A friend is a Mauser nut. He buys 98s etal. He would like to scope one of them. As I understand it, because the ejection port is located on top, the scope needs to be mounted from the side with kind of offset hardware. I've seen a similar setup on a 7.62X54R sniper rifle. He's looking at fixed power, scout type scopes to do the job because of the amount of eye relief required. He's narrowed it down to a Nikon Monarch and a FX2 Leupold.

Are there other scopes he could consider? Are the Monarch and FX2 comparable in quality, optics, etal? Where would he get the mounting hardware for it?

A friend is a Mauser nut. He buys 98s etal. He would like to scope one of them. As I understand it, because the ejection port is located on top, the scope needs to be mounted from the side with kind of offset hardware. I've seen a similar setup on a 7.62X54R sniper rifle. He's looking at fixed power, scout type scopes to do the job because of the amount of eye relief required. He's narrowed it down to a Nikon Monarch and a FX2 Leupold.

Are there other scopes he could consider? Are the Monarch and FX2 comparable in quality, optics, etal? Where would he get the mounting hardware for it?
My 98 mauser ejects the spent cases off to the side and more forward, I have never heard of this problem before.

The only top ejecting firearm I'm personally aware of is the Winchester M94 lever rifle.

You may be thinking of loading and unloading the rifle. The M98's have cuts in the receiver bridge to accept ammunition clips so the cartridges could be stripped down into the magazine. A top mounted scope would hinder this function.

German snipers in WWI and WWII never had a problem with top mounted scopes. They loaded the magazines with hand fed single cartridges.

Most mount manufacturers will have mounts designed for the M98 actions, however the receiver will have to be drilled/tapped for the mounting.

It is possible I misunderstood the top ejection issue. I'll talk to him about that. However, I did see the 7.62X54R and the mounts were tapped into the side of the reciever. The left side to be specific. The mounts were attached to left side and extended out a short ways to clear the port on top (and that could be the loading port), extended up a couple of inches, then exteneded back to the right so they centered above the receiver. If you hold your left in a U shape, thumb down, fingers up, imagine the thumb attached to the reciever. So the mounting stuff is all on the left, the scope sits up on top where your fingers are, that leaves the top port clear.

Back to the scope itself. As I recall he thought that he needed a scope with around 12 to 13" of relief. Is there any advantage for a Monarch or Leupold scount scope?

A side mount scope would avoid the need to have the bolt handle and safety modified.

But ejection would not be an issue with a mauser....

On most Mausers , the bolt handle is straight up and down when the bolt is opened. Therefore it would interfere with a scope in the conventional mounting location , --- i.e. over the top center of the reciever. Most 0f the sporterized Mausers either have the old handle removed and a custom one welded on , or you cut the existing handle on a 45degree angle about 3/8" from the body , then rotate the free piece 180degrees and weld it back on and dress it and polish it. Then the handle is in a position to clear a top & center mounted scope. Some smiths also heat the handle to red hot and then bend it. Some models of Mausers were built with the handle in the correct position for scope mounting , but I don't recall those model numbers.
I suppose someone might use a side mount instead of modifying the bolt handle. Hope this helps.

The Model 98 ejects cases to the side, not upward, so a scope mounted conventionally, over the bore would not interfere with ejection.

I think that you are talking about the side mount for a scope on a Mosin Nagant. They do make side mounts for the 98. If I remember, B Square does.

As for a scout scope mounting, either Nikon Monarch or Leupold he should be looking at an Extended Eye Relief scope, or EER scope. They should have the eye relief he wants so he could mount the scope forward of the action so none of the preceeding is an issue.

A side mount scope would avoid the need to have the bolt handle and safety modified.

But ejection would not be an issue with a mauser....


Bolt handle is not an issue, although it is tight. The safety still is if the scope is mounted forward. The big advantage is the iron sights are still usable, totally unobstructed. Jack, tell your friend to check out Sarco, or Allans Armory. They both sell Swede Sporters built on FN 98 actions. He should be able to pick one up w/ the original side mount for $400.00+-, or Weaver mounts for $350.00
http://europa.meccahosting.com/~a0000ae7/aa.php
http://www.sarcoinc.com/rifles.html#h-s

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