Does anybody have any experience/tips for installing EAW pivot mounts? Mark at NECG said it was an hour or two job that’s not too difficult if you know what you’re doing. He even offered to talk me through it on the phone, the only problem I have is my time off the clock and his work schedule don’t match. I’ve looked online incl. YouTube and detailed instructions are difficult to come by.
It's not that hard to do if you're Mark at NECG, its very hard to do if you're you or me.
The difference: When we make a mistake, we have $400 of non-refundable, non-returnable parts. When Mark's guys do it, they don't even half-ass measure, they just go to the drawer and literally have 200 different parts to choose from if the rear ring needs to be 2mm lower, or the front foot needs to be a CM longer.
As to how to do it, it gets easier the more EAW parts you already own. I usually buy the mounts first and install them in 5 mins. Then I reach in my parts bin and see if I have a front or rear ring around that will work, installing it into a 1" or 30mm bar. I then get out the caliper and start to estimate, if the ring is too high or too low, what height bottom of the ring do I need to reorder? Then I measure the missing ring, estimating the height I'll need for that ring that will be different. (the bridge height is different, so your front and rear rings are different height) Next step, I get out the scope with the help of an assistant, and I ascertain the required eye relief, making 100% sure that eye relief is correct, checking it 3-4 times. I then confirm that the objective bell of the scope will clear the barrel and sights at that location, then I verify what tongue/foot length I require on the front scope base for the offset. Lastly, I double, triple, quadruple check that the scope bells, turrets, and focal ring will operate correctly at those estimated heights and that they aren't obstructing the intended placement of the scope for eye relief.
With all that in hand, having measured this operation for several hours like I was planning to cut a raw 100ct diamond, I then look into the EAW german catalog and write down each individual part number I require.
Total cost for me: $450 in parts, lots of time and labor, probably about 5-6 hours from start to finish from the 4 hours of measuring to the 2 hours of installing and adjusting. Lots of things to learn as well, such as how to install an EAW ring hemisphere onto a scope without scratching the scope (you make a custom spanner, or buy one from Germany)
Mark Charges $900 plus return shipping to do all this for you, which he can do because he never makes a mistake that costs him a restocking fee, he owns ALL the parts. You and me? We have to be perfect on the very first try or we own paper weights. I have a box of paperweights, so my installs go smoother each time as I can borrow and test with parts to do less of this work with the use of an assistant.
The last gotcha to be aware, is that the saddles installed on the action or barrel may not have a foot of correct dimensions to receive the front ring foot. I've faced this before, solving it with lapping compound and fine stones, plus the use of a metal bar installed in the front ring so I can install and remove it hundreds of time until the foot tension and engagement is correct. (otherwise, you'll stress your scope or bend it if too tight)
I've done this for friends before, and when I ask for $750 for my efforts and parts, they have looked at me as though I'm robbing them so I stopped my generous offer. Too much risk of owning $450 of the wrong parts, plus labor that would be more lucratively spent flipping hamburgers, plus the thousands of dollars in tools I had to acquire to do this correctly.
There is an exception to ALL of the above I should mention. EAW does make pre-made ring/mount kits. These are for mass manufactured rifles and include all the parts you need to have a sorta horsesh&t installation, just like buying normal rings and mounts at Cabelas. It may mean your optic is way too high, or that your eye relief is never going to be correct, but its sort of plug-and-play. The only time I recommend these kits are for Mannlicher Schoenauers with original flag safeties. Of course its going to be too high, but it must allow the flag safety to work, so you just take it as it is.
TLDR; best guns deserve best installations of rings and mounts, it is usually beyond the skills and time of an above average, handy gun aficionado to do well for lower cost than farming it out for $900.
