Pearson no-drill rail for lever action rifles

[Newtosavage]

I'm probably "showing my age" by posting a thread about "antiquated" lever action rifles, but this one happens to be my very first deer rifle, given to me by my father in 1985. It is a 1959 model 94 Winchester in 30-30. About 25 years ago, I replaced the cracked original stock with a Ram-line plastic stock. It wore a Weaver side mount and 4x El Paso steel scope for about 25 years. For the past 5 years or so, I've been tinkering with different sight and scope options, and finally bit the bullet and ordered one of Pearson's rails.

Installation was very straightfoward. The dovetail insert is durable steel and fit VERY snug, just the way I want it to. I tapped it into place using a small hammer and punch, installed the base and screws, then adjusted the front carrier screw (that makes contact with the barrel to support the long end of the rail) and installed a 2.75x Burris scout scope.

The rear sight blade and screw that comes with the rail made contact using these medium quad-lock rings (which always look like low rings to me) so I just removed it. If a person were using quick release rings, they would probably want to keep that sight blade however.

First trip to the range showed promise. This is a particularly accurate 30-30 rifle, with an exceptional trigger, so it can really benefit from a good optic. My first group after getting on paper was just over 1" at 100 yards. After letting the gun cool (which didn't take long since it was 19 degrees at the range this morning) I shot three more at 200 yards with an 8" holdover. The first two holes were touching, with the third hole about 2" away from them. Not bad. Not bad at all.

If it continues to hold zero, I think I may have finally found the final sight/scope solution for this rifle after 33 years of searching. Fingers are crossed. I will report back as I have a chance to fire more rounds off.

 

[chicharrones]

I accidentally came across an image of that mount last night. I've never seen it before and now you have one mounted up.

It looks a little extra mechanical for a lever gun mount, but it looks like it fits right in with the Ramline stock, Quadlocks, and Burris.

 

[Newtosavage]

Yea, that gun wasn't ever collector quality, even when I got it in '85. And I'm no collector. My guns are all hunting tools.

Probably the most sleek scope mount I've had on that rifle was an original blued steel Leupold scout mount that you affixed to the dovetail and the rear barrel band. It was well built and attractive, but like most Leupold mounts (being steel) it was heavy, and I was never convinced that the rear barrel band was such a good thing to screw a scope mount to in the first place.

Really, the "lever" portion of this mount that attaches to the receiver is the only part you notice at all, and even then it carries and fits in the hand pretty well.

Of course, if it's appearance one is going for, they would never scope a classic 94 in the first place.

 

[MidRoad]

Very nice! Good shooting too! There just something about a lever gun...

 

[CraigC]

I'm digging it. I'd probably put a Williams Foolproof on it for backup, completing the Scout Rifle concept.

 

[Newtosavage]

I'm digging it. I'd probably put a Williams Foolproof on it for backup, completing the Scout Rifle concept.

So the neat thing about this Pearson rail is it has a built-in rear sight. The groove in the rail serves as a fairly good rear sight on its own, but he added a small adjustable insert that should be more than enough for most folks. I plan to check zero on this "backup sight" in case I ever need it. Not that I expect to, but some folks will want the ability to remove the optic and still have a sight.

 

[Newtosavage]

I wonder how many scout rifle fans even realize that the Winchester 94 was indeed the first rifle to wear an intermediate eye relief "scout" scope? Leupold specifically designed a base that mounted in the rear dovetail slot and the owner would drill and tap the rear barrel band. Leupold made their 2x "IER" (intermediate eye relief) scope just for that application, long before Col. Cooper "invented" the scout concept.

I have one of those original Leupold steel IER scope bases for this gun, but so far, this Pearson rail is proving to be a better design, and it is significantly lighter.

 

[Newtosavage]

Here is the same gun a few years ago, wearing the Leupold mount. And an old Leupold ad.

It certainly looks cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing, but I never was crazy about drilling and tapping that rear barrel band. Just didn't seem very solid and I saw my POI shift as the barrel heated up.

 

[redbullitt]

I have never gotten to handle a scout scoped lever action, and I have never seen that mount. I like it!

Was not particularly happy with a scout scope on my Ruger GSR due to how the rifle handled and the fact that it is a good shooting 308. It seems much better served with more scope in a conventional position. A 30 30 or a 357 MAX would definitely be sweet set up like that.

 

[Newtosavage]

I have never gotten to handle a scout scoped lever action, and I have never seen that mount. I like it!

Was not particularly happy with a scout scope on my Ruger GSR due to how the rifle handled and the fact that it is a good shooting 308. It seems much better served with more scope in a conventional position. A 30 30 or a 357 MAX would definitely be sweet set up like that.

I've used scout scopes off and on now for about 5 years. For range work and tactical situations, they work pretty well. Where they fall short IMO is when you are trying to pick out moving game in brushy or woody environments. I had both a 2.75x Burris and 4x Weaver on my 7.62x39 Savage Scout, and hunting feral pigs was a challenge because of the narrow field of view. Many times I couldn't pick up the moving pig before it had escaped. So I went back to a conventional 2-7x scope for my Savage Scout. But this rifle doesn't give me that option, so a 2.75x scout scope is really the best option I have. Perfectly fine for hunting out to 200-250 yards.

FWIW, those 4x Weaver scout scopes are pretty amazing little scopes. When I pulled mine off my Savage, my brother wanted it so bad that I drilled and tapped the barrel on his Savage .308 and installed it for him. He is just thrilled with that setup and I have to admit it's one heck of a fun gun at the range. Everyone wants a turn with it. A 4x scout scope can be remarkably accurate too. We routinely break clays at 300 yards with his gun to the point it's almost boring.

 

[chicharrones]

FWIW, those 4x Weaver scout scopes are pretty amazing little scopes. When I pulled mine off my Savage, my brother wanted it so bad that I drilled and tapped the barrel on his Savage .308 and installed it for him. He is just thrilled with that setup and I have to admit it's one heck of a fun gun at the range. Everyone wants a turn with it. A 4x scout scope can be remarkably accurate too. We routinely break clays at 300 yards with his gun to the point it's almost boring.

I'm close to getting one of those Weaver 4x scout scopes to replace a 2x scope on a .22 mag rifle I have. I found a deal, but it went on backorder right when I hit the "go" button. I'll let the backorder ride a bit to see what happens.

 

[chicharrones]

Was not particularly happy with a scout scope on my Ruger GSR due to how the rifle handled and the fact that it is a good shooting 308. It seems much better served with more scope in a conventional position. A 30 30 or a 357 MAX would definitely be sweet set up like that.

I go back and forth on scout scoping my GSR to not scout scoping my GSR. Right now, it has a receiver mounted 2-7x32 on it again.

Speaking of GSRs, I've notice that Ruger has dropped the Gunsite moniker on the Ruger website. Now it's simply the Ruger Scout Rifle.

 

[Newtosavage]

I'm close to getting one of those Weaver 4x scout scopes to replace a 2x scope on a .22 mag rifle I have. I found a deal, but it went on backorder right when I hit the "go" button. I'll let the backorder ride a bit to see what happens.

You will like it. IMO it is the best scout scope on the market, bar none. The only reason I don't have one on my 30-30 is that I really have no plans to shoot it beyond 200 yards and I want the extra field of view for hunting. But I could easily have another 4x weaver scout scope. They are just that good.

 

[Bushpilot]

Looks like a good option for 94's. It does look more solid then the barrel band mount. I am always torn when it comes to scoping my levers. Of course I shoot better with a scope but it changes the character of the rifle at bit. The scopes on my Marlins are always going on and coming off. The Winchesters I usually leave plain or with a peep, since they are harder to mount. I might try that mount. Your mount and scope combo does look fairly compact and out of the way being mounted forward. My Rossi mounts like that but with screws under the rear sight and a conventional base.

 

[Newtosavage]

So far, it's proving to be more stable than my Leupold barrel band mount. No problem shooting under 2" yesterday at the range, which for a 2.75x scope and 59 year old lever gun, is about all I'd expect.

Bushpilot, I have to say this mount does not get in the way of how I handle my 94 at all. I love that you can grab it by the receiver, the way it was designed.

I have gone back and forth many, many times on this gun. Scope, no scope, scope, no scope...

But the bottom line for me is that if really expect to take shots out to 100 yards (or beyond), then I want a scope.

 

[Newtosavage]

Thought I'd offer an update... After a few hunting trips, I've decided that Burris scope just isn't what I want on this gun. In dim light conditions, I just cannot see a thing through it. I've swapped it out for a Bushnell TRS-25 red dot, and will give that a try hunting pigs soon. At the range, the red dot is working very well. 3 MOA is just about the right balance for being able to see it, but being fine enough to aim well with it.

 

[Newtosavage]

After pulling the Burris scout scope off, I really began to appreciate that adjustable rear sight for the Pearson rail. I was able to get it spot-on for 100 yards with as good a sight picture as I've ever had for this old rifle. It's very reassuring that if anything ever happened to my red dot, I can pull it off and keep on hunting.

 

[kBob]

Long before the LER mounts on the M94 the German Army used the ZF41 LER on K98k Mauser rifles. By the end of WWII they were fairly common in German Infantry units as a designated marksman's rifle at company level.

I believe the early red dot "Quick Sight" may actually predate the actual commercial LER scopes for mounting forward of the action on the M94.

I assumed Col. Cooper got his LER ides from the ZF41 and K98k. How ever I know he was surprised when it was pointed out to him that the forward of the magazine mount for the rear of a rifle sling had been around basically forever, so perhaps not.

-kBob

 

[Newtosavage]

kBob, I knew I had seen forward mounted scopes on German rifles before - probably as a kid. Thanks for the reminder.

I liked the 4x Weaver on my Savage Scout and my brother now has it on his .308 after I drilled and tapped his barrel to accept the scout scope mount. He loves it. Where scout scopes tend to fall flat is picking up moving game in brush - especially in dim light - a situation you are nearly always going to encounter when hunting wild pigs. Because my beloved old 30-30 is essentially a 150-yard and under gun, it's primary use has been and will continue to be a fast-handling pig gun for closer range use. I've never used a red dot on a rifle before, but I have to say I'm liking it much more than I had anticipated.