Scoping a K98 springer

[JoninMA]

I've always used the open sites on my .22 K98. I see 48's, 52's, 460's, etc. using droop mounts. Is that even necessary? They aren't break barrels.

[Back_Roads]

 If your scope is close to optical zero, ands of a "springer rated" scope it should be fine, I have used a UTG scope on mine since I bought it no issues w/o a drooper or recoil mount.

[avator]

Shouldn't need a droop mount on a fixed barrel gun. However, it's still a springer so an airgun rated scope and mounts should be considered.

[splitbeing]

I have a winchester 2-7x on mine.  Holding up fine.

[c_m_shooter]

The RWS locdown mount is designed for the task.  It has some droop built in.  The droop in the mount isn't for drooping barrels, it is because of a high mounted scope on a short range rifle.  If the barrel and scope are parallel, you can run out of adjustment winding the scope down to intersect the trajectory of the pellet at 10 yards.

[Yogi]

The RWS locdown mount is designed for the task.  It has some droop built in.  The droop in the mount isn't for drooping barrels, it is because of a high mounted scope on a short range rifle.  If the barrel and scope are parallel, you can run out of adjustment winding the scope down to intersect the trajectory of the pellet at 10 yards.

Yes, people forget that unless the scope points down.  POA and POI will never meet!

-Yogi

[Stinger177]

Give a shout to Hector Medina. He knows all about Diana's and the K98. If he doesn't know, no one else will.

 

[HectorMedina]

I've always used the open sites on my .22 K98. I see 48's, 52's, 460's, etc. using droop mounts. Is that even necessary? They aren't break barrels.

Hello Jon!

The k98 Spring has one of the best sets of open sights put into modern airguns in quite some time. Clearly, you purchased it, or decided to use it with open sights because you like them and were achieving what you wanted with them.

Yogi is right in the sense that two parallel lines will never meet. And to make them meet in a short distance, as C M Shooter comments, you need to make the scope "look down".
The "corruption" of the "look down" mounts is what became the "lock-down" mounts. Pretty funny what happens when language barriers are crossed.

Now, beyond the anecdote, there are several mounts that you can use in your k98.

The RWS "lock-down" is one, the BKL260D was another, but it seems it is not made anymore, what is still available is the 261 D, and BKL has adjustable mounts that can be "tuned" to different scope/rifle combinations.

You could also use a UTG compensating rail and then use the lowest picatinny rings you can find for your scope. But it seems Leapers is not making them anymore. So someone here may want to sell you one.

Of course you can go "full custom" and get a mount made for the rifle. There are copies of the k98 claw mounts that were used by the Wehrmacht ;-)

In any case, the easiest current solution is a DIANA ZR mount, the 1" rings is a bit lower to the bore, the dual 30 mm's / 1" one is a bit higher and heavier, but works well. If you are not into precision target shooting, the OEM ones work well enough. If you are into precision, you can get a set "Accurized" and it will be as precise and accurate as fixed mounts, except that you would be able to use any scope you want without regards to the "recoil-proof" warranty.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Keep well and shoot straight!





HM

Depending on the power level you have your k98 at, the DIANA ZR mount may be the best option. It will allow the use of non-airgun-rated scopes in a hard-kicking rifle.

If you have it soft-tuned, then the RWS Lock-down is a good alternative, though high for small scopes in 1" tubes. In that case, the UTG rail with ultra-low mounts may be a better option.

For "normal" scopes (44-50 mm's objective diameter), the best compensation to use is .004 to 1.00, that may be specified as 4 mRads

[JoninMA]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Shows how little I know about scope mounting and droop compensation. I don't buy airguns without open sights I acquired the gun NIB through wheeling and dealing with Dennis Baker at the Baldwinsville show back in 2014. I normally stay away from firearm replicas, but I had to have it. I love the thing, and the sights are great, but a scope would really stretch it's legs out.

[splitbeing]

It has become one of my favorite springers since I scoped it.  An underlever with a sling and accurate too?!?

James says it's his favorite springer.

I wish I had a .22 to match the .177 [chuckling].

I added a custom cut bit of black mouse pad to my metal butt plate to keep it from slipping while cocking.  Glad I did, works great, no slip.

I find myself holding it back behind the balamce point when shooting offhand and getting better groups than holding at the balance point.  When standing, the chunky grip seems to help keep the nose heavy gun pretty stable.  Love this gun more and more.  A new ARH seal is arriving today. 

My .22 460 seems to be becoming a parts gun until I get to fixing the trigger issue.  I recently had that part by the spring in the cocking mechanism break, which I think happens when the gun fires and the lever unlatches from the force, then the piston bounce breaks it.  Not sure about that, just a theory.  The trigger is what was giving me trouble before.  I know it's not the trigger unit since I swapped it and it works on the 98.  I noticed the piston stem diesn't have any wobble,  but ir does go in and out a little, which might affect the spacing and in turn the trigger issues.  Anyhoo, ranted about this on a more appropriate thread,  i guess the point here is I have come to like the k98 so much that I am thinking of my 460 as its parts gun now!

[Cslinger]

I would suggest the ZR mounts for most of the stock Diana’s.  I have been very happy with them.