dovetail scope mount
- Thread starter shms
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Some dovetail setups have a recoil stop for that exact purpose. Could make one by drill and tap a hole in base or ring into a divot into surface below/above?? Or, you might have incorrect width ring clamps for your dovetails?? - 11mm and 3/8" are not the same.
For clarity - your scope has inertia to stay still - the rifle underneath wants to buck rearward underneath it - effect is it looks like the scope went forward. The more I think about it, assuming that your rifle is a rimfire, the more likely the wrong size ring clamps - not much recoil from a rimfire. However, the Weaver T0-1 base uses "rimfire" sized clamp rings - on a No. 1 or No. 4 Lee Enfield usually in 303 British - you will see a "recoil stop" at very front of the dovetail - front ring is to be tight against that - scope will not move.
Ha! Thinking more - thought this was a simple thing - but now realizing there are many rifles with integral dovetails, of varying widths on the receiver, and in many cartridges - so if the above story did not solve the problem, might have to provide a bit more information about what rifle, what cartridge and what rings are you using?? Most all centerfire base and ring combinations that I am familiar with have some sort of recoil system - a screw head, a divot and stud, or a cross bar and slot. Is pretty much standard thing to push the ring's recoil contact forward, while snugging up the clamp. I do have some rimfire that rely only on the clamping force, though. And I presumed from your post that the rings are moving forward on the dovetail, not the scope moving forward within the rings.
For clarity - your scope has inertia to stay still - the rifle underneath wants to buck rearward underneath it - effect is it looks like the scope went forward. The more I think about it, assuming that your rifle is a rimfire, the more likely the wrong size ring clamps - not much recoil from a rimfire. However, the Weaver T0-1 base uses "rimfire" sized clamp rings - on a No. 1 or No. 4 Lee Enfield usually in 303 British - you will see a "recoil stop" at very front of the dovetail - front ring is to be tight against that - scope will not move.
Ha! Thinking more - thought this was a simple thing - but now realizing there are many rifles with integral dovetails, of varying widths on the receiver, and in many cartridges - so if the above story did not solve the problem, might have to provide a bit more information about what rifle, what cartridge and what rings are you using?? Most all centerfire base and ring combinations that I am familiar with have some sort of recoil system - a screw head, a divot and stud, or a cross bar and slot. Is pretty much standard thing to push the ring's recoil contact forward, while snugging up the clamp. I do have some rimfire that rely only on the clamping force, though. And I presumed from your post that the rings are moving forward on the dovetail, not the scope moving forward within the rings.
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There are different dovetail grooves and rings made for one or the other or for both. For example, on many North American rifles, the dovetails are 3/8". On European rifles they are 11mm. Some rings are made for one or the other. Some rings work with either.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - you probably want to measure your dovetail to know which size ring clamps it is that you want. A European 11mm dovetail will measure about 11mm across the flat top edges. A North American 3/8" dovetail measures 3/8" across the bottom - very tricky to measure - so top flat on North American is more or less 1/2" wide - say like 12.5mm or something like that. Side angles are different as well - the Euro ones typically 60 degrees; the North American ones typically 45 degrees. That side angle goes to whether the whole clamp face or just an edge of it grabs.
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What rifle (make and model) and rings (maker and model #) are you using?
A few facts removes guessing.
Having sold rings . . . the cheapest ones are not the best!
There were some European models of the CZ452 that switched between 3/8's and 11mm.
Correct m if I am wrong but there may have been a Burris ring mounts that could be reversed for the two widths.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
"Reversed for the two widths" - I do not know about Burris - the ones that I used on my CZ are Warne brand - flip the clamp one way or other for the different width / angle - apparently will work for both 11mm and 3/8" dovetails - has a mark on the clamp and instructions - have to open the card in back of the plastic holder - card opens like a pamphlet - instructions in there.
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savage 64 , weaver rings don't know if they were 11mm or 3/8 . I have installed some new ri gs that are definitely 3/8 so I will see how they work when I get a chance to shoot it.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - you might have "something" going on!! If you go to the Weaver website - https://www.weaveroptics.com/bases/.22-tip-off-adapter-bases/.22-tip-off-rings/bases/WV-49819.html - there is a link to "Instructions" - almost first line of the instructions says that Weaver tip-off rimfire rings are made for 3/8" dovetails only. The age of your rings and the age of this website might be the difference?? My thought would be that Weaver made rings for 3/8 dovetails, at all times - but with a lot of their production now in China, I guess most anything is possible. Let us know if the "other" brand of rings solved the problem??
As mentioned earlier, a recoil stop is always a possibility for you, to stop any rings from creeping forward.
As mentioned earlier, a recoil stop is always a possibility for you, to stop any rings from creeping forward.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - I just looked on Savage website - multiple versions of a Savage 64 - I think the 64F and 64G might have integral dovetails on the receiver - did not say so, and could not really tell from the pictures there. Most of the other models appear to use one piece or two piece bases attached to the receiver with screws. It had occurred to me that Savage might have had the Model 64 made somewhere other than North America - so would be possible that it actually has 11mm dovetails - but that information was not on that Savage website. You have your rifle in hand, so will be best positioned to figure out the issue. Good Luck!
yes this one has the dovetail in the receiver. I think some do come drilled and tapped.
ALBERTA BOY
Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
Fwiw I have a savage 64 with the warne rings on torqued to 35in lbs and absolutely no movement. Consider the warnes. They don’t move on any of my rifles and they’re affordable.
