Scope Mounting in front of hammer

[SGD]

Have any of you mounted a scope just in front of the hammer?  If so what scopes?  I have a 45-70 that I wanted to mount a low power scope on and thought of a pistol scope or a scout type scope so that I can mount it low.  I measured from my eye to the hammer and it was about 6.5 inches.  The Burris scout scope has 8.5-14" of eye relief so I think it could be mounted on the factory scope base with out any eye relief problems.  I did check out the FAQs and saw some scopes but did see what worked best for mounting in front of the hammer.

[44 Man]

I have not put a pistol scope on a Handi but I did mount one of the 'ashley outdoors' scout scope mt rail on my Marlin 35 rem.  I have several pistol scopes and I could not get one far enough forward to be usable on that setup so I think you will find the same problem with a stock scope mount on a Handi.  I just mounted a 2.5 X Simmons on the Marlin and it has a 6" eye relief.  I'm thinking I can do the same thing with my 45-70 Handi just ahead of the hammer.  I have shortened the stock pull to 13" as I like them that way, but it might not get you close enough with a full length pull.  I like the idea of the scope ahead of the hammer, seems to solve a lot of potential problems that way.  I did do that with my old Trapper 30-30.  That has a 4x compact leupold on it.  I was able to mount it far enough back to get a full field of view but still ahead of the hammer.  It leaves just enough (the old style low hammer) of the hammer sticking out to work easily and safely.  I like it.  44 Man

[quickdtoo]

Yup, see the two scout mount links in the FAQs.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,26264.msg525466.html#msg525466

[petemi]

Thanks to Tim's good advice a while back, I did a 4X pistol scope scout mount on a .357 handi and love it.  It just worked out as a natural for me.

[SGD]

Did you have to drill and tap the barrel for a new scope base or did you use the factory base?  What scope did you use?  Thanks.

[quickdtoo]

The second link in the FAQs tells all about the scout mount using the Weaver 92A Contender base. Slufoot's pic links are broken, but here's ny 357mag. For a 357mag, the two holes present on late model barrels is sufficient, but for any chambering with some recoil, an additional hole or two wouldn't hurt. Older barrels only had one hole for the rear sight.

Tim

[canon6]

Not a scout set up, but in front of the hammer.2 1/2 power shotgun scope.   Doug

[dpe.ahoy]

Another thought is a red dot sight.  They mount on the rail ahead of the hammer.  I put a Truglo on my 444 marlin and have had no problems with it.  It's a 1x30 with a 2.5 m.o.a. dot that is easy to pick up.  Liked it well enough I ordered 2 of the same brands 2x30 sight units.  Haven't put them on anything yet, have used any free time to go play instead.   Have other red dots as well, some are really cheap ones that have only been on 22's.  Only thing I do is make sure I have extra batteries, but they are pretty cheap and available all over town.  Only time I've had to replace any was when I forgot to turn the silly things off!   (CRS hits again. )  Anyway, I got them at Natchez Shooters Supply, www.natchezss.com.  The 2 powers are still on sale for $70.00 and if you need camo they are $90.00.  Have to work today and it's going to be in the 80's.  6 day work weeks stink!   DP.

[siamese4570]

SGD: I used the standard H+R base and weaver extension rings to mount a leupold 2X scope on my 45-70.  Eye relief is shorter than is what is supposed to work, but it does.  By reversing the extension rings and putting them as far forward as possible, the rear of the scope is just flush with the back of the barrel.  Can't have too much eye relief on a 45-70 handi!

Siamese4570

[quickdtoo]

Here's an inexpensive way to go, the Simmons 2½x20 Shotgun scope, 5" of eye relief, mounts ahead of the hammer.

Tim

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/si28shpocosc.html

[petemi]

Tim, that's a pretty Handi, what caliber is it?

[quickdtoo]

Thanks Pete, it's a 270 Ultracomp, sold the barrel to Doug(Canon6), I just put the scope on that particular rifle for demo purposes, someone wanted to know if the Ultra rail would work to mount a scope further forward.

Tim

[coyotejoe]

I like that arrangement Tim, I have a similar setup with a 4x on my .357 Max. The shotgun scopes with 5-6" eye relief are between a standard scope and a true scout scope, giving a much larger field of view than a pistol or scout scope. To me, that seems the best setup for a hunting rifle.

[AtlLaw]

Ya know Tim, that's just neat as heck!  But I don't think I've ever bought a Simmons, or any $20 scope, in my life!     Hi-ebber, that would work great on my 45/70!  Did the scope hold up for you?

[quickdtoo]

Ya know Tim, that's just neat as heck!  But I don't think I've ever bought a Simmons, or any $20 scope, in my life!   :

There are several members here that have used the little Simmons shotgun scope that are real happy with them, MSP Ret bought two of em! It's made for shotgun recoil, so it should work great on weaker chamberings, but I wouldn't know personally, mine hasn't made it to the range on a rifle yet, there's always something else that needs to be shot!! Being a fixed power scope, there's not as many internal parts to fail, and it passed my freezer/warm water test, something some other bargain scopes didn't.

Tim

[AtlLaw]

Well if you and Andy like 'em that's good enough for me to risk a few dollars!     Thanks for the idea!