Contessa scope mounts for Blaser rifles

When I bought my Blaser R8 Professional Success 10 years ago, I paid £2,300 and then forked out around £400 for their quick detachable (QD) and mandatory, saddle mount. No complaints, as I knew what I was getting into and had budgeted for it, and to be honest, it’s a lovely and practical design.

Later, I was toying with the idea of a Picatinny rail for the R8, as Blaser offered one. Much to my surprise, it was a very basic design, with no QD facility, and at the same money as the saddle mount, I thought it was very overpriced, so did not bother.

Contessa who?

I’d never heard of the Italian company Contessa until a chat with Alan Rhone informed me that the founder, Stefano Contessa, had been producing high-precision mechanical parts since 1974. Joined by his sons Alessandro and Andrea in 2000, they launched their own range of scope mounts, the Simple Black. They did something for the R8 and Alan, now the UK importer, sent me a Picatinny unit to test.

Initially, it felt a bit disloyal fitting a non-Blaser QD system to the rifle, but back then the price was considerably and pleasingly less than the original. Also, this was no rip-off copy, but a high-quality build and a very different, innovative design.

Choices, choices

Contessa offers a massive number of rails, rings, and mounts to suit day scopes, red dots, night vision, and thermals for a diverse range of optical and rifle makes. The Simple Black is significantly different and uses a large block with an angled front end. Although, and obviously using Blaser’s attachment points on the barrel’s reinforce, Contessa does not copy its twin lever system. Instead, there’s a single, long, horizontal locking bar, controlled by a central lever, on the left side. The act of closing it draws it into full engagement, where it locks securely, and typically, it can be adjusted to fit.

Long, short, or rings

My example came with a long Picatinny rail that allows you to shift the optic rearwards, fit some form of night vision, or simply compensate for scope mounting length. However, the rail can be removed, and conventional rings fitted instead, or there’s a version with them already fitted.

The super-extended rails on the Simple Black QD base extend front and rear, and they are aimed at most modern night vision, day/night scopes and thermal optics. They come in three lengths (420, 327 and 256mm), with the longest also showing Picatinny attachment points for accessories.

Matching Blaser’s original Picatinny base that bolts onto the barrel, Contessa’s comes in two options. The standard is 123mm long, and the extended 174mm, in flat or 20 MOA inclination, both with a low height of 9.5mm. Again, a solution that matches the rifle but is still well-priced.

European bases

Also on offer are Simple Black mounts cut for the European rail, that uses a scope body that attaches directly to the mount without the need for rings. Most major manufacturers are covered: Zeiss, Swarovski, Schmidt & Bender etc. Burris and Nikon, too.

Contessa offers the Simple Black in two models. One has a squared-off nose to the base and the other is angled. This has been done purely for the aesthetics of the situation, with the former more suited to turn-bolt actions and the latter for straight-pulls.

Levelling up

Something that impressed me when I first reviewed the Contessa mount for the R8, was the price, which I think back then was sub-£300, which compared very well to the Blaser unit at £400 plus. Today, and even more surprising, is the fact that Blaser seems to have reduced the cost of the original. Braces of Bristol, who are a big Blaser retailer, are now showing it at £345, with Contessa’s Ring Mount at £375.13. The flat-nosed versions are £323.09, with extra rings at £74.33 per set. On that point, they come in the following options: 1”, 30, 34, 36, and 40mm.

Regardless of this levelling up, Contessa offers a lot more options for the Blaser shooter, as can clearly be seen and for that matter, other makes too. Some good examples are the super-extended units, as before you would have had to go to a decent gunsmith to make you up a custom fitting using an original R93/R8, QD base.

Locked on

To fit the Simple Black base, Contessa has made it very easy. On the right side of the mount is a large, 4mm, flush-fit Allen screw. Above it, there’s another smaller 2.5mm one. Keys are supplied. Open the lever, by sliding up the locking catch, and offer the mount up so it locates in the holes on the right side of the barrel reinforce. Shut the lever and check for fit, if it’s loose, slacken off the 2.5mm screw, which frees the horizontal locking bar and takes up the adjustment on the 4mm screw. Be cautious, as you don’t need much movement. They say tighten to a force of 1.8 to 2Nm (Newton Meters) only. If the mount is too tight, reverse the process.

Better or different?

On the Blaser system, you must adjust the tension of both front and rear locking levers, whereas the Contessa does it all in one. In truth, both units do the job 100%, retaining zero after removal and re-insertion.

On the plus side, the Contessa offers a more versatile choice of fittings and therefore optical applications. However, it’s larger and heavier than Blaser’s saddle mount. Prices today seem reasonably similar, so going with the badge or not is just a matter of choice. But now, at least you have one.