Mauser M48 no-drill scout scope mount

[Ben]

Seems a bit fuzzy to me and there is zero adjustment on this scope, other than the reticle turrets,
no focus ring at all.

Bill,

I had two Leupold pistol scopes with no focus adjustment.
Sold them both because of that very reason.
Neither of them ever seemed perfectly clear, but there was no way to clear up the focus on the scope. I've never figured out why Leupold built those model scopes with no focus adjustment.
I want a focus adjustment.
After selling my Leupolds, I bought a 2X - 7X Vortex Scout Scope.
I'm very happy with it ! ! The image is crystal clear in this one.
The scope has a lifetime warranty.
I'm not going to say the Vortex is a better scope than the Leupold, but I'm definitely about 500% happier with the Vortex scope.
Here are a couple of pics of the Vortex on my 8X57 mm Scout Rifle.

Ben

 

[35 shooter]

Pistolero, Nice job on the removeable scope base...looks great. Looking forward to the range results.

I like what Ben came up with too and the way the scope wound up low when mounted, even though it's more of a permanent job.

I like the scout concept and think it has some advantages in the field over conventional scope mounting.
Interesting project for sure.

 

[KHornet]

A good thread with a lot of philosophy, as well as common sense approaches
to reality. Not that often seen in print!

Paul

 

[Pistolero]

I got to take this rig to the range today. Shot 4 shots at 25 yds to get it lined up well enough to move
to 50 yds, did a bit of windage adjustment at the rear of the mount. A few shots and a bit of adjustment at
50 and it was good for shooting at 100. At 100 we did about 4 shots before it was pretty much on. The ammo
being used wasn't the hunting load, so at that point I quit. It WILL zero at 100, easily, so time to take it all apart.
Make some drawings so I can reproduce it later, if I want to, and then put it together with Loctite. Next testing
will be with hunting ammo. This rifle is intended for hunting, so that will be the real test. Test ammo was some
old Russian 8x57 which had suddenly decided to have about 20% duds, shooting perfectly last time it was used
a couple years ago. Old ammo (born in 1953) DOES eventually go bad, especially foreign ammo, it would seem.
I have never seen US made ammo fail to function, including some 70-80 year old stuff.

Hunting ammo isn't even decided on yet.

Bill

 

[KHornet]

Have shot very little old foreign military rifle ctgs, but have shot more than a fair number of
US Mil that was in excess of 50 yrs without a misfire.

 

[Pistolero]

I think that the foreign priming compounds are not as stable over the long haul.
US priming technology seems to be particularly stable.

British seems to be especially prone to degradation. I have a case of Pakistani (uses
Brit tech) .303 that looks great, but about 25-30% dud, another 30-40% hangfires from just
barely enough to hear the firing pin click and then the immediate boom, say .1 sec
or even less, to maybe .5 sec sometimes. You can still shoot it, but you REALLY
need to focus on your follow-through. Actually, it is quite the PITA.

I pull down the duds to salvage the bullets but no idea if there is anything useful
that can be done with the cordite.

Bill

 

[KHornet]

Have a bunch of Brit 303 that is maybe 15 or so years old, loaded with soft
point. Maybe I should shoot it off to see if it should go bang. Tend to agree
with you on cordite. What would you do with the stuff.

Paul

 

[RBHarter]

Bonfire .....

I shot a small batch of LC 43 in 96 or 97 with no problems more recently I shot some 7x57 of 45 vintage and the 3rd hang fire in 3 rounds inspired me to not shoot any more of it . I think it was German I'll have to look again . I had no problems with a tiny lot of 60s x39 but that stuff isn't ready to bottle yet .

 

[Pistolero]

Yep. I wonder what the diff in priming tech was? Seems like US military ammo really got it right.
Never had any US milsurp ammo go bad. I shot a lot of 1902 headstamp 7x57 in the 60s and 70s,
all shot very well. REM UMC. Good ammo, 175 RN nickel jacketed FMJ bullets.

Bill

 

[Dick West]

Real nice, Bill.
I did a mount on my Yugo with the same principles. It's not as gorgeous as yours, but it works and didn't affect the rifle. I made it with hand tools and a U piece of aluminum—a D&T here, some Loctite there and voila! I'll post a photo when i get a chance.

BTW, I'm having great success in the M48 using the Lee 8x56 mold and sizing down with a hogged out Lee sizer to fit the bore.

LEE DC MOLD C329-205-1R

 

[Pistolero]

Thanks for the kind words, it is fun to have a milling machine and be able to make things.
This one will be probably all jbullets.

Bill

 

[Dick West]

As promised, here's my DIY attempt at a no-mar scope mount on my Yugo. It's a bit high, so I wrapped some foam onto the comb with an old elastic snow-boarding sock. Kinda works.

 

[Pistolero]

Looks like its solid, and no mods to the rifle, so if it holds zero, you are a winner.
Fun making your own stuff, too.

Bill