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Schuetzenmiester
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Scope base lengths question
Feb 7th, 2016 at 1:27am
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Vintage scope aficionados, here is the question of the day: Why are scope blocks 2 different lengths when the bases on the scopes are usually the same length?
  

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Re: Scope base lengths question
Reply #1 - Feb 7th, 2016 at 1:35am
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An interesting question considering that my front bases and front blocks are shorter than my longer rear bases and rear blocks.
  

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Re: Scope base lengths question
Reply #2 - Feb 7th, 2016 at 3:43am
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I think all my scope bases are the same, but the scope blocks on the rifles are different.
  

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Re: Scope base lengths question
Reply #3 - Feb 7th, 2016 at 10:50am
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I've got all sorts of variations on my old scoped single shots. I think I've got a dozen rifles with vintage scopes, and the bases vary in length, hole spacing, and mounting spacing. The shorter scopes of the 1930's and newer seem to all use the spacing of around 7.5" between bases. But the length of the scope bases themselves, and hole spacing seems to vary. 
My guess on why some scopes used one base longer than the other is pretty simple. It allows the shooter to slide the scope rings on one at a time, instead of fighting both rings on a base simultaneously. I find it much easier to slip the rings over the base when one base is slightly longer. So I figured whoever did this, probably had that in mind.
  

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Re: Scope base lengths question
Reply #4 - Feb 7th, 2016 at 6:07pm
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I supposed that the ease of installation was probably the reason, but have no info to confirm that guess.
  

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Re: Scope base lengths question
Reply #5 - Feb 7th, 2016 at 6:35pm
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Don't think you will find info to confirm it or not, but agree with Vall that it is easier to align and slide the shorter front mount onto the shorter front base after the longer rear mount is already partially started onto the longer rear base... don't need to do the three-hand shuffle, and it keeps potential dings and scratches down to a minimum.

A lot of manufactures did things that they never felt obligated to explain, and still do.     Grin
  

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