I just received a pm from a new member. I wouldn't normally do this but since I'm not an expert on the topic, I decided to kick it to the open forum; Both the Op's question -and my response. I do so because I know there are airgunners more knowledgeable than myself and I did find his question interesting regarding these guns:
hello Bo, need your help with scope mounts
i just got in a sidewinder scope to mount on the beeman crow magnum but it’s a bigger scope
what mounts you recommend to use since the ones on the rifle don’t fit the scope please let me
thank you
OP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi OP,
The Dampa mounts are usually built into the crow mag/ theoben eliminators. As far as I know, they are all 1 inch mounts for 1 inch scope tubes only. I'm not familiar with the sidewinder scope but it looks to be a 30mm scope tube. This is larger than 1". Typical scope tube sizes are 1", 30mm and 34mm. You will need a good quality scope for that gun if its gas ram is anywhere near typical charging pressure. You don't want a heavy scope for the Dampa mount.
Personally, the Luepold vx freedom efr 3-9x33 would be my only choice. I'm not saying that others would work, I haven't used but one other scope type on these guns but that scope was discontinued years ago. A heavy scope will tear the bushings under the Dampa mount. Those bushings can be replaced so that may be something you want to do, before going forward. The rubber bushings are there to help from destroying the scope...kind of like a shock absorber. If you would replace them, they would more than likely come from England. I can locate a lead if need -all you have to do is ask.
As far as replacing the integral Dampamount completely, that would be a better asked question on the open forum. Anything is possible but may involve machining on you crow mag. I simply do not know.
The expert on these guns is David Slade in TN. Google Airgunwerks for his contact information. Great straightforward guy
In short, you currently need a very strong non-heavy scope that has a 1 inch main tube.
Hope that helps
Bo
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Can anyone else help this fellow airgunner more completely and perhaps be educated myself?
I'm unfamiliar with all of the items in question here. Perhaps we could get some pics?
Is that Dampa mount the same as this one?
https://www.airrifle.co.za/threads/51130-The-Sportsmatch-Dampa-mount-in-a-nutshell
Thanks GW. That does allow more light shedding on the basic principle I believe...
The 'Dampa mount' for the HW90 (and other 11mm applications) from that link is set up to mount on 11mm groves. No groves on the Elim/C Mag
The Dampa mount on Eliminators/Crow Mags are made to fit only those guns -as far as I know. The OP peaked my curiosity if anyone has tried something different. I really don't see where it is possible to change out the mount/rings, without machining but creative people have done all sorts of various things that I may not be aware of.
Here's a couple pics from my .20 Crow Mag's mount: 🤔
Like Kingfisher said, I wouldn't do it either. The mount would have to be in an unusable condition before I'd attempt to change anything.
Yes, I see. These are the sort of parts which get taken off and hidden away, only to reduce the value at the estate sale, and the part eventually going to the trash. I'd keep the mount.
30mm scopes are great, 34mm are super fantastic. 1" are fine.
There was a recent thread on the EFR, in case Mr. Mystery PM Man is after advice. Skip to the bottom 🤣
They are just modified scope rings to fit into the receiver mount of these guns held in by a single screw with a rubber bushing. The hard part is finding 30mm rings that fit into the mount. I believe they do exist, but they were extremely rare. I remember someone posting that option. Not sure if they were custom.
The setup was another slick marketing campaign to make you feel special with Theoben ownership. The bushings will become hard and brittle, and will need replacement like any o-ring in guns today. If Theobens just had rails, you could install a BKL mount and never have to worry again.
So to answer the question: 30mm rings will be too hard to come by, so look for a 1" scope that can handle two way recoil to mount on these rifles.
The "bushings" are just off the shelf o rings. Actually, a very solid mount. I've shot thousands of pellets through multiple CM/Elim's with Weaver V16/Bushnell 6-24 scopes and never had an issue. The only bad part is the fixed ring spacing.
By removing the factory rings the tapped holes would allow the mounting of a standard weaver base if desired.
Is that the regular sweated on base all early Theoben had? When I bought my Sirocco Deluxe Davis sold an 11mm dovetail adapter to me because I was concerned about the fixed location but it actually worked out well for me after all. Never used the adapter and haven't seen or looked for it for many years. It's around here somewhere. I really doesn't look like it belongs either.
When I handled an Eliminator I thought man, this thing's an anchor. Never even wanted one. Too porky. I do have 2 Siroccos though.
Would be pretty easy to convert any 30mm rings to fit that base. Fairly easy milling operation.
The picture Sonnysan posted appears different from the one Bo posted. They look to have different top pieces.
I do agree that Sonny's pic looks easy to modify. Generic rings could be fitted with zero modifications to the lower section of the mount. The machinist would only need an original ring, to match the bottom cut.
Bo's pic though. Am I imagining that these are 2 different mounts?
I believe the first picture is the riser that Theoben used to sell. It mounted the solid mounted rail with the factory dampa mount screws.
There are weaver style rails on eBay that will fit the spacing on the solid mount.
