scope mount (shown on the right and above). As all traditional style scopes, because of its location above the bolt, the bolt handle has to be altered to fit underneath the scope rail - but the one pictured on the right is part of the kit available from Advanced Technology.
At the time of this writing, this kit is available from the ATI website for approximately $55 (without shipping) and includes the scope rail, the bolt handle and the necessary installation hardware. Some drilling and tapping is required to install the mount - which may require that the rifle is taken to a gunsmith, you should be warned that this mount permanently alters the firearm. You will still have to purchase steel scope rings (aluminum will not hold up to the recoil of 7.62x54R for a lifetime) and a scope to complete this system.
To learn more, visit the ATI website, linked HERE.
The advantage of using the ATI mount is that you can use a traditional rifle scope, which tends to have a greater variety available and typically these scopes are much less expensive than the LER/IER scopes used by a scout scope. There is a plethora of different scopes available but a good budget option would be any of the BARSKA or Weaver brand scopes. These scopes tend to be relatively durable and have decent image resolution - and most of their models are available for around $100 though the Weavers tend to cost a bit more.
SCOUT STYLE MOUNTS AND OPTICS
Scout style optics are named as such because of Col. Jeff Cooper and his "Scout Rifle" concept - a rifle that can do it all. In fact, many people have converted the Mosin-Nagant into scout rifles as the scope mount is available for the rifle.The primary advantage of the scout style mount is that it is a gunsmith-free installation, and is also not a permanent modification. Also, because the scope is mounted forward of the bolt, the bolt handle does not have to be bent - and the rifle can also still be fed ammunition via stripper clips, meaning that reloads can be executed more quickly!
There are also two different scout mounts available for the Mosin-Nagant but the type used most often is the one sold by S&K Mounts. It comes with rings, can be installed at home with hand tools and costs a little bit more than the ATI mount - but is a lot less work.
To learn more about this mount and to read a review for it, visit http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/skm44scopemount/index.asp for more information!
The downside of the scout style mount is that you must use "Long Eye Relief" optics for the scope mount, which tend to be of inferior quality when compared to traditional optics - though some bargains can be had. Make sure to do some research on the optics that you intend to purchase before committing, and sometimes it pays out to spend a little more on a better scope.
OPTICS AND INSTALLATION
Please note that I am not going into great detail about different scope choices out there. Frankly, there are too many different types of scopes for me to possibly tell you what would be the best scope to go with. Also, my experience is extremely limited with regards to optics as I'm mostly an iron-sights guy myself, though I do have some experience.
Unfortunately, because of the sheering power and recoil of the Mosin-Nagant, I've heard that some of the less expensive "budget" scopes have been completely destroyed by the recoil and shock inflicted by the rifle. I cannot validate this as I've personally never experienced it, seen it, or know someone who has experienced it first hand but please take this possibility into consideration.
For the most part, optics technology has increase to the point that most modern scopes (regardless of prices) are more durable than even the most expensive scopes available 30 years ago, but this doesn't mean that scopes don't wear out or break. My primary suggestion is to do as much research as possible on any scope you intend to purchase that you can before purchasing, and make sure to carefully study the warranty and return policy of your vendor carefully - just in case you get a dud.
For the same reasons I am not going into the instructions on how to do either install as well - I am not a gunsmith and I'm not a teacher, nor do I pretend to be. There are excellent articles on various websites on the net (surplusrifle.com is a great source) that go into detail about installation and would serve to teach you better than I possibly could. Besides, I can't be there to supervise your installation job. If you have a question, feel free to ask and I'll be more than willing to point you in the right direction!
 LJ26's Weapons and Practical Skills Corner by (LJ126) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. Based on a work at www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com. |
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Latest page update: made by LJ126
, Feb 5 2011, 2:49 PM EST
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| byates | For an original style side mount | 1 | Apr 19 2009, 8:11 PM EDT by Littlejon126 | ||
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Thread started: Apr 18 2009, 4:01 PM EDT
Watch
http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/default.aspx
They even have some that will accept Weaver style rings. |
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