Offset scope mounts for disability

[StandardVel]

I was at our annual hunt club picnic today and was talking to the farmer. He lost his right eye last year and was right hand/right eye dominant. Now he can’t hunt because he is unable to shoot lefty.

Would something like a 45 degree offset adapter and extra high rings move a scope far enough to align with the opposite eye? I’ve looked at some of the offset designs that are intended to retrofit rifles like the Garand, but I don’t think they’re intended for the same purpose and are not designed to fit bases from any of the normal sources.

This… https://www.accurateshooter.com/optics/off-set-scope-mounting-rai/
…looks perfect, but is a one-off.

I’d like to be able to figure out a solution that’ll allow him to hunt again. He’s a really decent guy and loosing the eye hit him hard I think.

Any advice for a good fix would be appreciated.

 

[StandardVel]

It looks like there are solutions from both Hart and Randolph, but the difference in offset is pretty large. According to Google interpupilary distance averages 2.25-2.5”. In order to work must the offset be equal to this distance or does canting the head allow for using the less aggressive offset?

Hart Offset Scope Base – RW Hart and Son

www.hartcustomrifles.com

Scope Rings

Offset scope rings and ultralite rings.

www.randolphmachine.com

 

[Eagle Six]

I think the solution that Roy Bertalotto made is pretty slick and from the photos he has provided doesn't seem that tough. 1/4" aluminum plate should be substantial enough to hold. Epoxy and screw the plate unto a full length rail base into the action with a set of bases on the outside of the plate, then use Burris type rings to make it easier to get scope alignment and zero. You are doing a good thing @StandardVel to help out a fellow shooter/hunter.

 

[BoydAllen]

Scope Rings

Offset scope rings and ultralite rings.

www.randolphmachine.com

 

[Rocketvapor]

I made an offset mount for my wife who is left eye dominant but shoots right handed.
Drilled and tapped a BCA side charge upper. She didn't like it and stayed with right eye.

 

[StandardVel]

I made an offset mount for my wife who is left eye dominant but shoots right handed.
Drilled and tapped a BCA side charge upper. She didn't like it and stayed with right eye.
View attachment 1537589

That looks like a good solution. I think I’m going to go with the Hart offset base. That should move it far enough to the side.

I took a friend’s son squirrel hunting this year and discovered that he’s right hand/left eye dominant. I might rig up a 10/22 with an offset for him too. First we’re going to try an eye patch though.

 

[BoydAllen]

A friend solves the problem, in his case of a weaker right eye, by modifying his stock and using high rings. He shoots very well that way. https://targetshooting.com/video-library/ Scroll down the video titled part 2 & detailed explanation.

 

[StandardVel]

A friend solves the problem, in his case of a weaker right eye, by modifying his stock and using high rings. He shoots very well that way. https://targetshooting.com/video-library/ Scroll down the video titled part 2 & detailed explanation.

Modifying the stock is the best solution. Bending it with heat is good for a modest cast but to really get it into position for opposite eye more involved customization is in order.

I do like the idea of the high rings and modified comb allowing a totally different cheekweld. I’d imagine that could be tough on heavy kickers.

 

[BoydAllen]

Modifying the stock is the best solution. Bending it with heat is good for a modest cast but to really get it into position for opposite eye more involved customization is in order.

I do like the idea of the high rings and modified comb allowing a totally different cheekweld. I’d imagine that could be tough on heavy kickers.

While stock bending would be something to think about for off hand work with a shotgun or rifle, my friend shoots from a bench off a rest, and for that the stock needs to be straight. He shoots a lot, and does very well. If you look around on his site, you will see that he makes some really cool products.

 

[StandardVel]

I decided to go with the Hart base. It is very well-built and robust. I emailed them some questions about it and got no response and asked that they reply to same questions on the notes for the order with no response. I guess $150 orders are too small for a response.

Anyway, the product appears to be designed for single shot or benchrest situations as the mount covers most of the ejection port. As is, this mount would not really work for hunting.

So I had to find a local machine shop to remove enough material to allow access to the ejection port.

I think it turned out pretty good. For the time being I have painted the cut aluminum with Sharpie. That looks like hell but is the best I can do for now.

Not sure how well this will work yet since the stock is still not ready. I hope that I had enough material removed to allow smooth ejection.

Right now I’m thinking to zero about an inch to the right to keep on target out to reasonable ranges. Any thoughts about that?

 

[philip brousseau]

I have this problem to a degree. I mount my scopes high using picatinny rails and high rings. It enables me to shoulder the rifle and use my off side eye. Works very well and gives good cheek weld.

 

[StandardVel]

I have this problem to a degree. I mount my scopes high using picatinny rails and high rings. It enables me to shoulder the rifle and use my off side eye. Works very well and gives good cheek weld.

That’s another good solution. High mounts with a 45 degree offset are fairly easy to find.

I just wasn’t sure if it would allow comfortable shooting. This will be for an 80 year old farmer with shoulder problems and I’m not sure how well he can contort himself to take a shot.

Stock should be done after one more coat of Truoil. Fingers crossed it shoots.

 

[danny]

I was at our annual hunt club picnic today and was talking to the farmer. He lost his right eye last year and was right hand/right eye dominant. Now he can’t hunt because he is unable to shoot lefty.

Would something like a 45 degree offset adapter and extra high rings move a scope far enough to align with the opposite eye? I’ve looked at some of the offset designs that are intended to retrofit rifles like the Garand, but I don’t think they’re intended for the same purpose and are not designed to fit bases from any of the normal sources.

This… https://www.accurateshooter.com/optics/off-set-scope-mounting-rai/
…looks perfect, but is a one-off.

I’d like to be able to figure out a solution that’ll allow him to hunt again. He’s a really decent guy and loosing the eye hit him hard I think.

Any advice for a good fix would be appreciated.

I am right handed but shoot left handed and always have. I am left eye dominant, but I don't think that is the only reason that I shoot left handed. Shooting right handed feels awkward aside from the eye dominance issue. Has he really tried making an effort at left handed shooting? If that doesn't work, then the offset custom solutions are the only thing I can see being a solution.

Danny

 

[One Eye Pete]

My nickname isn’t One Eye Pete because I have good vision in both eyes. I shoot righty and have been legally blind in my right eye since I was a teenager. I tried all the offset stuff and it didn’t work well for me but I did find a simple solution. I use a stock with an adjustable cheek piece. I remove the cheek piece and attach a flat plate to the adjustment hardware. I also mount my scope with extra high rings. This arrangement allows me to shoot righty by resting my chin on the center of the flat plate and looking through the scope with my left eye. This allows me to keep the scope on the centerline of the barrel and also provides another advantage. When I shoot competition and am waiting for the right wind conditions it gives me support so my neck doesn’t get tired. When I am ready to shoot I lift my head slightly so that my left eye lines up with the scope and I’m not pressing down hard on the stock. I’ve been pretty successful at club level matches and have earned an F-class long range high master rating. Below are pictures of two of my competition rifles.

 

[Straightshooter47]

i have this scope mounting offset tube available that would allow a large degree of adjustment by rotating the main tube and/or using different height bases...

 

[StandardVel]

I am right handed but shoot left handed and always have. I am left eye dominant, but I don't think that is the only reason that I shoot left handed. Shooting right handed feels awkward aside from the eye dominance issue. Has he really tried making an effort at left handed shooting? If that doesn't work, then the offset custom solutions are the only thing I can see being a solution.

Danny

I’m not really sure if he’s tried shooting lefty. All I know is he’s in his 80’s and I told him I would move his scope so he could use his left eye. He seemed happy with the idea so that’s what I’ll deliver.

I try not to get folks wrapped around the axle with too many choices. If this solution doesn’t work for him we can try something else.

 

[StandardVel]

My nickname isn’t One Eye Pete because I have good vision in both eyes. I shoot righty and have been legally blind in my right eye since I was a teenager. I tried all the offset stuff and it didn’t work well for me but I did find a simple solution. I use a stock with an adjustable cheek piece. I remove the cheek piece and attach a flat plate to the adjustment hardware. I also mount my scope with extra high rings. This arrangement allows me to shoot righty by resting my chin on the center of the flat plate and looking through the scope with my left eye. This allows me to keep the scope on the centerline of the barrel and also provides another advantage. When I shoot competition and am waiting for the right wind conditions it gives me support so my neck doesn’t get tired. When I am ready to shoot I lift my head slightly so that my left eye lines up with the scope and I’m not pressing down hard on the stock. I’ve been pretty successful at club level matches and have earned an F-class long range high master rating. Below are pictures of two of my competition rifles.

That’s a really good solution. Have you used anything like that for hunting?

 

[StandardVel]

i have this scope mounting offset tube available that would allow a large degree of adjustment by rotating the main tube and/or using different height bases...

That’s really cool. Similar effect to the 45 degree offset picatinny rings but it would allow 90 degrees or more. Do you make these or did you buy this? Have you found it to be pretty secure or will it move when bumped?

 

[bob936]

I decided to go with the Hart base. It is very well-built and robust. I emailed them some questions about it and got no response and asked that they reply to same questions on the notes for the order with no response. I guess $150 orders are too small for a response.

Anyway, the product appears to be designed for single shot or benchrest situations as the mount covers most of the ejection port. As is, this mount would not really work for hunting.

So I had to find a local machine shop to remove enough material to allow access to the ejection port.

I think it turned out pretty good. For the time being I have painted the cut aluminum with Sharpie. That looks like hell but is the best I can do for now.

Not sure how well this will work yet since the stock is still not ready. I hope that I had enough material removed to allow smooth ejection.

Right now I’m thinking to zero about an inch to the right to keep on target out to reasonable ranges. Any thoughts about that?


View attachment 1662694

View attachment 1662695

View attachment 1662696

That’s another good solution. High mounts with a 45 degree offset are fairly easy to find.

I just wasn’t sure if it would allow comfortable shooting. This will be for an 80 year old farmer with shoulder problems and I’m not sure how well he can contort himself to take a shot.

Stock should be done after one more coat of Truoil. Fingers crossed it shoots.

My father had the same problem as your friend. He was a benchrest shooter who in his 80's lost sight in his right eye. We used the Hart base which works fine. However with benchrest scopes the rifle wants to roll to the scope side. For bench rest matches we used a counterweight attached to the opposite side of the Hart mount and it would allow the rifle to sit much better in the front rest.

For his hunting rifle we simply mounted a flat piece of steel about 1/8 inch thick to his Remington 760, 30-06 pump, added Burris mount and rings and it worked very well for hunting deer. Shell ejection was not a problem with a pump. Mounting for his rimfire was done the same way.

If you have a problem with scope windage adjustment, you may want to consider Burris or Redfield mounting which can be purchased with windage adjustment in the rings. I am sure you are aware that changes in distance also moves the windage point of impact. For short distances that should not be much of a problem on larger game animals.

 

[StandardVel]

My father had the same problem as your friend. He was a benchrest shooter who in his 80's lost sight in his right eye. We used the Hart base which works fine. However with benchrest scopes the rifle wants to roll to the scope side. For bench rest matches we used a counterweight attached to the opposite side of the Hart mount and it would allow the rifle to sit much better in the front rest.

For his hunting rifle we simply mounted a flat piece of steel about 1/8 inch thick to his Remington 760, 30-06 pump, added Burris mount and rings and it worked very well for hunting deer. Shell ejection was not a problem with a pump. Mounting for his rimfire was done the same way.

If you have a problem with scope windage adjustment, you may want to consider Burris or Redfield mounting which can be purchased with windage adjustment in the rings. I am sure you are aware that changes in distance also moves the windage point of impact. For short distances that should not be much of a problem on larger game animals.

That’s a problem I hope we don’t encounter but that big 50mm scope is bound to make it a little wonky to hold level. How did you mount the steel counterweight on the 760? I don’t want it to have a bunch of gadgetry hanging off it but it does need to balance reasonably well.