Short Malcolm-Style Scope Mounting Rail for Browning or Winchester M1885 BPCR
By Wayne McLerran
11/10/17
If you’re like me and prefer to avoid having additional mounting holes drilled and tapped in your rifle barrel, there’s an alternative solution when mounting a short externally adjustable Malcolm-style scope on a Miroku manufactured Browning or Winchester M1885 BPCR. Steve Earle, the well-known supplier of scope blocks for externally adjustable scopes, is now offering a scope block rail that will attach using the existing factory holes.
Steve can make the rails to fit either Unertl standard-style or Posa-style mounts. Posa-style would be required if you plan to use the very nice extended range mounts from D.Z. Arms. If you purchase the Leatherwood Malcolm scope and mounts from Buffalo Arms, the mounts should be from D.Z. Arms, but confirm that with Buffalo Arms. If you purchase the Leatherwood scope from another supplier, the mounts may be the standard-type Leatherwood mounts which are vastly inferior to the D.Z. Arms mounts.
The standard-style rail should also work with slightly modified Fecker mounts. Steve noted that the inside dimensions of Fecker mounts, if unmodified, will be a few thousands of an inch narrower. Prior to proceeding further I’d like to make it clear that the mount spacing is fixed at 7.2” (standard spacing for a short Unertl or similar style scope and mounts). Therefore, the rail is only intended for shorter scopes in the 18” to possibly 23” range. Hence, it would not be a viable solution for mounting a scope to use for 800 to 1000 yd Creedmoor ranges. The combination of the short scope length and the tilt necessary for very long-range shooting would result in the scope image being partially or completely blocked by the muzzle end of the barrel.
The rail is now 8-7/8” long (see 11/10/17 update below) and weighs approximately 5.8 oz with the four installation screws. The section mounted above the barrel is 3/8” thick. It’s constructed from mild steel and has a hot phosphoric black finish. When the rail is mounted in place, the locking cut for the rear mount locking thumb screw is located above the short front section of the receiver. The locking cut for the front mount is 7.2” forward. At the date of this writing the price is $75.00 for the rail and screws.
Note - As noted in the 11/10/17 update comments below, the rail is no longer 8-1/2” long, but is now 8-7/8” long.
If your Browning or Winchester Miroku made M1885 High Wall is not the BPCR model, but has the two sets of factory holes, Steve can very likely customize the rail to fit your rifle. He can be reached at:
Steve Earle Products, Inc.
24 Palmer Rd., Plympton, MA 02367
Phone: (781) 585-3929
http://www.steveearleproducts.com/
Email: steven.m.earle@comcast.net
11/10/17 Update
Since it had been several months since I last spoke with Steve, I contacted him with the following questions:
1) Are the rails still available and if so, what is the current price. 2) Can he make the rail slightly longer to accommodate a mount spacing of 10.34" to handle a 23" MVA scope and mounts including the “locking dimples” required for the MVA mounts?
Steve responded as follows:
1) “The rails are still available, and the price including screws is $75. I now have a slightly longer version to accommodate Posa mounts. These will also still take the regular mounts - the increase in length of 3/8" was needed to allow for both the Posa and standard cuts to be on one side. And the Posa cut needs to be located slightly forward so that the rear one does not interfere with one of the mount screws.
A slight change was to standardize both the hole spacing and the "step-down" to the receiver. There appear to be fairly consistent dimensions there. The rear rail mount holes are now slightly elongated to allow for +/-.010" of difference. This eliminates the need for the customer to try to measure the spacing on his particular rifle, and then relay that information to me.”
2) “Making a yet longer rail should not be a problem. I would anticipate roughly a $10 increase for the additional required machining time, the two added "dimples", and figuring it all out in the first place!”
3) Here’s the link to the rail: http://www.steveearleproducts.com/otherscopemounts.html
Note from Wayne – a rail with the above noted dimensions should fit your rifle assuming the rifle has not been modified since leaving the factory. If the barrel has been changed, the chamber set back or other modifications made, Steve will need specific dimensions to ensure the rail will fit your rifle.
Wishing you great shooting
Wayne