Rigby scope mounting issues

[TOBY458]

If the rifle is a double square bridge, why would you not use the mounts intended for it? I’ve never seen a Rigby with Talley mounts on it. The front bridge should have the recess installed for use with the Recknagel mounts that are supposed to be used on these rifles. If the front bridge is rounded, it’s a single square bridge and not intended for scope mounts. Let’s see a picture of what you have.

 

[gearguywb]

It is a double square bridge, not a single. I didn't want to go the twist off mount direction due to a $900 (with shipping and tax) price point.

Looking at NECG, are the EAW mounts any good.

Sure, call me cheap (I prefer thrifty ), but $900 for a scope mount seems pretty crazy

 

[Wyfox]

EAW mount won't work, it is a different rear bridge design.
Here's a set for $510

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1190198004

 

[gearguywb]

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Congratulations on owing a Rigby with double square bridge action! That’s a dream dangerous game rifle for most people.

Early this year I bought a never fired Heym Martini Express in .416 Rigby. At the time I would not consider a Rigby because of my love for my 40-year old Heym M88B in .458 Win. That and for a while some marketing idiot at Rigby HQ published an advertisement stating that Rigby doesn’t approve of handloaded ammunition. I find blanket statements about one of my passions insulting. Stubborn yes, but that is the core of my tenacity. Thanks to what I suspect were efforts by our AH Franz Davis @RIGBY to educate his British colleagues, Rigby corporate has stopped publishing such stupid statements.

In hindsight I find the Rigby Big Game and my Heym on par with each other. I know Heym makes their own barrels, actions, and other parts. Rigby however buys Mauser actions and perhaps barrels. Oh, Mauser makes a similar dangerous game rifle and it’s in the same class as the Heym and Rigby.

Here’s where the Rigby outclasses my Heym. That is the scope bases for the ERA-Recknagel pivot mounts. If you’ve never used them, you are missing out! I’ve even daydreamed of inquiring of master gunsmiths to machine my Heym double square bridges for those. This is only daydreaming for now.

The subject rifle is yours to do with what you desire. You did however buy a world class rifle at what I suspect was $15,000 to $20,000. Why spoil it by drilling for my near favorite Talley bases. Please know I have Talley bases on most of my fine rifles.

Now here’s the reality of this situation. With the ERA pivot flange (?) in the front square bridge, where would one have enough purchase for the Talley mounting screw holes? I think a solid steel block shaped like the ERA flange would be required to replace it. A gunsmith or machinist would have to be top notch to do this to the level of fit and finish of your Rigby. That sir would probably be expensive.

My advice which is worth as much as you paid for it is to “buy once, cry once” and invest in those ultra-fine and operationally slick ERA-Recknagel pivot mount rings. Consider yourself lucky to have them while us Heym Martini Express owners are a little envious.

 

[dogcat1]

Had the same issue. Sent to my favorite and best gunsmith and said - Fix this please. He did. End of story.
The average self taught gunsmith is more than likely a scope or pad installer and can fix certain common issues. For high end guns, take them to someone that has the experience and training to get you what you need.

Another lesson I have learned, albiet expensively, is to know exactly what you are buying. I bought a very expensive custom from a well known gunmaker. His work is exquisite and stunning. I used an old Mauser action not fully aware of the plethora of varieties of Mauser actions. That action needed some "build up" in the bridge area. The gunmaker did that flawlessly then custom made rings/mounts for me. I change scope tube size and could not figure out why the new scope and rings would not fit until I compared very closely what he had done. Shame on me for not knowing.

This compares to my wife owning the fanciest Apple computer and she only uses it to read email and do puzzles.....

Not disparaging gunsmiths at all, but I don't go to my family internal medicine doctor for by-pass surgery. Both are very good at what they do, but when you need something unique or that requires different skills - go to that person.

 

[Jack Stevens]

I thought the single square bridge was often the PH type model and intended for use with irons sights. I’m sure Rigby will comment as soon as it’s business hours in GMT about options in your scenario.

Yep.

I would’ve thought Rigby’s PH in .404J was explicitly built as an iron-sighted proposition. Zero it at 60 yards/meters with the 400grn load (@ 2100-ish fps), and call it good.

Old School shooting of DG in the traditional manner. Robert Wilson and Francis Macomber would understand this.

 

[txtrout75218]

My mentor told me a long time ago, "Penny Wise, Pound Fullish"

I've had to learn that lesson a few times. Especially with guns.

 

[WAB]

IMO it’s a huge mistake to drill and tap that rifle. Bite the bullet and use the correct mounts for the rifle.

 

[Taylorz1]

Drilling and tapping that receiver will devalue the gun more than the cost of the appropriate mounts. The type of gunsmith that would accept the job of drilling and tapping that receiver is the type of gunsmith not qualified to do it. Get the correct mounts

 

[Rare Breed]

that was not my experience - the mounts I mentioned above were a straightforward DIY install on my Rigby BG

I too mounted my own without a gunsmith help. My problem until my AH friends helped me was telling me in no way was I going to be able to hand swivel the front ring. Once I took a thick dowel that could be inserted then I was able to twist it on. Just me glad I did not use the scope to turn the front ring

 

[mms45]

I am happy to report I am also in the market for rings with a new inbound rifle. The only thing I am confused about is the PN there seems to be 2 floating around

For a brand new production is it the 93008-312q or is it the Mauser 900318-312u

Or are they really the same thing ?

 

[Rare Breed]

View attachment 781152

Double square bridge. You just saw a great deal on GB at $510 for a Recknagel which is what the rifle uses

 

[Kalthoff]

View attachment 781175

My advice which is worth as much as you paid for it is to “buy once, cry once” and invest in those ultra-fine and operationally slick ERA-Recknagel pivot mount rings. Consider yourself lucky to have them while us Heym Martini Express owners are a little envious.

I fully agree.

Do not deface a fine rifle, by botching a mismatched scope mount onto it.

Instead obtain the type of scope mounts, that the rifle was designed for.

A good place to start, would be Recknagel company website: https://www.recknagel.de/en/produktkategorien especially their catalogue, page 21-32: https://5f10fcdf-e97c-404a-926d-260...d/b36d8f_eec7ecf3d0f54a0aa1909c1b680a6d6f.pdf

 

[Taylorz1]

Don't buy a Bugatti and take it to Jiffy Lube. If you take your Patek to the watch battery guy at the mall, you're gonna be sorry.

 

[SStomcat]

I too mounted my own without a gunsmith help. My problem until my AH friends helped me was telling me in no way was I going to be able to hand swivel the front ring. Once I took a thick dowel that could be inserted then I was able to twist it on. Just me glad I did not use the scope to turn the front ring

I'm a bit baffled. This is a quick detach mount, so how do you remove the scope without using the scope tube as leverage from the front dovetail recess? Unless you remove the ring screws and use a tool or dowel you are stuck using the scope. In the field you do not have this option. So in my view you are not supposed to use the scope to attach to the rifle but use it to detach without causing any damage? I'm sure the torque on the tube wouldnt vary.

 

[Taylorz1]

EAW "Quick-Loc" Pivot Mount | New England Custom Gun Service, Ltd. - Page 1

 

[Shako Badhan]

I have re read this thread a few times and I confess I’m a bit confused.

The QD system Rigby and Mauser use for the DSB rifles is a tired and true system. You can get the mounts for 500ish in the US. From my experience mounting the scope is fairly straightforward.

Drilling a tapping this rifle would be the wrong decision. The rifle is built around using that QD system and I think the Talley mounts would probably not even work.

I would recommend buying the right mounts mounts, keeping the rifle as it was intended and have a rifle you can use for the rest of your life. And if you decide to move it along it will still have its value. The four little wholes could nock 5k if not more off its value.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

It is a double square bridge, not a single. I didn't want to go the twist off mount direction due to a $900 (with shipping and tax) price point.

Looking at NECG, are the EAW mounts any good.

Sure, call me cheap (I prefer thrifty ), but $900 for a scope mount seems pretty crazy

I'm with you. A scope base is a scope base. But if you buy a BMW, expect to pay silly $$$ for car parts. My mechanic briefly owned an Audi luxury car that he picked up for a song. Owned it till he had to do a brake job. Rotors were $600 ... APIECE!

I would say don't ruin the resale value tapping a hole in the receiver. You bought the rifle for its fancy name and reputation, not as a tool. May as well keep it intact. You're along for the ride now. What scope do you intend putting on it?

 

[Rare Breed]

I'm a bit baffled. This is a quick detach mount, so how do you remove the scope without using the scope tube as leverage from the front dovetail recess? Unless you remove the ring screws and use a tool or dowel you are stuck using the scope. In the field you do not have this option. So in my view you are not supposed to use the scope to attach to the rifle but use it to detach without causing any damage? I'm sure the torque on the tube wouldnt vary.

I probably should have added a spot of grease to enable easier turning but at the end of the day just my experience mine in no way resemble the video showing easy swing on and off mounts