I have a 30.06 Alpine (English made Mauser action) with a serious scope problem. Please see the pictures below:






Basically, as you can see, the bolt handle is very close to the magnification adjustment on the scope, and actually lightly touches the eyepiece. So, any suggestions? Please note that "get another scope" is certainly an option, but which scope? Without actually mounting it on the rifle I cannot easily tell. The scope is mounted the way it is because of eye relief. The rifle is very accurate, and I would like a scope that fully utilizes the capabilities of the rifle.
Peter.

You like the rifle? And you are OK with the 'scope?

Then change the ONE thing that you have expressed no opinion of...the 'scope bases and 'scope rings.

Those rings are just too low for that 'scope.

I guess that the receiver will be drilled and tapped for standard size bases and those rings look VERY low.

A set of MEDIUM or HIGH RINGS will sort out your problem.

If those are old Parker-Hale rings on Parker-Hale bases...hmm...sourcing new medium or high P-H rings is not easy.

Not impossible, try eBay, just not easy.

Just need to have a gunsmith heat the handle & rebend the curve. Bend the handle root down & then the knob end up a bit. I can't count the number of times I have done this over the years.

The easy fix is to get higher rings.

The simplest solution is to just get a set of higher rings. Those look like low rings, mediums would probably take care of your problem. Those look like Weaver bases and weaver style rings.

Knowing only the little bit you've shared with us, here are my thoughts:

1. Is the mount-height of the scope comfortable for your cheek-weld/pupil alignment? I believe this is the most important consideration for repeatability & therefore shooting accurately; In other words, does your cheek align on the stock in the same way every time, and is your pupil centered in the scope when your cheek is on the stock?

2. If the scope is at the height you need for eye alignment, then perhaps you want to reshape the bolt handle, as others suggest, or try mounting a different scope.

3. If you'd prefer the scope a little higher (for eye alignment), then swap out the bases/rings and your problem is solved.

Of course, Murphy will dictate that this will all be much more complicated than you'd prefer! Good luck & best wishes,

friar

Pete,

You've already recveived good advice; as these are your 2 best options.

I prefer a low-mounted scope because I'm a stock crawler (long neck) to align to so the recoil is directly into the shoulder. The higher the mount, the more slap to the cheek you'll take due to the leverage effect.

Yeah, you need to take it to the right "smith" because not everyone can heat a bolt handle up (without it popping off the bolt body) and bend 'em right but that's the option I'd select, appers it's already a tad thin in the curvature; so me thinks someone has already had a similar issue.

Remember, if you do take this approach, the bolt cut in the stock will have to have some judicious sanding/filing on it too as a bolt that contacts wood in the relief cut will make you scratch you head with wonder when the accuracy goes South ..... how do I know that?

The curve on those Santa Barbara bolt handles should have been made with a larger radius so the knob and handle were farther away from the ocular bell. Newer scopes have larger bells so they compound the problem.

Altering the handle is a great option but certainly not the easiest. As Gerry said, far too many of these alterations are done by hacks. And, even if properly done you will at a minimum need to relieve the stock notch and possibly the receiver.

If, you aren't one of those that is overly sensitive to the recoil the '06 generates and who can tolerate he slight difference in cheek weld, then replacing the rings is by far the easist route.

Wow gentlemen. Thanks for the prompt and great advice. I bought the rifle new in the '70's so, as far as I know, the bolt handle has not been touched since leaving the factory. The ring height seems to be the easiest to fix so I will try and go with that. Have to check out both bases and rings as I haven't taken them off since I first mounted them. The scope has been changed out, however.
Thanks again, Peter.

First of all how does the rifle fit you. No point in going for higher rings if you have to lift your cheek off the stock to see through the scope.

I would first see what is best position for the scope with my cheek in normal shooting position. then i would decide if th rings need changing or the bolt handle needs bending.

Good luck