Rifle Scopes 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

[ReaperDriver]

Yes, I did a search and found a thread on 50mm vs 56mm and the consenus was that the 56mm was just a tad brighter (makes sense). I have a Falcon 5.5-25x50mm I sent back to RWSnyder to get replaced (at his suggestion). Since I'm going to get a new one, I wondered if I should instead go with the 56mm over the 50mm version? So far, the 50mm has been just fine and I really like the current cheekweld I get with my Rem SPS-T, HS Precision 5R stock and Eagle Stock Pack. I'm afraid that if I go up to a 56mm, its going to force me into higher rings. Right now, with the Burris Lows, I had room for the 50mm and BC caps w/ a 20MOA base - but there was not much room to spare. I'm now thinking of going to a Seekins or Badger 30 MOA base (see my other thread for why) and rings. But I'm not really sure if the 56mm will make the scope sit way too high for a minimal gain in clarity and brightness.

What does the hive say? Is bigger always better?

 

[mdmp5]

Re: 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

A 56mm objective will require 3mm of additional clearance. Measure the clearance of your 50mm bell now, and if it is > 3mm, you can use the same rings that you are using. Unless your rings are super low, you should be able to use the same rings.

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

I wonder how much that is going to change if I go to a 30 MOA base from my 20MOA one now?

 

[PittsDriver]

Re: 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

ReaperDriver,

I put a NF 56mm on my Remmy 5-R milspec with a Seekins 20 moa base and Seekins high rings. I could have used the med-high rings but I'm not sure the caps would slide on without modifications. If I could find my misplaced caps I could tell you for sure. I just measured and have 0.185" between the barrel and scope. Hope that helps.

RT

 

[CSTactical]

Re: 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

The ring height you will need will be a 1.00 if it is stranded barrel 5-R Mil SPEC. If you go to a MTU barrel I would recommend a 1.125" center height ring. If it was a 50mm you can get way with the 0.885" center height on a MTU barrel.

 

[He Shoot Me]

Re: 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

RD,

If I remember correctly the 5-R Mil Spec barrel is the same as the standard Remington heavy barrel contour. (M24 barrel re-contoured)

So it sounds like we have the exact same set-up, (Scope, base, rings, and barrel contour) but I can't remember if mine was 50mm or 56mm???? It's a prototype so I'm guessing it was 50mm??? In any case it's awfully damn close to the barrel with just the thin El-cheapo covers it comes with.

What I'm saying is I think it will be to close. However, if you go with a Seekins or some other brand you will have to check with them to get their dimensions, because the base itself could be taller.....

Hahahaha don't you just hate this shit.

Good luck,

-Pat

 

[glock24]

Re: 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

What went wrong with your 50mm Falcon?

 

[He Shoot Me]

Re: 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: glock24</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What went wrong with your 50mm Falcon? </div></div>

Good question btw, because I didn't think it was the scope that was messed-up because he said it had 20 mils of adjustment and that's what it's supposed to have.

-Pat

 

[mdmp5]

Re: 50mm or 56mm - will it change the ring height?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wonder how much that is going to change if I go to a 30 MOA base from my 20MOA one now?</div></div>

Mathematically, the differences in clearance are small between angled bases, but may make a difference if you are super close to the barrel. 10 MOA = 1/6 degrees, which is 10.47" @ 100 yds; at 1 yd, it is 0.1047", and at 1 inch, it is 0.0029". Using a 20 MOA base, if your scope with a sun shade extends 10" past the front of the rail, you are looking at 0.058" (1.5mm) difference in height from the front of the rail to the front of the bell. For a 45 MOA base, this would equate to 0.13" (3.3mm). This, of course, is comparing an angled base to a 0 MOA base.

From the Seekins website:

For every 10 MOA over the standard 20 MOA base, you subtract 0.01" from the height of the base.