Would it be possible to mount a 1.5 ounce red dot on a double rifle with rare earth magnets so that the rifle wold not have to be modified. I was using one of the little magnets the other day and I was surprised at how tightly they hold. if they could be machined to match the rib on a rifle and bump up to the rear sight sight so they would not slide forward under recoil it looks like they would hold one of the very small very light red dots.

I do not know if the magnetism would raise hell with the electronics in the sight?

Any thoughts on this.

Nothing I would want to trust my life too.

No magnet is strong enough to hold against recoil.

I have these magnets, in several shapes and sizes.

if I remember correctly weaver made a shotgun bead/front sight thing at one time that attached to the rib with magnets. didn't even stay put with trap loads.

sounds like a no go
the new rare earth magnets are very powerful.
It sure wold be nice if there was some way to mount a red dot to a a 1930's paradox with out ruining it by drill and tap.

It would work.....for one shot

Then you better have a string tied to the red dot so it would be retrievable

Could you use the magnet in conjunction with some epoxy resin? We have one called Araldite that is now rated to 80 degrees Celcius, which should be OK if you don't leave it in a really hot car. JBWeld would be even more secure but getting it off in event you change your mind might melt the solder in your rifle.

I have always used Araldite (two tube epoxy glue) when fixing bases to rifles but always in conjunction with screws, each fixing supporting the other to make an unbreakable bond. As many have discovered to their detriment screws alone can let go and glue alone likewise.

The advantage with Araldite is that it can be softened with a pencil flame on the base or application of heat from a decent soldering iron and then screws undone and glue bond broken. The softened glue can be wiped away, usually without affecting blued surfaces.

I wouldn't trust one or other fixing on its own.

Some magnets are very strong with a straight pull but generally a shearing action will move them, that's how you usually get them lifted off a surface i.e. slipping them off the surface they are grabbed onto.

Even as the OP is suggesting, bumping up to the rear site, a sideways bump to a red dot sight will likely slide it on the magnet or the magnet on the gun rib.

If your double rifle has express sights like this:

http://i166.photobucket.com/al..._photos/DSC00039.jpg

you could remove the dovetail insert and fashion a Picatinny dovetail scope base. Then mount the red dot to that.

quote:

Originally posted by els:
Would it be possible to mount a 1.5 ounce red dot on a double rifle with rare earth magnets so that the rifle wold not have to be modified. I was using one of the little magnets the other day and I was surprised at how tightly they hold. if they could be machined to match the rib on a rifle and bump up to the rear sight sight so they would not slide forward under recoil it looks like they would hold one of the very small very light red dots.

I do not know if the magnetism would raise hell with the electronics in the sight?

Any thoughts on this.

quote:

Originally posted by els:
Would it be possible to mount a 1.5 ounce red dot on a double rifle with rare earth magnets so that the rifle wold not have to be modified. if they could be machined to match the rib on a rifle

Therein lies the problem. Any "rare earth magnets" I am aware of are difficult, if not impossible to "machine". Maybe it could be done with some sort of grinder.

Perhaps they could be inset into some sort of fixture that was machined to your criteria above.