11mm vs. 3/8ths dovetail rings

[jdanvers]

Hey all .. I just took delivery of a new HW100 and it has a dovetail rail on it for the scope. Most of my other guns are pic rails but ... whatever. ( I prefer pic but I didn't see where it was an option for this one when I purchased it ) So I have an inexpensive cheap set of dovetail rings here at the house - honestly don't know where they came from - I found them in a spare parts / misc stuff drawer. (lol) I mounted them and I swear that they looked like they didn't "fit" right and could have sworn that they appeared to be slightly 'tilted' too ... this gave me the heebie jeabies so I pulled them off. Googling some I see a lot of rings for sale where the 11mm / 3/8ths are almost seemingly treated as being one and the same. I've also read in a few places where the two are in fact different and that the angles / cuts for the mounts are even different. I'm wondering if this cheapo set i have are the 3/8th size with the non-aligning cut / groove as they just didn't look 'right' when I mounted them. ;-(

I'm sort of looking at these ... think they'll be ok? I don't mind spending a couple of bucks if I have to - ie; sportsmatch or something like that. I just don't want to wreck the rail on the gun.

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/a/Hawke_2pc_30mm_9_11mm_High_1_Extension/8800

 

[Ripper]

I noticed one time when I put on some 3/8 rings they fit but they tilted also. You can buy just as good of rings on eBay for a cheaper price. They’ll be all kinds of options and different makes. But if you feel comfortable using those go ahead. I believe 11 mm equals .433 in English.And I didn’t leave those mounts on there either. It was a steel receiver and didn’t mess it up although I didn’t tighten them up real good either. Yes I would buy the proper 11 mm mounts.

 

[RedTide]

2 piece mounts - Eagle Vision adjustable, Sportsmatch adjustable or better yet Sportsmatch fully adjustable.

You bought a really nice rifle, do right by it - good set of scope mounts, good scope and there won't be any regrets.

The Eagle Vision mounts will need dovetail to Picatinny adapters such as BKL-566 risers.

 

[JungleShooter]

Here's a Scope Mounting Table, with specs comparisons of different adjustable mounts and rails.

With prices and scope mounting height.

For guns with dovetail or picatinny rails.

Happy shopping!

Matthias



Attachment: Scope Mounting Table

View attachment SCOPE MOUNTS RAILS. 027. 2020-10. TABLE.1612924128.pdf

 

[Guest]

Try spinning the small plates on each ring base over to the opposite edge and see if they fit any better.

 

[vdwb]

Jim, you might want to look at a set of BKL rings in 30 mm. They will spread to 11mm or 3/8”.

Dennis

 

[nervoustrig]

Try spinning the small plates on each ring base over to the opposite edge and see if they fit any better.

Correct. Many and perhaps most rings with reversible plates are made to accommodate both 11mm and 3/8" rails. The tooth on one side has a 45° angle. The other side is a shallower angle...that one is 60°. The 45° is for a 3/8” rail. The 60° is for an 11mm rail.

Also, there is absolutely no necessity that the rings perfectly center over the receiver provided you orient the reticle to the bore and hold the reticle level when shooting. However, do take care to avoid accidentally having one ring at 45° and one at 60° because that will cause your scope to diverge from the bore line.

 

[Guest]

For what it's worth, I have the 1 inch tube versions of those Hawke rings linked by the OP on almost every rifle I own and no complaints. Suggested flipping those plates because a couple sets of them while mounting needed the plates turned to fit right.

 

[jdanvers]

Good stuff -- thanks guys!

 

[Deerstalker]

I used the Hawke 2 piece medium tactical rings to mount a Hawke 4-16 x 44 mm IR, SF, scope on my HW95L with about 1/8" clearance for the objective lens. Excellent combo and a tack driver.