Bushnell Phantom mount problems.....

stantheman86 · Mar 26, 2011

I couldn't find a better forum for this, if it's wrong feel free to move it

I have a Bushnell Magnum Phantom handgun scope with the Bushnell mount. When everything was snugged up, the scope was rock solid. After 6 rounds of .38, the scope moved up and down a little bit. After that, no matter how much I tightened the hex screws on the side, it was still loose.

Any ideas from Bushnell Phantom owners? I don't get why it was tight, and then loosened and couldn't be re-tightened again. I wrenched on the hex screws, and it was as tight as it could be and still had some movement.

Alk8944 · Mar 27, 2011

Don't want to sound harsh, but take that *** off and throw it in a drawer.

It isn't the integral rings that are loose, it is the base and the way it is attached to the revolver. Chances are that the rear screw that has the "T" nut that goes into the rear sight T-slot is either loose or broken. If you keep shooting it you will break the front screw too. Actually it could be either screw.

The Phantom mount was fine when used on a .22, and often a .38, but they are notoriously weak. Back in the day when they were available, and virtually the only game in town, it wasn't uncommon to have a screw break in only 1-2 shots if used on even a .357 Magnum. There is a very good reason they are no longer made!

stantheman86 · Mar 27, 2011

Thanks for the info, I had thought about just selling the whole setup.....

The mount seems solid, it's the fit of the scope to the base that is loose up and down. I only planned to shoot .38's through it, although I may just abandon the whole project and return the gun to iron sights.

It's a shame, the mount and scope are super light, and for the 6 shots that I ran through the revolver it seemed to work well.

s&wchad · Mar 27, 2011

It‘s a fairly simple mount, take it apart and find out what‘s wrong. As I remember, you pull the allen screws, remove the clamp plate and take the scope off to the left. Make sure the screws that hold the top part of the base to the scope rail and the screws that hold the bottom part of the base to the frame are all tight. If they’re loose, you may want to clean the holes and screws with alcohol and use removable Loctite. Also make sure the flanges are properly engaging the dovetails (on both sides) when you reassemble it.

I have a Phantom II on a Colt .357 and it holds zero just fine. I'd take it off, but it required drilling extra holes in the frame and the hole would be visible with the rear sight reinstalled. I basically paid current price for the grips that were on it and the gun was thrown in free, so I can't complain.

Bushnell Phantom mount problems.....

stantheman86

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Alk8944

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stantheman86

US Veteran

s&wchad

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