1" vs 30mm scope tubes

[cmdc]

I have a dilemma: I bought mounts with 1" rings to use on two Blaser rifle barrels, then decided that I wanted scopes with 30mm tubes. OK, no problem, I'll just get some 30mm rings and put them on the existing mounts. Wrong! Blaser re-designed the mounts and rings, and they are not interchangeable, and there are no 30mm rings available for the old-style mounts. So before I pop for >$700 for two new mounts 30mm rings, I want your opinions as to whether it will be worth it. Will I gain enough with 30mm scopes to justify the expense? If so, I will do it, but don't want to if not.

 

[Mal H]

First of all, an editorial comment: $700 for a mount and rings!

Ok, that's done with.

Why did you decide you wanted a scope with a 30mm tube? You have to answer that question first before you make the decision to change rings.

Obviously, a larger diameter tube implies a larger objective lens and therefore more light gathering power, but not necessarily. You have to compare two scopes of both sizes to see what can be gained. I don't think anyone can make a blanket statement that all 30mm scopes are better than all 1" scopes. The actual magnification power can be more or less and is pretty much independent of the size.

If you do a lot of hunting in less than ideal lighting situations, then the larger lenses may help (tube size is immaterial). If not, then you need to question your original decision.

 

[USSR]

What you buy yourself with a 30mm tube as opposed to a 1" tube is more W&E adjustment. Light gathering is a function of the scopes objective size and lense coatings, which is independant of tube size. There are some 1" scopes that give you as much or more than some 30mm scopes, so determine how much adjustment you need, then look for a scope that has that and any other features you need.

Don

 

[weeniewawa]

for that kind of money, you could take them to a machinist and have the 1" mount/rings made to 30MM, may cost you 40$

 

[taliv]

i've no experience with blaser rifles. are they gold-plated, jewel-encrusted or something and you're looking for matching rings?

expensive rings are $300 in my experience

 

[cmdc]

Thanks guys. The mounts and rings are $350 each. Yes, ridiculously expensive. I'm going to re- evaluate things before I do it. I actually thought about having a machinist make rings, but making the 1" ones larger is a good idea too. I'm sticking with what I ha e for now. Didn't realize that the main advantage of larger rings was adjustment.

 

[Walkalong]

What you buy yourself with a 30mm tube as opposed to a 1" tube is more W&E adjustment. Light gathering is a function of the scopes objective size and lense coatings, which is independant of tube size.

Yep. Good glass is where it is at. Most folks do not need that last few inches of W&E. Besides, a 30MM tube doesn't guarantee more W&E than a 1" tube. It all depends on the scope.

 

[Skylerbone]

The advantages are two fold: the ability to allow for more adjustment and the ability to offer a stronger body. Neither can be assumed to be present in any 30mm scope only that it is possible. Witness the Leupold Euro 30 with 1" internals in a 30mm tube.

Note the word ability, not the words they have.

 

[Mike1234567]

$700 for just mounts and rings??????

Okay..... that's just completely INSANE!!!!!!!

 

[Mal H]

It all depends on the scope.

That was the point I was trying to make. The tube size really doesn't guarantee anything, including more windage and elevation adjustment. The actual scopes being considered have to be compared feature for feature.

Not seeing the 1" rings you have, it's impossible to say for sure, but unless they are extra thick walled, you won't be able to make 30mm rings out of them. Removing a little over 2mm from the rings will most likely make them too weak or even completely disappear!

 

[helotaxi]

$700 for just mounts and rings??????

Okay..... that's just completely INSANE!!!!!!!

Haven't priced a Blaser rifle apparently. I was designing the rifle I wanted on their site a year or so ago and with nothing fancy I was looking at over $4k.

 

[sansone]

get a 1" scope.
the 30mm rings are not only too expensive, there just doesn't seem like a good variety of choices either.

 

[DM~]

$700 for just mounts and rings??????

Okay..... that's just completely INSANE!!!!!!!

The claw mount/rings for my rifle are in that price area...



If YOU can make me a set that look similar, of the SAME quality and work just as good, for less $, i'd be happy to buy them from you!

DM

 

[Mike1234567]

^^^ I think pretty much any decent machine shop could make individually customized mounts for far lass than $700.

 

[Norrick]

*usually* you get more adjustment with a 30mm scope, some brands *cough* burris *cough* just enlarge the tube and the guts are pretty much the same.

Find a good one inch scope that has the adjustment you need, less bulk, better looking.

 

[Haxby]

Burris website specifically says they use bigger lenses in their 30mm tubes than in their 1" tubes.

 

[sansone]

if you go shopping for 30mm rings, you'll go back to 1" tubes. Unless $$ is no object

 

[45crittergitter]

Scopes with 30mm tubes can contain half again as many windage and elevation clicks as scopes with 1" bodies, according to Leupold. When the adjustments are set away from center, the optical system is essentially bent, with the erector tube tilted inside the scope. This often results in serious parallax problems, and at the extremes of the adjustment range, each click moves the erector tube less consistently.

Also, a 30mm tube can (but most American scopes don't) accommodate larger erector lenses, for a brighter, clearer, image.

 

[DBR]

On the negative side, 30mm scopes are usually noticeably heavier than similar spec 1" scopes - at least mine are.

 

[El Mariachi]

I find it absolutely amazing that a pair of 3 ounce, 30mm scope rings today costs exactly the same as the xlnt running 5,500 lb '91 Bronco that I bought my daughter just a year ago....