Gunsmithing Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

[dareposte]

Like most people, I like my scopes low over my rifle bore. So I got the lowest rings that would clear the barrel.

I'm mounting a SuperSniper scope which is a bit shorter than many, and I found that the scope objective bell was hitting the extension of the NF rail that hangs over the barrel.

I don't really see any reason to have the three extra lugs hanging over the end of the action on the NF rail, so I just sawed them off and now everything fits fine.

So the question is... does the longer base serve any purpose, and why would NF make it extend so far? It seems like once it's off the action it's not offering any more support at that point, so wtf. Maybe I screwed up by sawing it off but it seems to work fine for me.

 

[dareposte]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

PS - the barrel in the pic is a shot-out one that I was just using for checking clearance while the paint is drying on the new one. Yes, I took the old one off with a pipe wrench.

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

wow. the marks on the barrel? id say that the extra is just to allow more options in positions when mounting the scope. i know i wish mine was flush with my savage's receiver but thats just so i could take off the barrel without having to take off the base.

really, whats with that barrel?

 

[dareposte]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">wow. the marks on the barrel? id say that the extra is just to allow more options in positions when mounting the scope. i know i wish mine was flush with my savage's receiver but thats just so i could take off the barrel without having to take off the base.

really, whats with that barrel? </div></div>

the barrel in the pic is a shot-out one that I was just using for checking clearance while the paint is drying on the new one. Yes, I took the old one off with a pipe wrench (and a cheater bar).

 

[Kells81]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

LOL I had a rem 700 one time for the action, barrel was in pretty bad shape. My smith noticed it and asked me if I had any plans for the barrel. So instead of taking the time to not marr the barrel he got a pipe wrench and we pulled it. Sometimes its fun to muck things up a bit.


As far as the base, it might be worth takin to a smith or machine shop and having that edge cleaned up.

 

[dareposte]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Poke</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
As far as the base, it might be worth takin to a smith or machine shop and having that edge cleaned up. </div></div>

Yeah I'll clean it up with a file and some sanding blocks. The pic was really just to show what I was talking about but I guess we got distracted by the pipe-wrenched barrel and saw-cut finish.

 

[ChadJamesR]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

I don't know if it is because my NF 5.5 - 22X scope has a longer tube or because I have my scope mounted further forward than you. Either way, my front ring attaches to that extension you cut off.

If you scope mounts with proper eye relief, then I don't think you have done any harm to the rail.

 

[dareposte]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

It may be a longer tube, maybe that's why NF puts the extension there. Would your scope mount to the rail without the extension too? Maybe with the front ring back a few lugs? I am eventually going to put an NXS 5.5-22 on there, but I can buy a new base for it if I need to.

 

[Hellbender]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

All scope tubes are different lengths, and it's best to have your rings as far apart as possible (gives the scope more support).

I'm sure Nightforce made the base length optimum for proper support and eye relief for the length of their scopes.

 

[ChadJamesR]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

My NF NXS scopes will fit an action length rail without a problem, but they fit the longer NF rail better.

I have another build with a Stiller SA and a NXS 5.5-22X-56mm. The Stiller action came with their rail, which is action length. The scope fits fine, but I have further ring spacing on the NF rail.

I've always worked on the principle that when using NF optics, use their rings and bases as well as they are probably matched best with them.

If you have any other questions or want some pictures, just let me know.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

i cut a bit off of my long action nf rail to fit a leupold scope. i'd say it is not an uncommon thing to have to do.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: Had to saw off my nightforce rail... how common?

Just talked to a guy who has to do this to a Larue rail because his scope bell hits it.