[cw2go]

I see these things advertised all over, dirt cheap ($35 - 70), with a thin, straight scope tube (no bells) and a somewhat awkward-looking built-in mount that secures (I think) to something that replaces the little door over the bolt hold-open mechanism on the left side of the receiver with a thumb screw (like the earliest M14 mounts). The mount is pretty high, apparently to allow you to use the iron sights without removal.
Apparently they are of Russian manufacture, and the company is experienced making scopes for soviet-bloc SKSs and such, and one of their other scopes had a good review online.
They are expecially interesting since they have a built-in BDC (bullet drop compensator) for up to 500 yds (yeah, I have shot this at ranges longer than that, but only got about half in the 6' bull at 600yds). AND it will mount to a standard Mini without the rails on the Ranch.

If anyone has bought one of these, could you help me out on these questions:
1. - Are the optics decent? I'm not expecting a Leupold, but I would expect it to be fully usable for its intended purpose.
2. - Is the mount secure, or does it have a bit of wiggle to it? That is, if you secure the rifle and press on the mount, do the crosshairs shift more than 1 moa?
3. - Can you get reasonable groups with it installed (i.e.- at least as good as with iron sights), or do the points of impact shift around?
4. - Does the mount return to zero when removed and reinstalled?
5. - If anyone had one with a problem,did the company make good on the Lifetime Warranty?
6. - Would you buy one of these again, and recommend it to friends?

This is the posted ad:
Brand New.. Mini-14 Mount with NcStar 4x20 Scope. The Side Rail Mount will mount easily on your Mini-14 Rifle without any Gunsmithing or major modifications. The NcStar 4x20 Scope is nitrogen filled and has multi-coated lenses and offers a very sharp and bright field of view. The scope is Shock-Proof and Fog-Proof and has adjustments for windage and elevation. This scope also has a built in 100-500 yard adjustable bullet drop compensator, that has been specially calibrated for the .223 caliber of the Mini-14. Scope and mount come complete with a Full Lifetime Warranty.

If if anyown has seen a review elsewhere, could you post the URL?

Thanks
-- cw

 

[mtnwatcher]

that sounds just like the scope i got other than mine was said to be made in china by bec eurolux. where did you see it? i'd like to compare.

if it is the same thing but made by some new company, then i would by it again for the price i paid($70). however it might as well have been made by ruger as one must 'tune' it to get it to function as advertised.

 

[cw2go]

Okay, I found one with a good picture: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=3601148025 This one is $35 + 7 s&h and has the Bullet Drop Compensator for .223, but won't have much light gathering with a 20 mm objective lens.

The same outfit appears to make or market an aluminum side mount with Weaver rail available but without the scope.

There are two competitive scopes at CTD which also appear to include specialized Mini-14 mounts:

4X30 Illuminated Reticle, rubber armor coated, built-in flip-up lens covers Catalog #: SCP-526 $60 -- this one lacks the BDC, which is what I want, but has the armor and nice lens covers http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product...QTLFNXTQWXU9L0C

BEC 5x42 Scope Illuminated Reticle, BDC Catalog #: SCP-403 Mfg #: BDC5X42MF $80 -- this one has the Bullet Drop Compensator for .223 caliber, and the Illuminated reticle, but no rubber armor http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product...QTLFNXTQWXU9L0C

OF COURSE, NONE OF THESE ARE LIKELY TO BE WORTH A CRAP IF THEIR MOUNTING SYSTEMS ARE NOT SOLID ENOUGH TO HOLD ZERO.

If anyone owns any of these, could you respond with an EVALUATION (assuming you have shot with it), so the rest of us can decide if these are good deals or junk.

Note: I had to chop the URLs into 2 pieces because the buggy software here chops out the middle of the address. You will have to paste the second part of the URL back on in the address bar to get there.

-- cw

 

[mtnwatcher]

i was forbiden to view the scope on ebay. i have to register or sumthin.

the others look pretty impressive. i'd have got one o them if they had been advertized at that price when i got mine.

my scope looks like One Good Cops except it's black. check out his pics in the gallery.

anyway the cheaperthandirt scopes look to have the same mounting system as mine. and they do return to zero as far as i can tell. but not in the shape they come outa the box.

the replacement plate needs to be filed to fit the piece the scope is mounted to. no big deal, just be careful and take your time. and then you gotta file back the hole in the scope holder so it'll move forward into place and fit the side plate. that should get you back to zero when putting the scope back on. i went one step further and used some bedding compound to make sure i got a good snug fit. the next trick is to get that big screw to stay tight. i had a horrible time with the thing loosening and ruining my groups. i've got lock, and spring washers on mine now as well as the one washer it came with. 4 washers in all. i tried guntight as well. lately i've just used brute force and a pair of pliers to crank that sucker down. that seems to have worked but i haven't put a shload of rounds thru it yet.

i think the scope is interfering with my brass ejection. i know the brass hits the scope as there are marks on the underside of the scope over the action. i had a couple bounce back into the actin and catch the bolt open. i think if i thin my recoil buffer, that might help.

 

[cajungeo]

Ok guys, try it now, I did a little splice job for ya.

 

[cw2go]

Yes, same scope as onegoodcop in the gallery (at http://perfectunion.com/forums/showthread....=&threadid=3500

Sounds like a lot of delicate work to get it right. I am mostly concerned with the fit of the mounting plate to the receiver. I assume you need some epoxy or superglue or bedding glue to stabilize it.

Any other experience with any of these scopes or mounts?

-- cw

 

[mtnwatcher]

Thanks Cajungeo, yu da man!.:beer:

yup, dats da dawg. and he'll hunt if ya tweak him a little.

mounting plate to reciever fit was to tight when i got it from the factory. after a few strokes of the file, she fit good and snug. almost can't get it out. gotta use a screwdriver and hammer from the topside of the dovetail. didn't need or want any epoxy in there cuz i wanna put back the original plate sometime.

it really wasn't a big deal to adjust, but i'm a 'hands on' guy.

i'll post some pics. i gotta put my mini in the gallery now that it's shooting pretty good.