03Sep
Brownells for Badger Ordnance Scope Mounts
Badger Ordnance Scope Rings
All Badger Ordnance scope rings are machined and serialised matched pairs. This assures that both rings are identical and eliminates the effects of machining dimensional tolerances of mismatched mass produced rings. Badger Ordnance was founded in 1982 to manufacture quality rifles and accessories. As they expanded the range of the custom rifle work they undertook, it became apparent that there was a lack of precision components available to attached telescopic sights to rifles.
Quality
In the early 1990’s Badger Ordnance identified the need for quality tactical scope rings and mounts designed to meet the higher demands of the emerging military, law enforcement tactical and target shooting community. Badger Ordnance telescopic rings are machined from steel bar stock or aircraft grade aluminium alloy and are serialised as matched pairs. This assures that both rings are identical and eliminates the effects of machining dimensional tolerances of mismatched mass produced rings. Maximized rings are designed to fit MIL STD 1913 Picatinny optical rails and are finished with Mil Spec black oxide.Telescopic sight manufactures have been developing sights that go beyond the needs of the hunter and target shooter and fulfil the needs of the military and law enforcement marksman. The top telescopic sight manufactures can now supply a range of tactical telescopic sights that are robust, have quality optics, repeatable adjustments and a fine reticule for precision shooting at long range.
One such company is the firm of Schmidt and Bender ( S&B ), who have been supplying optical sights to hunters and have developed a range of tactical scopes to suit the needs of military and police marksmen. The firm of Schmidt and Bender have been producing quality optics since 1957. Founded by Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Bender ( both of whom where precision engineers ), they manufactured scopes under the brand names of Geco, Horrido and Akah for German wholesalers. These scopes are still in use by hunters today. During the early 1970’s they marketed a range of quality scopes under their own name. Schmidt and Bender branded optical sights have developed into an independent brand appreciated by hunters around the world.
After researching what was required for a tactical rifle telescopic sight, Schmidt and Bender introduced its Police / Marksman ( PM ) range of scopes. The Schmidt and Bender Police / Marksman II ( PM II ) has been further refined to address the needs of both law enforcement and military marksman. The S&B PM II has a 3 to 12 variable power magnification and a 50 mm diameter objective lens ( 3 - 12 x 50 ). Set at 3 power the field of view at 100 yards is 33 feet reducing to 12.5 feet at 12 power.
The body tube on the S&B PM II is 34 mm diameter, which allows for plenty of internal adjustment of some 82 minutes. You get 46 minutes of adjustment for one complete turn of the elevation turret, which will take your from 100 to 1000 meters using .308 Winchester calibre ( 7.62 mm NATO ). This calibre is still a popular choice for law enforcement and military snipers around the world. To get all that internal adjustment, the PM II uses a 34 mm diameter body tube, which in turn requires 34 mm diameter mounts.
Accuracy International ( AI ) use an excellent one piece mount with which to position the S&B PM II on the Mil Std 1913 Picatinny Rail of their Artic Warfare ( AW ) sniper rifle. A once piece mounting system offers a strong, stable platform to secure the PM II to the AW.
Accuracy International use an excellent one piece mount with which to position the S&B PM II on the Mil Std 1913 Picatinny Rail of their Artic Warfare ( AW ) sniper rifle
One Piece
A one piece mount is perfect for the AI AW rifle with its M1913 rail, but what if you want to mount the S&B PM II on another rifle, especially a rifle that has a “cut out” in the receiver for the bolt, which precludes the use of a one piece mount? With this idea in mind I looked at the alternative mounting systems that could be used to mount a PM II on a rifle that precludes the use of a one piece mount. Using a Steyr Scout rifle in .308 Winchester calibre as a base I looked for a pair of suitable mounting rings with which to attach the S&B PM II to this rifle.Badger Ordnance paired ring mounts enabled me to mount the S&B PM II on another rifle, especially as the rifle has a “cut out” in the receiver for the bolt.
Brownells are a distributor for Badger Ordnance, who make a two piece set of 34mm diameter rings that were suitable for my requirements. These rings are available in different heights to suit different types of rifle and are available in both steel and aluminium. Using the Brownells catalogue I selected a set made in aluminium as all previous telescopic sight mounts that I have used have been made from steel. I was interested in seeing how a set of rings made from aluminium would stand up to the use I would put them to. The rings were selected to suit a Picatinny Mil Std 1913 rail and have a top of the base to the centre of the ring dimension of 1.275 inches. This allows clearance between the objective lens of the S&B PM II telescopic sight and the Picatinny rail.
Badger Ordnance alloy ring mounts are made form aircraft grade aluminium alloy and are Mil Spec hard coat anodized matte black. They are made on the same pattern as their steel rings but are almost 50% lighter and I found them to be strong enough for my requirements. The nut and bolt used to secure the mount to the dovetail on your rifle are made form steel.
The nut on the scope mounts can be tightened with the aid of a spanner
Assembly
I attached the base of both rings to the Picatinny Mil Std M1913 rail on the Steyr Scout rifle, tightening the nut with a spanner. Setting the scope in the base mounts I set the two upper rings on top and made sure that the scope was set vertical. I then applied a small amount of Loctite screw lock to the eight Torx screws and tightened them with the supplied Torx key.I applied a small amount of Loctite screw lock to the eight Torx screws and tightened them with the supplied Torx key.
After leaving the rifle sitting for a day to let the Loctite harden, it was off to the range to zero in the sight. I used a bore slighter to achieve a base zero and set the elevation and windage turrets on the PM II at the zero setting. Shooting from a bench rest at 100 yards range the first three shots were two inches low and left. Making adjustments to the sight the next three shots were 0.75 inches high and right. Making further adjustments the next three shots were right in the centre of the target. I fired several more groups to confirm this zero was in the centre of the target and subsequent trips to the range have shown that the zero was spot on and has been maintained. My confidence in the Badger Ordnance 34mm diameter mounting rings is such that I will use this rifle with the S&B PM II telescopic sight attached for deer hunting this winter, which will provide a further testing ground to try the mounts out.
I used the Badger Ordnance alloy ring mounts, which are made form aircraft grade aluminium alloy and are Mil Spec hard coat anodized matte black. They are made on the same pattern as their steel rings but are almost 50% lighter and I found them to be strong enough for my requirements
All the hardware on Badger Ordnance rings is designed in house and is made to their specifications including the Torx screws that hold the telescopic securely in the rings.
For those of you who are shooting something bigger than .308 Winchester, Badger Ordinance MAX-50 Rings are made to the same specifications as their standard rings but are 1 inch wide. The MAX-50’s have 60% more holding power and were designed specifically to tame the recoil of the .50 BMG calibre sniper rifles. Six 8-40 Torx screws secure each scope cap to the ring.
Badger Ordnance currently manufactures over a 50 items for precision rifles including a large selection of tactical telescopic sight rings and mounts for the popular makes of sniper rifle currently in production. They also have an extensive line of tools, gauges and accessories for the M14 and the M16 / M4 / AR-15 style rifles. They now supply telescopic mounting equipment, accessories, tools and parts to the military, Special Forces community and dozens of government and law enforcement agencies world wide.
The two piece Badger Ordnance mounts suitable for a Picatinny rail Mil Std M1931 rifle are available from Brownells using order number 093-000-017 on page 215 of the 2010 catalogue.
For further information
www.brownells.com
