Parker Hale bases

[Gorgon]

Whichever way you go please let us see what you end up with.

IDK for sure, but I think the Weaver Grand Slam bases like you have there are totally OOP, I have a suspicion that they are in fact Redfield bases, and either Weaver took over production of them for a while, or even just sold them off under their own name after Redfield stopped making them. Either way, they used to be very common and are now rare so you should be able to get back whatever money you have in it.

@Klenchblaize and @Smellydog do raise a good point though, the ability to perform gross windage adjustments with the mount is not to be sniffed at, indeed, I have a Remington 788 I have "run out" of windage with and may look for such a base for it. Or maybe I will just put the Williams peep sight back on it and not bother with the scope.....

As to the OP, I have bases and rings that would almost certainly work for you but getting them to you from the USA is not likely to be cheaper than the Sportsmatch mounts you can buy directly, plus you get to support a British shooting company that actually makes a good quality consumer level product in the UK...

I did some searching and from what I can understand you're pretty much right. Leupold, Burris, Redfield and Weaver rings and mounts of this type *should* be interchangable. I found some reasonably priced Leupold std bases listed for Mauser 98 and Parker Hale rifles which I've ordered so hopefully the internet hasn't lied to me about such things! If this doesn't go according to plan, Optics Warehouse is up the road so I'll take the rifle, scope and assorted mounts/rings to them and see what they have. In hindsight I should probably have done this first! I can see this being a rather expensive lesson on centrefire mounting systems! The scope has appeared and the bases should arrive today so either today or tomorrow I'll have an update.

 

[Gorgon]

The bases arrived today, despite Royal Mail's 1pm the next day guarantee suggesting they should have arrived on Thursday. I was pleased to find that the holes all lined up! With the bases on and no ring twisting tool I found that a big adjustable and some kitchen roll worked fine. The new scope is mounted though! It will probably need some jiggery pokery when setting it up but it's on and I can do that now.

Items used are:
Leupold Std bases for Mauser 98. Part number 50026.
Weaver Grand Slam standard dovetail rings. 30mm medium. Part number 49227.
2007 Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50 LR/T scope. Other scopes are available!

 

[LeftHandGuy]

@Gorgon this looks excellent - well done!

 

[HonestJohn]

That IS a commercial Mauser 98 action. As I noted before, the rear holes are wider spaced because they are commercial, FN, browning etc.

 

[VSS]

Looks very tidy!

 

[Klenchblaize]

Well done. Neat looking job.

Don't overlook centering the windage reticle and then initial bore sighting using the rear mount adjustment screws. Do this correctly and you can have it perfectly zeroed (for windage) within 2 or 3 left or right turret clicks.

K

 

[Gorgon]

That IS a commercial Mauser 98 action. As I noted before, the rear holes are wider spaced because they are commercial, FN, browning etc.

I've Googled the difference and it is! This is my first centre fire so I'm not too clued up on such things. In my head Mauser 98 was Mauser 98.

 

[Gorgon]

Well done. Neat looking job.

Don't overlook centering the windage reticle and then initial bore sighting using the rear mount adjustment screws. Do this correctly and you can have it perfectly zeroed (for windage) within 2 or 3 left or right turret clicks.

K

Can I use the adjustment on the bases while everything else is tight? My concern (perhaps wrongly) is that I could potentially damage the scope tube if I try to move it with everything else done up tight since the forward ring need quite a bit of twisting to get it in.

 

[Gorgon]

@Gorgon this looks excellent - well done!

Why thanks! I'm quite pleased with it. It doesn't look too out of place.

 

[Gorgon]

Looks very tidy!

I'm glad you approve since I've decided you are the authority when it comes to Parker Hale rifles.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Can I use the adjustment on the bases while everything else is tight? My concern (perhaps wrongly) is that I could potentially damage the scope tube if I try to move it with everything else done up tight since the forward ring need quite a bit of twisting to get it in.

Did you put some grease on the front ring's foot/spud and work it backwards & forwards in the base before settling on the current orientation? Unless it's jammed solid I can't see you damaging the scope.

K

 

[Gorgon]

Did you put some grease on the front ring's foot/spud and work it backwards & forwards in the base before settling on the current orientation? Unless it's jammed solid I can't see you damaging the scope.

K

I did not. I take it that is the procedure for fitting them? It isn't solid but it can't be moved by hand and needs some leverage. Taking it off to grease it won't be an issue since I've not zeroed it yet. In fact would it be wise to put some lapping paste on there? I've got some from when I've fitted new valves to engines in the past.

 

[VSS]

I'm glad you approve since I've decided you are the authority when it comes to Parker Hale rifles.

Not at all! There's plenty of folk on here who actually know what they're talking about. I mostly just pretend.
But I do love my two Parker-Hales, and find them very dependable. In my opinion they're massively underrated.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I did not. I take it that is the procedure for fitting them? It isn't solid but it can't be moved by hand and needs some leverage. Taking it off to grease it won't be an issue since I've not zeroed it yet. In fact would it be wise to put some lapping paste on there? I've got some from when I've fitted new valves to engines in the past.

Try greasing first, and if you do decide to lap don't over do it and be sure to remove all trace of the compond from both components before refitting.

I would also try installing (turning in) the front ring both clockwise and anticlockwise. The foot may have a preference.

K

 

[Smellydog]

The stoves gone out

 

[8x57]

The bases arrived today, despite Royal Mail's 1pm the next day guarantee suggesting they should have arrived on Thursday. I was pleased to find that the holes all lined up! With the bases on and no ring twisting tool I found that a big adjustable and some kitchen roll worked fine. The new scope is mounted though! It will probably need some jiggery pokery when setting it up but it's on and I can do that now.

Items used are:
Leupold Std bases for Mauser 98. Part number 50026.
Weaver Grand Slam standard dovetail rings. 30mm medium. Part number 49227.
2007 Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50 LR/T scope. Other scopes are available!

It's not quite clear from the last image if the objective bell of the scope is actually touching the rear sight or not.
If it is you need to remove the rear sight (not forgetting to drift it out to the right as the dovetail is usually tapered). Alternatively use a higher set of rings or a scope that that doesn't touch the rear sight.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I use a 1 inch metal bar to turn in the scope to almost centred on my mounts redfield/leupold types. A broom handle would maybe work too, just be aware that scopes are not designed to be used as a pry bar.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

It's not quite clear from the last image if the objective bell of the scope is actually touching the rear sight or not.
If it is you need to remove the rear sight (not forgetting to drift it out to the right as the dovetail is usually tapered). Alternatively use a higher set of rings or a scope that that doesn't touch the rear sight.

I thought it looked as though it just cleared it. If he does remove it though, @VSS might want it!

 

[Gorgon]

Not at all! There's plenty of folk on here who actually know what they're talking about. I mostly just pretend.
But I do love my two Parker-Hales, and find them very dependable. In my opinion they're massively underrated.

You were helpful when I asked about the old girl initially! I also seem to remember warnings about rolling hay bales!

 

[Gorgon]

Try greasing first, and if you do decide to lap don't over do it and be sure to remove all trace of the compond from both components before refitting.

I would also try installing (turning in) the front ring both clockwise and anticlockwise. The foot may have a preference.

K

I'll do this before I get out and zero it. Greasing, that is, then go from there. I just need the weather to be onside!