Scope ring on objective bell

[Laniarius]

I searched and don't see any past discussion on this topic, but given the keywords I could have missed a past discussion.

Just out of curiosity: is there a problem with having a mounting ring on a scope's objective bell? I'm talking about scopes with an objective larger than the tube. With straight tubes, it seems like it's fair game to put the ring almost anywhere along the front straight section, taking care not to be too close to the radius where the tube runs up against the turret area, and some say not too close to the front. (Leupold Product Support advised me to keep the ring offset from the front about 1/8" minimum when I asked about a VX-Freedom 1-4x20. I'm guessing this is to avoid damaging the front end, where the tube is "unsupported" and therefore weakest to potential dents or buckling loads.) The objective lens in a straight tube is somewhere in there, and I don't think it's a problem to have the front ring around where the objective is in the tube (assuming proper torque and alignment).

Below are some pictures of the less common situation I'm asking about. Is this a bad idea, or is it just rare because usually it's not necessary? Or is it a good idea, assuming your gun has the space for a ring to go there, and people just don't usually do it because rings that are 40 mm plus aren't a common item? I'd prefer not to do it simply because I usually want to keep the scope low on the receiver. Again, just curious. I don't currently own or intend to own a gun where this would likely be a consideration.


This picture is from an episode of Hornady's Dark and Dangerous, I think.

And the King himself. I don't know if this picture is genuine but the scope mounting looks real at least.

 

[Altitude sickness]

No, rings should not be clamped anywhere but on the straight portion of the tube.

Sorry to go against the Big E.

 

[Aaron N]

German claw mounts usually work that way. So it was quite a common way to mount a scope in the past

 

[cash_tx]

Well, color me curious about the rifle in The King's hands. Does anyone recognize it?

 

[VertigoBE]

A ring on the front bell is absolutely possible and even wished for in order to have correct eye relief and low mounting. Two examples:

Heym 88b double rifle in 375H&H / 7x65r with claw mounts:

Dumoulin Centurion 7x64 with claw mounts:

 

[Laniarius]

Nice examples, thanks. I can now see how with the right hardware it can help with low mounting.

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[KJE81]

On my recently purchased Mauser M98 I have a scope mounted with the ring of the objective ring, so far no problems. And as written above it is very common on older european rifles, german ones in particular.

 

[mark-hunter]

Just out of curiosity: is there a problem with having a mounting ring on a scope's objective bell? I'm talking about scopes with an objective larger than the tube

No problem.
Reason to do so, it is done mostly on German claw mount system, to allow as low as possible mounts.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I would not try it on modern thin skinned scopes. Without a proper rail.

The modern Swarovski scope pictured is using their SR rail system. Which spreads the force out.

 

[Laniarius]

View attachment 579737

I think I understand your point, but with a similar cut away for a straight tube, wouldn't there just be a smaller objective lens inside the tube, where a ring could easily be right around the lens to get the desired eye relief?

 

[Laniarius]

"Thin skinned scopes". I like that. I hadn't heard it expressed that way before. Kind of similar to what Desert Dog was saying in that recent YouTube video.

 

[dchum]

Well, color me curious about the rifle in The King's hands. Does anyone recognize it?

It looks to be a over under combination gun with exposed hammers. Maybe 7mm with 22?
Or 16gauge with small center fire under it? Most likely German or Austrian built

 

[VertigoBE]

I would not try it on modern thin skinned scopes. Without a proper rail.
View attachment 579761The modern Swarovski scope pictured is using their SR rail system. Which spreads the force out.

From Westley Richards Magazine rifle page:

Bolt Action Rifles | Sporting Guns & Rifles | Westley Richards - Guns

Discover our bespoke Bolt Action Rifles, built in our specialist workshop by a team of highly skilled craftsmen - own what will one day be passed down as an heirloom.

www.westleyrichards.com

I think they know what they are doing at WR.

Now granted, I also like the integrated rails of Swarovski, Zeiss and S&B. But I see nothing wrong with a front bell mounted ring. If anything, I find it looking even more elegant.

And on German claw mounts, there is actually no other choice. Because you would not be able to lift the scope from the claw mounts if the front ring was anywhere behind the bell. Not enough clearance when pivoting up, between the bell edge and your barrel/quarter rib to allow for such a mount.

That is why the pivot mounts are also gaining in popularity. Although from what I have seen, they cannot be installed as low as a German claw mount.

 

[Laniarius]

One common pattern here is that the bell mounted rings are done for high end scopes and rifles. Presumably installed by a skilled professional.

The problem for me, personally, is that from this thread I have now gone from thinking of them as a weird looking Euro eccentric quirk, to something downright attractive. But also costly.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I agree, they can mount them.
There seems to be a rash of people having issues with scopes losing zero, and other issues that I would wager are due to poor mounting techniques,

so adding that into the mix, probably would not be a good idea.

On the other hand, an expert that ensures, the rings are perfectly Concentric and squared up may not have any issues, but the guy doing it on his kitchen counter without a scope ring lapping kit probably would not want to try that.

The OP may be an engineer for one of the German or Austrian companies and would not damage his scope

 

[Laniarius]

It looks to be a over under combination gun with exposed hammers. Maybe 7mm with 22?
Or 16gauge with small center fire under it? Most likely German or Austrian built

I did a reverse image search and found someone commented on a Forgotten Weapons Reddit thread that he thought it was an "8x57/28g drilling". I saw no backup for that assertion.