Need help installing scope on BSA Martini 12/15 .22 rifle

[bushpilotmexico]

Just wondering if anyone has a scoped 12/15?

A friend just gave me his rifle and I've been searching all over about a scope installation.

The bases (I need recommendations) will have to be barrel mounted. The barrel is tapered which in itself, or so I understand, presents an alignment problem. Ideally a scope base should be mounted parallel to the bore. If you mount a scope base to a tapered barrel the scope will align with the taper and not the bore. Most scopes won't have enough MoA built into the elevation to align the scope prior to sighting in.

The rifle is in great shape considering it was manufactured in the late 1940's and ideally I would like to mount a vintage scope to compliment it. Kind of thinking of an Unertyl or Lyman Super target. In this case I will be looking at a front and rear base rather than a one piece. Now keep in mind that because of the length of these scopes the front base will be mounted on an even greater taper.

I have read and ordered a Weaver style TC Contender one piece base and have downloaded an article showing how to carefully sand the rear of the base to align the base with the bore or close to it. I have several modern scopes laying around that I could mount to the base just to try it out.

This is the rifle:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i113/bushpilotmexico/BSA1of1.jpg (http://s70.photobucket.com/user/bushpilotmexico/media/BSA1of1.jpg.html)



It only has peep sights and my 72 year old eyes ain't as good as they used to be. This is a 5 shot group at around 10 yards:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i113/bushpilotmexico/BSA11of1.jpg (http://s70.photobucket.com/user/bushpilotmexico/media/BSA11of1.jpg.html)


and this is 5 shots at 20 yards:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i113/bushpilotmexico/BSA21of1.jpg (http://s70.photobucket.com/user/bushpilotmexico/media/BSA21of1.jpg.html)

nothing to brag about but I think the rifle will be a shooter once I get a scope on it.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thx

[blindeye]

I used to own a 12/15. I drilled & tapped it (the barrel) for a pair of equal height Weaver bases. Used a older long tube Burris 12x to help with eye relief. Worked fine. No problems zeroing or having limited adjustment due to the slight barrel taper. If anything the taper might have helped in being able to have sight settings from 50 to 200yds. I wouldn't expect any different experience if I had used a external adjustment scope.
good luck

[KCSO]

YesI have!!! I put a Leatherwood 3X long tube scope on one of these and the owner thinks it's his best 22. They really look sharp with the long tube scope too. They make a 6x if you need more magnification. The Weaver long blank base works well for a standard scope if you would rather do that. I use the Forester jig modified to drill and tap the 4 holes in the barrel unless your is already drilled as a lot of them were.