This had a longer or bigger bearing surface (2.5cm more than the short rail) on the action that stopped it yawing or tilting on firing and so remained more firmly fixed. One problem with the short rail mounts were they worked loose under recoil and so you can see many variants with more or less attachment screws, and also an alternative with an additional securing wing clamp to the scope ring assembly in an attempt to keep the system from working loose.Īs you can imagine the Germans being rather efficient chaps improved the short rail mount with the long rail or side mount.
Typically the rings are 26.5mm but some aftermarket mounts can also be ordered with 1 inch scope adapters if you so wish.
The short rail is good for short scopes and those that have a rear focus ring and thus restrict the mounting area on the scopes tube. The top section that incorporates the scope rings attaches and detaches by a dovetail cut along the length of the mounts under side. The base is attached to the left of the action via either three screws or later models had three additional locking screws and some had two/three locating pins. Here two models proliferate, the earlier short side/rail mount that is recognised by its single large clamping lever sited at the front of the mount. I like the single claw mounts as these have both front and back bases mounted to the left of the receiver and utilised a single claw attachment, being retained by a tensioned plunger that allows the scope to be tipped up and forward to be removed when the plunger is depressed.Īs with all the mounting systems the windage is adjusted by the rear scope mount via a screw and pinion system, as scopes of that era only had elevation adjustment. The double claw attaches with a bridge type front mounting with the recessed mount dovetailed into the front receiver ring, whilst the rear mount also has twin slots that the top mount attaches to and is then latched in place.
Claw or side mounted derivatives hark back to the K98 Mausers sporting heritage.īoth single and double claw variants are out there but I have to say these are probably the least likely mounting systems you will encounter. There are a few main versions of scope mounts and this can be a matter of personal preference, although some designs were certainly better than others. Top this with some of the best optics of the time from Zeiss, Hensoldt, Kahles and Ajack and you have yourself a formidable shooting combination. There is also something very iconic about the WW2 German sniper rifle, primarily I guess it’s the Mauser actioned rifle that’s spawned so many other military and sporting variants to this day. I have always had a soft spot for old sniper rifles mainly because I like old optics and there is something intrinsically interesting in shooting vintage equipment - whatever the make. So with that in mind, absolute authenticity will be taking second place to function and availability this one is for shooting! I wanted a good working example as I fancied taking it out after deer to see how it would perform. To me it was of no concern as to the rifle not being a true sniper, just as long as the rifle and scope were period I could live with the modern additions.
Most of the rifles you see advertised are “made up” snipers, often period K98 and scopes are used but after market mounts are usually fitted. There are numerous variants of rifle, scope mounts and scopes available but it would be foolish to expect a “true” sniper rifle to turn up because they are extremely rare and could cost £10,000 plus. For many years I’ve hankered after a K98 sniper rifle, so I decided to search for a suitable candidate.
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