I played with it a bit, and decided I'd like the mount to be just in front of the breech. There's a removable grub screw there that doesn't seem to do anything, could hold the mount. If the mount had a curved base, one (10-24) screw could hold it not bad, minimise lateral mount movement. I think. Don't want to damage the gun, like with new holes or grooves. This piece would be pretty easy to make from aluminum...if I had a machine shop!
Has anybody else done this? What did you do? It would be great if I could mod some easily available part to do this; like just have to cut or drill it, that's about my limit here. Thanks.
How would you mount a scope to a Cr Mark I ?
Solow mounts work perfectly on the Mk.I. Here's an article written by ETA about them.
http://www.airgunforum.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1567
http://www.airgunforum.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1567
Here's the website for Solow. Shipping to Canada is USD$5.00.
http://www.solow.com/
They offer online ordering.
http://www.solow.com/
They offer online ordering.
Re: How would you mount a scope to a Cr Mark I ?
I would not mess around with the barrel set screw. It keeps the port on the barrel press tight to the port on the cast body. It also goes into a divot on the barrel to keeps the ports aligned.cfraser wrote:I played with it a bit, and decided I'd like the mount to be just in front of the breech. There's a removable grub screw there that doesn't seem to do anything, could hold the mount. If the mount had a curved base, one (10-24) screw could hold it not bad, minimise lateral mount movement. I think. Don't want to damage the gun, like with new holes or grooves. This piece would be pretty easy to make from aluminum...if I had a machine shop!
Has anybody else done this? What did you do? It would be great if I could mod some easily available part to do this; like just have to cut or drill it, that's about my limit here. Thanks.
You can either drill and tap new holes to attach a scope rail; get MAC1 to machine scope grooves; or get a SoLow mount.
Mounting with the SoLow mount is limited to low profile 30mm scopes or red dots.
Thanks a lot guys. Re that #10 grub screw: so it does "do something"...whodathunkit? I couldn't tell from the real tiny drawing in the owners manual that the barrel unscrewed. Don't worry, I didn't move the barrel or anything while I was fooling around (the barrel is "marked" to where the grub screw should contact), there would have always been another screw in there anyway, just as tight.
As it turns out, I didn't like what I did. I used that #10 screw hole in the barrel and the #8 one on the rear sight to hold my 3/8" scope mounting blocks (2). This was OK, the scope mounted solid. All my scopes are rifle scopes, long ones, and I forgot about eye relief. Needless to say, THAT did not work out well for a normal pistol shooting stance. I should say I've never used a pistol with a scope (at least, not a "pistol" without a stock), so didn't think about that aspect. So Mark I is back to stock for now.
So now I have to ask: do you get huge eye relief with a scope like that pictured in the SoLow mount above? Obviously with that kind of mount I can only use a very short scope.
At least I learned something from the fooling around, something I could have easily figured out in advance if I had just THOUGHT about it a little more...
Those plastic grips on the Mark I shown are sure a hell of a lot nicer than mine ever were. Mine were kind of a pinkish brownish mottled yuck color, I remember it well. I got this gun in '72 and very soon after painted them black.
As it turns out, I didn't like what I did. I used that #10 screw hole in the barrel and the #8 one on the rear sight to hold my 3/8" scope mounting blocks (2). This was OK, the scope mounted solid. All my scopes are rifle scopes, long ones, and I forgot about eye relief. Needless to say, THAT did not work out well for a normal pistol shooting stance. I should say I've never used a pistol with a scope (at least, not a "pistol" without a stock), so didn't think about that aspect. So Mark I is back to stock for now.
So now I have to ask: do you get huge eye relief with a scope like that pictured in the SoLow mount above? Obviously with that kind of mount I can only use a very short scope.
At least I learned something from the fooling around, something I could have easily figured out in advance if I had just THOUGHT about it a little more...
Those plastic grips on the Mark I shown are sure a hell of a lot nicer than mine ever were. Mine were kind of a pinkish brownish mottled yuck color, I remember it well. I got this gun in '72 and very soon after painted them black.
Anybody want to split a pack of SoLow mounts? Even at half price they're darn expensive IMO, as much as the Red Dot I'd probably use (at this point, until I learn more about them).
I have seen some pics on other sites of Mark/MK with scopes. They all seem to have the grooves on top of the forward breech so normal mounts can be used. Frankly, I'm skeptical that a single SoLow mount wouldn't leave the RD a bit wobbly, and not so keen that it doesn't use separate screws to tighten the scope and clamp to the gun. That's why I'm wary of spending the big bucks for something that may not work out to my satisfaction, it's not like I could use the mounts for anything else...
I have seen some pics on other sites of Mark/MK with scopes. They all seem to have the grooves on top of the forward breech so normal mounts can be used. Frankly, I'm skeptical that a single SoLow mount wouldn't leave the RD a bit wobbly, and not so keen that it doesn't use separate screws to tighten the scope and clamp to the gun. That's why I'm wary of spending the big bucks for something that may not work out to my satisfaction, it's not like I could use the mounts for anything else...
Yeah, I read what ETA wrote, and saw you had the same query about solidness.
But I have the same RD he has in his pic, and it doesn't seem too solid using one normal mount on another gun. Not the same thing I know... And my RD takes massive torque to turn the switch, I mean lots, so that makes me more skeptical about it staying put.
Since this is an experiment (I like the Mark I iron sights), I'm only willing to go half price on a set of mounts. They are damn expensive for what they are...look at them. Cost as much as a set of much more sophisticated mounts. And I'm a cheap bastard...
Edit: No, I don't really have any nicer-looking solutions that aren't a permanent change to the gun. I am still playing around with one of those FITCO 30mm barrel mounts. There is no doubt it can be made to work with some "custom" shim work. It doesn't look really great, but is what I'll use for my experiment unless I can find a SoLow "pack splitter".
But I have the same RD he has in his pic, and it doesn't seem too solid using one normal mount on another gun. Not the same thing I know... And my RD takes massive torque to turn the switch, I mean lots, so that makes me more skeptical about it staying put.
Since this is an experiment (I like the Mark I iron sights), I'm only willing to go half price on a set of mounts. They are damn expensive for what they are...look at them. Cost as much as a set of much more sophisticated mounts. And I'm a cheap bastard...
Edit: No, I don't really have any nicer-looking solutions that aren't a permanent change to the gun. I am still playing around with one of those FITCO 30mm barrel mounts. There is no doubt it can be made to work with some "custom" shim work. It doesn't look really great, but is what I'll use for my experiment unless I can find a SoLow "pack splitter".
Yes, I would choose black.
Are you thinking of splitting a SoLow??
Anyway, that FITCO barrel mount I mentioned is not a lost cause. It will give me an idea of how I'll feel about a single ring mount. [Maybe my RD has an unusually stiff control?] All that's required to use it is a thin shim band around the barrel, correctly positioned to compensate for the barrel taper so the barrel mount can sit level. This is pretty trivial to do, easier than shimming a scope, I'll use some brass sheet stock. The barrel mount has 4 screws and certainly holds firmly enough... It seems to get in the way of the power-adjusting grub screw, but I'll see what I can do about that by repositioning though the mount won't be in my preferred place. I don't want to lose the use of that adjustment, would kill this mount idea.
Edit: OK, used that barrel mount at the very end of the barrel, up against the front sight where the barrel taper isn't so evident. Didn't put a shim yet and you could probably get away without it, looks pretty level. Kinda looks a little odd with the RD at the very front of the gun (but there at least it's not in the way of loading or anything), and the mount is kinda clunky looking. But it works! And very well actually. So I believe one mount is enough, it is extremely sturdy after all, least in this case.
Edit again: played with the barrel mount some more. Moved it to a more "normal" position. Added benefit is I can still use the fixed sights at 10m setting with the scope ring only removed, barrel mount still installed (not a great clear wide view, but workable). Used smarter shim method so that it's easily adjustable for levelling, not as critical to where you're mounting on the barrel as one that wraps around the barrel is. This is a very flexible mount, what with 7 screws altogether. Only downside compared to the SoLow is looks. Worth a shot for those wanting to mount a 30mm RD. $7.50 + $1 for the "shim" stock.
And now I see that FITCO doesn't list that mount today, I only got mine this week. It was for something else and now I wanted another
I'll try to find out if they can get more.
Are you thinking of splitting a SoLow??
Anyway, that FITCO barrel mount I mentioned is not a lost cause. It will give me an idea of how I'll feel about a single ring mount. [Maybe my RD has an unusually stiff control?] All that's required to use it is a thin shim band around the barrel, correctly positioned to compensate for the barrel taper so the barrel mount can sit level. This is pretty trivial to do, easier than shimming a scope, I'll use some brass sheet stock. The barrel mount has 4 screws and certainly holds firmly enough... It seems to get in the way of the power-adjusting grub screw, but I'll see what I can do about that by repositioning though the mount won't be in my preferred place. I don't want to lose the use of that adjustment, would kill this mount idea.
Edit: OK, used that barrel mount at the very end of the barrel, up against the front sight where the barrel taper isn't so evident. Didn't put a shim yet and you could probably get away without it, looks pretty level. Kinda looks a little odd with the RD at the very front of the gun (but there at least it's not in the way of loading or anything), and the mount is kinda clunky looking. But it works! And very well actually. So I believe one mount is enough, it is extremely sturdy after all, least in this case.
Edit again: played with the barrel mount some more. Moved it to a more "normal" position. Added benefit is I can still use the fixed sights at 10m setting with the scope ring only removed, barrel mount still installed (not a great clear wide view, but workable). Used smarter shim method so that it's easily adjustable for levelling, not as critical to where you're mounting on the barrel as one that wraps around the barrel is. This is a very flexible mount, what with 7 screws altogether. Only downside compared to the SoLow is looks. Worth a shot for those wanting to mount a 30mm RD. $7.50 + $1 for the "shim" stock.
And now I see that FITCO doesn't list that mount today, I only got mine this week. It was for something else and now I wanted another
I'll try to find out if they can get more.Some very dark (?? - man, I wish I could take pics like ETA, and I know it ain't the camera cause others can make it dance...) pics. As you can see, the mount lacks style but is very functional. Shim to taste using shims as wedges in the mount V's so they conform to the barrel taper. The 4 screws hold the mount very tightly, I used some thin felt to protect the barrel a bit.
Edit: in case anyone was interested, those barrel mounts are out of stock at FITCO, they don't know when/if they will get more. Barrel mounts are handy for attaching flashlights and other goodies so I hope they consider it as they have nothing comparable. I'm sure somebody else has the same thing so just a matter of looking, though most similar things I've found so far are more lightweight than you might want for attaching a sighting device.
Edit: in case anyone was interested, those barrel mounts are out of stock at FITCO, they don't know when/if they will get more. Barrel mounts are handy for attaching flashlights and other goodies so I hope they consider it as they have nothing comparable. I'm sure somebody else has the same thing so just a matter of looking, though most similar things I've found so far are more lightweight than you might want for attaching a sighting device.