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| SHORT MALCOLM-STYLE SCOPE MOUNTING RAIL FOR BROWNING OR WINCHESTER BPCRs By Wayne McLerran |
Last update: 2/2/2011
If you’re like me and prefer to avoid having additional mounting holes drilled
and tapped in your rifle barrel, there’s an alternative solution when mounting a
short externally adjustable Malcolm-style scope on a Miroku manufactured
Browning or Winchester M1885 BPCR. Steve Earle, the well-known supplier
of scope blocks for externally adjustable scopes, is now offering a scope block
rail that will attach using the existing factory holes.
Steve can make the rails to fit either Unertl standard-style or Posa-style mounts.
Posa-style would be required if you plan to use the very nice extended range
mounts from D.Z. Arms. If you purchase the Leatherwood Malcolm scope and
mounts from Buffalo Arms, the mounts should be from D.Z. Arms, but confirm
that with Buffalo Arms. If you purchase the Leatherwood scope from another
supplier, the mounts may be the standard-type Leatherwood mounts which are
vastly inferior to the D.Z. Arms mounts.
The standard-style rail should also work with slightly modified Fecker mounts.
Steve noted that the inside dimensions of Fecker mounts, if unmodified, will be
a few thousands of an inch narrower. Prior to proceeding further I’d like to
make it clear that the mount spacing is fixed at 7.2” (standard spacing for a
short Unertl or similar style scope and mounts). Therefore the rail is only
intended for shorter scopes in the 18” to possibly 23” range. Hence, it would
not be a viable solution for mounting a scope to use for 800 to 1000 yd
Creedmoor ranges. The combination of the short scope length and the tilt
necessary for very long range shooting would result in the scope image being
partially or completely blocked by the muzzle end of the barrel.
The rail is 8-1/2” long and weighs approximately 5.5 oz with the four
installation screws. The section mounted above the barrel is 3/8” thick. It’s
constructed from mild steel and has a hot phosphoric black finish. When the
rail is mounted in place, the locking cut for the rear mount locking thumb screw
is located above the short front section of the receiver. The locking cut for the
front mount is 7.2” forward. Since Browning and Winchester BPCR receivers
and barrels are drilled and tapped prior to assembly, there can be slight
differences between the front and rear sets of factory holes. Therefore, Steve
will need the exact spacing on your rifle. He will also need the difference in
height between the top of the receiver and the top of the barrel in order to finish
machining the rail to custom fit your rifle. At the date of this writing the price
is $80.00 for the rail and screws, which includes shipping.
If your Browning or Winchester Miroku made M1885 High Wall is not the
BPCR model, but has the two sets of factory holes, Steve can very likely
customize the rail to fit your rifle. He can be reached at:
Steve Earle Products, Inc.
24 Palmer Rd., Plympton, MA 02367
Phone: (781) 585-3929
http://www.steveearleproducts.com/
Email: steven.m.earle@comcast.net
Wishing you great shooting
Wayne
If you’re like me and prefer to avoid having additional mounting holes drilled
and tapped in your rifle barrel, there’s an alternative solution when mounting a
short externally adjustable Malcolm-style scope on a Miroku manufactured
Browning or Winchester M1885 BPCR. Steve Earle, the well-known supplier
of scope blocks for externally adjustable scopes, is now offering a scope block
rail that will attach using the existing factory holes.
Steve can make the rails to fit either Unertl standard-style or Posa-style mounts.
Posa-style would be required if you plan to use the very nice extended range
mounts from D.Z. Arms. If you purchase the Leatherwood Malcolm scope and
mounts from Buffalo Arms, the mounts should be from D.Z. Arms, but confirm
that with Buffalo Arms. If you purchase the Leatherwood scope from another
supplier, the mounts may be the standard-type Leatherwood mounts which are
vastly inferior to the D.Z. Arms mounts.
The standard-style rail should also work with slightly modified Fecker mounts.
Steve noted that the inside dimensions of Fecker mounts, if unmodified, will be
a few thousands of an inch narrower. Prior to proceeding further I’d like to
make it clear that the mount spacing is fixed at 7.2” (standard spacing for a
short Unertl or similar style scope and mounts). Therefore the rail is only
intended for shorter scopes in the 18” to possibly 23” range. Hence, it would
not be a viable solution for mounting a scope to use for 800 to 1000 yd
Creedmoor ranges. The combination of the short scope length and the tilt
necessary for very long range shooting would result in the scope image being
partially or completely blocked by the muzzle end of the barrel.
The rail is 8-1/2” long and weighs approximately 5.5 oz with the four
installation screws. The section mounted above the barrel is 3/8” thick. It’s
constructed from mild steel and has a hot phosphoric black finish. When the
rail is mounted in place, the locking cut for the rear mount locking thumb screw
is located above the short front section of the receiver. The locking cut for the
front mount is 7.2” forward. Since Browning and Winchester BPCR receivers
and barrels are drilled and tapped prior to assembly, there can be slight
differences between the front and rear sets of factory holes. Therefore, Steve
will need the exact spacing on your rifle. He will also need the difference in
height between the top of the receiver and the top of the barrel in order to finish
machining the rail to custom fit your rifle. At the date of this writing the price
is $80.00 for the rail and screws, which includes shipping.
If your Browning or Winchester Miroku made M1885 High Wall is not the
BPCR model, but has the two sets of factory holes, Steve can very likely
customize the rail to fit your rifle. He can be reached at:
Steve Earle Products, Inc.
24 Palmer Rd., Plympton, MA 02367
Phone: (781) 585-3929
http://www.steveearleproducts.com/
Email: steven.m.earle@comcast.net
Wishing you great shooting
Wayne
