Pistol Box and spotting scope for bullseye

[ChuckS1]

Guys, you realize this thread is 3 years old, right?

 

[Beerjman]

Three years old or not - it is a GREAT read .
BTW nothing beats the old Pachmayr 4 gun pistol box with the separate , lockable compartment in the back and a Hebard scope mount on the lid .

 

[BE Mike]

I wouldn't buy a Sportlock pistol box. They are very cheesy. I have one of these and like it a lot: Web Store - Precision Pistol Box

I paid extra to have him include the adjustable scope mount. I ordered an extended arm for the scope mount from Larrys Guns in Maine because I shoot at different ranges with different table heights. I have a Kowa spotting scope and it works very well. Mine has the 45 degree angled eyepiece which makes it easier to spot shots without changing my foot position.

 

[JERRYB1127]

The spotting scopes at my pistol range leave a bit to be desired and I'm considering a pistol box along with mounted scope.

In researching these I see some boxes have the scope arm (not sure the proper term) mounted at the bottom of the lid (when the lid is in the open position) and some have it mounted at the top of the lid (when open). For example these two (may be the same box?) have the arm mounted at the top of the lid.
SportLock Aluminum 4 Gun Pistol Box :: Pistol Boxes & Cases :: Bullseye Gear

Deluxe 4 Gun Target Pistol Case :: Gun Cases and Pistol Boxes :: Cases :: Champion...

Is there any benefit or drawback to how this arm is mounted? Does one position provide more stability than the other? Would a bottom mounted arm be better for a tall shooter (bench height dependent?) Does the scope stay mounted to the arm when the box is closed up or is it removed and stowed in the lower tray?

With regards to spotting scopes for bullseye at 25 and 50 yards, I'm wondering if my current scope will work in conjunction with one of these pistol boxes. I currently own this scope which is used in Highpower rifle or benchrest rifle. I have a 27X long-eye-relief eyepiece on it currently. This is a nice scope with great glass, but it is a large scope.
Kowa Optimed - Sporting Optics, Medical Equipment, Opto-Electronics

I brought this with me to the pistol range today just to see if I could use it at 25 yards and it worked ok in terms of viewing the bullseye on the target. There was great clarity and .22 cal holes were very easily spotted.

However, I fear this scope would be too large to use on one of these pistol boxes? The boxes say they are 17.25 wide. The scope would fit in the tray if the eye piece were removed, but I'm more wondering if this scope could realistically be used on that arm bracket without the lid wanting to close on its own?

For those of you who use these pistol boxes with the mounted scopes, is this scope likely too big to be of practical use on a box? Do folks usually use a 'compact' scope on these boxes?

Thanks

Wayne, I bought the STRONG CASE SRC-2008. It costs $214.99. Weighs 14 lbs. 'Very heavy when 3 guns with red dot sights, spotting scope, ear muffs, 300 rounds of ammo, etc. in it. 90% of the shooters in my bullseye pistol league have this same pistol box or the 4 gun model. It is a little heavy, but perfectly fine for my purposes.

 

[bgrafsr]

I have had a Pachmayr box for over 25 years from my PPC shooting days. I just started shooting the .22 leagues at the club I belong to, which has an indoor range, so I was using the Pachmayr box. I found out that with a red dot mounted to my Ruger semi auto, there was not enough room for the gun to sit up right in the box. I ended up buying a Strong case to use for the .22 shoots. I like it a lot and it holds all the equipment I need for the matches.