Redfield 47515 2-Piece Weaver Style Scope Base for Mauser 98 Rifles: A Comprehensive Guide to Enhancing Your Classic Firearm

For enthusiasts and owners of the venerable Mauser 98 rifle, the quest to modernize and enhance its capabilities often leads to one critical upgrade: adding a reliable scope. The Mauser 98, a firearm steeped in history and renowned for its robust action, presents unique challenges when it comes to optics mounting. Its original design was not intended for telescopic sights, making the selection of a proper scope base paramount. This is where the Redfield 47515 2-Piece Weaver Style Scope Base emerges as an ideal solution, specifically engineered to bridge the gap between classic rifle design and modern optical precision.

This detailed guide will explore everything you need to know about the Redfield 47515 base, from its fundamental design and compatibility to its practical benefits and installation considerations. Whether you're a hunter aiming for improved accuracy, a target shooter seeking consistent performance, or a firearm restorer looking to complete a project with a high-quality component, understanding this scope base is key to unlocking your Mauser 98's full potential.

Unlocking the Mauser 98's Potential: Why a Dedicated Scope Base is Essential

The Mauser 98 rifle, with its iconic large-ring action, is celebrated for its strength, reliability, and smooth bolt operation. Many of these rifles began their lives as military workhorses before being sporterized or converted for civilian use. While their iron sights are functional, for modern hunting or precision shooting, a magnified optic is indispensable.

The challenge lies in the Mauser 98's receiver design. The presence of a stripper clip guide and the specific contour of the action require a scope base that provides adequate clearance and a stable, level platform. Generic scope mounts often fall short, leading to issues like improper scope alignment, difficulty in achieving eye relief, or interference with the rifle's operation, such as bolt handle clearance.

The Redfield 47515 scope base directly addresses these issues by offering a precision-engineered solution tailored for the Mauser 98. It ensures that your valuable optic is mounted securely, maintaining zero shot after shot, and allowing for optimal shooting performance.

Understanding the Redfield 47515: Features and Design Excellence

The Redfield 47515 2-Piece Scope Base is a testament to thoughtful design and robust construction, providing a stable foundation for your chosen optic. Let's delve into its key features:

• 2-Piece Design: Unlike a single-piece rail that spans the entire receiver, the 2-piece configuration offers several advantages. It provides greater flexibility in positioning scope rings to achieve optimal eye relief, especially important on rifles with varying stock lengths or shooter preferences. This design also often allows easier access to the rifle's receiver for cleaning or maintenance and can sometimes simplify bolt removal. For Mauser 98 owners, the 2-piece setup is particularly beneficial as it helps navigate potential clearance issues with the bolt handle, allowing for the use of a wide range of scope and ring combinations.
• Weaver Style Slots: The bases feature the widely recognized Weaver-style cross slots. This is a critical design choice because Weaver-style bases are incredibly versatile. They are compatible with both Weaver-style scope rings and most Picatinny-style scope rings. This universal compatibility ensures that you have a vast array of scope ring options available, allowing you to select rings that perfectly match your scope's tube diameter, objective lens size, and preferred height. This flexibility is a significant benefit, eliminating the need to search for highly specific or proprietary rings.
• Black Finish: The durable black finish not only provides a sleek, low-profile aesthetic that complements most rifle finishes but also offers essential protection against corrosion and wear. This ensures the base maintains its appearance and structural integrity even in challenging outdoor environments.
• Robust Construction: While specific material details may vary slightly by manufacturing run, Redfield scope bases are traditionally crafted from high-quality steel or aircraft-grade aluminum. This robust construction is fundamental to their performance, ensuring the mounts can withstand the recoil forces generated by powerful rifle cartridges and maintain a consistent zero, shot after shot. The strength of the material prevents flexing or warping, which are common causes of inaccuracy with lesser-quality mounts.
• Precision Engineering for Mauser 98: The precise hole spacing and contouring of the Redfield 47515 are specifically designed to align perfectly with the factory mounting holes of the Mauser 98 large-ring action. This precision fit minimizes stress on the mounting screws and ensures the scope base sits level and true, which is critical for accurate long-range shooting.

Who Benefits Most from the Redfield 47515 Scope Base?

This particular scope base is an excellent choice for a specific group of firearm owners and enthusiasts:

• Mauser 98 Rifle Owners: This is the primary audience. If you own a Mauser 98, whether an original military rifle you've sporterized, a custom build on a Mauser action, or a modern reproduction, this base is engineered for your firearm.
• Hunters: Reliability and durability are paramount in the field. A secure scope mount like the Redfield 47515 ensures your optic stays zeroed, preventing missed shots when it counts most. It allows hunters to extend their effective range and improve target acquisition in varying light conditions.
• Target Shooters: Consistency is key for precision shooting. The rigid mounting platform provided by these bases contributes directly to shot-to-shot consistency and the ability to hold a tight group.
• Firearm Restorers and Custom Builders: For those restoring a classic Mauser or building a custom rifle on a Mauser action, selecting components that honor the rifle's heritage while providing modern functionality is important. The Redfield 47515 fits this niche perfectly.
• DIY Gun Enthusiasts: Individuals comfortable with basic gunsmithing tools will find the installation straightforward, offering a rewarding upgrade experience.
• Anyone Seeking Reliable Optics Mounting: If you're tired of scope mounts that shift or lose zero, the Redfield 47515 offers a trustworthy solution built for longevity and performance.

Real-World Applications and Use Cases

How does the Redfield 47515 translate into tangible benefits in practical scenarios?

• Transforming a Classic Hunting Rifle: Imagine you have a cherished Mauser 98 passed down through generations. While it's a capable rifle, adding a modern scope with the Redfield 47515 base instantly upgrades its utility for deer, elk, or hog hunting. You gain the advantage of magnification, better low-light performance, and a precise aiming point, turning a historical piece into a highly effective modern hunting tool.
• Enhancing Target Practice: For those who enjoy informal target shooting or even competitive disciplines with their Mauser 98, a stable scope mount is crucial. The Redfield 47515 allows you to mount a high-magnification target scope, enabling you to clearly see your impacts and refine your shooting technique with confidence that your scope's zero is rock-solid.
• The Foundation for a Custom Build: If you're undertaking a custom rifle project using a Mauser 98 action, starting with high-quality components is essential. The Redfield 47515 provides the foundational strength and versatility needed for a reliable and accurate custom rifle. This allows builders to focus on other aspects of the rifle, knowing the optics mounting is handled by a reputable component.
• Troubleshooting Zero Retention Issues: If you've struggled with a scope that won't hold zero on your Mauser 98, the problem often lies with inadequate or poorly fitted mounts. Upgrading to a purpose-built base like the Redfield 47515 can often resolve these frustrating accuracy issues, ensuring your shots land where you intend them to.

The Advantage of Weaver Style Compatibility

One of the most frequently asked questions regarding scope bases is: "What kind of rings do I need for this?" With the Redfield 47515, the answer is refreshingly simple: any high-quality Weaver-style or Picatinny-style scope rings will typically work.

• Weaver Rings: These are a classic choice, known for their simple yet effective cross-bolt design. They offer a secure grip on the base.
• Picatinny Rings: While Picatinny rails have more uniformly spaced slots and a slightly different slot dimension compared to Weaver, most Picatinny rings are designed to be backward compatible with Weaver-style bases. This means you have an even wider selection of robust, modern rings available, including quick-detach options.

When selecting rings, consider your scope's objective lens diameter to ensure adequate clearance from the barrel, and your personal eye relief preference. DEGuns offers a wide variety of scope rings that perfectly complement the Redfield 47515 base, ensuring a complete and optimized mounting solution.

Installation and Maintenance: Getting the Most from Your Mount

While installing a scope base is a task many firearm owners can accomplish, precision is key for optimal performance.

General Installation Steps (Always refer to specific instructions from Redfield and your scope ring manufacturer):

1. Clean the Receiver: Ensure the rifle's receiver screw holes are clean and free of oil, grease, or old thread locker. A degreaser can be used, followed by drying.
2. Position the Bases: Align the front and rear Redfield 47515 bases with the corresponding screw holes on your Mauser 98 receiver.
3. Apply Thread Locker: For maximum security and resistance to recoil, apply a small amount of non-permanent (blue) thread locker to the mounting screws before installation. This prevents screws from vibrating loose.
4. Secure the Bases: Insert and hand-tighten the screws. Then, using a high-quality screwdriver bit that precisely fits the screw heads, tighten the screws to the manufacturer's recommended torque specifications. Over-tightening can strip threads or damage the base or receiver; under-tightening can lead to a loose mount.
5. Mount Scope Rings: Attach your chosen Weaver or Picatinny style scope rings to the Redfield bases, following the ring manufacturer's instructions.
6. Install Scope and Zero: Place your scope in the rings, adjust for eye relief, level the reticle, and secure the rings. Finally, proceed to zero your rifle at the range.

Maintenance:

• Periodic Check: Periodically check the mounting screws for tightness, especially after the first few shooting sessions and before important hunts or competitions.
• Cleaning: Keep the bases clean, wiping away any dirt, oil, or debris. A light coat of gun oil can protect the finish.

If you are uncomfortable performing the installation yourself, or lack the proper tools, consider having a qualified gunsmith install your Redfield 47515 bases and scope. This ensures a professional installation and peace of mind.

The Redfield Legacy: A Name You Can Trust

Redfield has a long and storied history in the optics and firearm accessory industry, known for producing reliable and functional products. While ownership and manufacturing locations have evolved over time, the brand's commitment to providing accessible, quality solutions for shooters remains. Choosing a Redfield product like the 47515 scope base means investing in a component from a brand with a legacy of serving the shooting community. This heritage translates into a product designed with practical use in mind, built to perform when it matters most.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Mauser 98 Experience

The Redfield 47515 2-Piece Weaver Style Scope Base for Mauser 98 rifles is more than just an accessory; it's an essential upgrade that transforms your classic firearm into a capable modern shooting platform. By providing a rock-solid, versatile, and precisely engineered foundation for your scope, it allows you to unlock the full accuracy potential of your Mauser 98. It solves the inherent challenges of mounting optics on this iconic action, ensuring optimal scope alignment, consistent zero, and reliable performance in any shooting scenario.

Whether you're embarking on a new hunting season, honing your skills at the range, or completing a meticulous restoration, the Redfield 47515 offers the durability, compatibility, and peace of mind you need. This dependable scope base allows your Mauser 98 to continue its legacy as a formidable and accurate rifle for generations to come.

You can find this reliable Redfield scope base, along with a wide selection of other firearm accessories and optics, at DEGuns.com.

Feature	Description	Compatibility
Product Model	Redfield Mounts 47515	Mauser 98 (Large Ring Action)
Base Type	2-Piece Scope Base	Weaver Style Rings
Finish	Black	Picatinny Style Rings
UPC	076683475152