High scope mount or monte carlo?

[hillsider69]

I am planning to get a new 260 deer rifle and I have a problem. My neck is not what it should be due to falling off too many horses and as a result it is a real pain for me to use a "straight" stock. At the moment I have a Tikka 22-250 wit a monte carlo stock that gives 1 1/2 inch drop from the bore line to the top of the rubber pad at the end of the stock. The stock is 14 1/2 inchs from trigger to end and yes I have forgotten to measure the hight of the scope line, which is a 50mm vx 2 lupold set as low as it can be.
With this set up I can just cope as long as I am not plonking off lots of shots. I use this as my main deer control tool here in Scotland.
Folks say that I could get a raised scope mount and it would be better than "dropping the stock" as with a monte carlo as that clearly leads to vertical movement. I had a raised scope mount on my last 243 and had a devil of a job keeping in place so wonder if that was just me and the mounts or a common problem.

My new rifle will be down the custom route as I need it to be really accurate for long range roe shooting.
Any ideas of pros and cons of high mounts and stock types? I have wondered about a thumbhole stock (quite liked one I tried). Maybe a high scope mount to reduce the neck twisting and a lifting support on the stock like the Mc Millan tactical.

Again, any ideas please.


Have a good new year folks.

[Mikey]

Try the higher scope mounts first to try and minimize your neck movement.  Therre are different heights you can obtain and you may need to go through a set or two before you find the right ones for you, your neck and the stock the Tikka carries.  Try just one thing first.  If I try to do more than one thing at the same time (ie., stock and mounts) I am more likely to screw something up than I am to correct a problem.  JMHO.  Mikey.

[hillsider69]

Thanks Mikey.
I know what you mean about not changing more than one thing at a time! Most things I try to draw, make good notes of or photograph before changing.
 In this case I can not do that as I have to deside on a new stock type from the start. A good part of me says well I can do it ok with the monte carlo on my tikka so just get the same for the new rifle. Other folks say that by design the stock drop below the line of fire on the monte carlo will always make the rifle kick a bit and so drop accuracy, where as the high scope mount would not... if can be made not to move!
  Most of my shooting is done from the sitting position, with a bipod; hardly ever from prone as it is just too painful. Last summer I went on a course and test at which I had to shot about 60 rounds prone. I had 4 trips to the chiropractor to get my neck right again. arrrrrrr!
The new rifle will have a sound moderator on it.
          Andy

[Mikey]

Hey Andy - man, if ya can't shoot prone then don't, period.  I don't know about added recoil due to the Monte Carlo stock design, all my rifles kick hard enough for me to notice regardless of design, so I use a PAST Recoil Shield - helps a whole bunch.  Sound Modulators or Suppressors add both weight and recoil absorbing qualities to a rifle and if legal in your area, one might help keep your recoil and attendant neck pain down.  Good luck for ya.  Mikey.

[hillsider69]

Sound Modulators
  In the Uk these are being addes to our certificates on health and safety grounds to stop us going deaf and they do back a big difference. I used a 5 1/2 lb 308 with and without one and with it on it was not much more kick than my 22-250.
As you sa, I think I'll go and try some high mounts and see what that does.

[Brithunter]

Hi hillsider,

      Hmmm I can understand the prone problem having neck problems myself after two lots of Whiplash injuries the last being March 28th 06 

     Now this is my Swedish Mauser 6.5x55 set up with high mounts and a 7x50A Meopta scope





     As you can see the mounts are quite high yet these steel mounts have yet to allow any movement of the scope. The mounts unfortunealty are Hilvers which unless your lucky and find soem old stock no longer made as such although mounts of the same design are made under the Lynx brand but as I hear the quality is not up to Hilvers  .

    Have you considered the Apel mounts? these are rock solid and come in dofferent ring heights and even the stabdard mounts and rings are not that low. As you can hopefully see in this photo which has Apel EAWswing mounts fitted to a S&B 6x42 scope:-



Apel also make a Roll off type of mount which is a little cheaper as seen here on a Parker-Hale 1100:-


These are 30mm rings holding a Tasco Titan 3-9x42 scope.

     I tend to shoot with an erect head position and just use a chin rest instead of a cheek weld. It might just help you but it would be best to find someone with a rifle so set up and see how it feels before committing to anything. Good luck with your search.

[Mikey]

Brithunter - beautiful Swede you have there.  Mikey.

[Brithunter]

Thank you,

      I do not know who did the sporterising job on it as I brought it already done except for the bolt handle which originally was just forged down. I cut it and had it re-welded for more clearence then after owning and shooting it for 2 years or so I got this bolt handle fitted which is much better. The stock took and awful lot of cleaning as it had soem black preservative on it  but once I got that off and applied an Oiled finish well you can see  One day I would like it re-blacked to a better finish as the barrel was very roughly polished by whoever did the job. perhaps one day I will get around to it 

     But hey it does not effect the way it shoots and if I do my part with a load it likes I have gotten groups of 1/2"-5/8" but it's usually around the MOA or slightly less and I have shot nemerous deer and a few foxes (RED) with it. Speer 120 Grn Spizer with H 4350 works well  .

[Mikey]

Hillsider - I just looked at my Swede and she also wears the high scope mounts.  I thought them necessary to both bring my eyeball to level with the scope and to clear the bolt.  Mikey.