Recknagel ERA_-TAC 70 MOA Mount

Choosing the correct mount is of paramount importance when buying a new rifle/ scope option. Get this wrong and you will be cursing all those unexplained fliers and zero shifts. Think about it, it’s the only thing connecting your aim to the bullet. Alan Rhone Ltd understands the need for precision gear and imports and stocks the superb Recknagel range of mounting systems amongst many others.

Recknagel is based in Germany and manufactures an amazing array of scope mounts, custom gun parts, triggers and rails etc. I use their superbly made mounts and custom items on my guns and they cater for all types of shooters and styles of rifles, including sporting, target, long range and military/tactical.

Long ranger

Being a bit of a long range varmint and wildcat cartridge geek, the need for a mount that allows maximum scope adjustment for extreme ranges is a real consideration. This usually means using an angled scope rail to allow more internal elevation adjustment. Not any more! Enter the ERATAC 70 MOA mount.

This one-piece design solves all your scope mounting problems in one. It is made from high-grade aluminium and the whole unit is hard anodised to Mil- Spec Class 3, for extreme use and longevity. It’s all precision machined, preventing zero shift and providing reliable adjustability.

You have a choice of 30, 34 and 36mm ring sizes, meaning the system can accommodate a huge array of long range scopes from all the major manufacturers. A selection of ring heights from 20 to 30mm means that the different sizes of objective lenses can also be accommodated. Nice!

If you select the unit fitted with 7/16” tightening nuts (on test), it will set you back around £505. The QD version features twin clamping levers and allows you to quickly detach the scope from your rifle for storage. It costs about £578.

The model on test is the T2063-0025. It features 30mm rings, four Torx head screws to secure each ring top and a Picatinny rail mount. Recknagel has cleverly added two clamping rails to each scope ring top, allowing the attachment of cosine indicators, spirit levels and rails for lasers etc. No stone is left unturned in the pursuit of perfection for the shooter.

The height from base to rings is 25mm on this model and the total length of the mount is 120mm (4”) from ring to ring. The effective clamping area measures just under 4”. The nuts for clamping provide positive tension and the two integral cross-bolt recoil lugs that are part of the Picatinny design, help to secure the unit.

Elevate

Now the best bit. This mount elevates, allowing a 0 to 70 MOA compensation for trajectory adjustment. It is incredibly simple, with minimal but precisely made parts to ensure repeatability and exact adjustments.

Basically, you have one large pivoting mount in two major sections. The front fixing screw joins the top and bottom halves and allows a forward pivot and thus downward motion, which translate to increased MOA. The rear fixing screw is very clever, and when this and the front screw are loosened in unison, the adjustment knob can be rotated in 10 MOA increments for exact adjustment, with zero run out. An MRAD option is also available from 0-20 MRAD in five increments.

When using my one, with each 10 MOA rotation the mount tips forward and you then tighten the Torx head screws to the specified 12Nm (max) using the key supplied. Self-locking thread inserts maintain a permanent and precise seating of the connections between top and bottom halves. The hinge is a solid tapered join, meaning that it is impossible for there to be any ‘play’ in the mount, so the zero and amount of adjustment are maintained.

On the range

I have used the ERA-TAC on countless rifles and it worked really well when used in conjunction with a Tikka T3x Tact A1 in .308, making a great setup for longer range shots with heavier bullets. The good old Sierra 180-grain MatchKings ambled along at 2626fps (2757 ft/lbs of energy) and achieved sub-inch groups. A load of 46.0-grains of Vhit N550 seemed to work well here.

Zeroed at 100 yards with the Swarovski Target scope, the drop at 500 yards was -58.6” (11.18 MOA adjustment). At 850 yards, we were -245.4” low (27.57 MOA adjustment). At 1000 yards, the drop increased to -387.4” (36.99 MOA). Finally, at 1500 yards, where we shoot extreme long range steels, this load needed 81.97 MOA to adjust for the -1287.9” drop - the Recknagel took it all in its stride.

Rimfires too

With the same setup zeroed at 200 yards and fitted to my Bergara B14R .22LR rimfire rifle (ammo doing 1108 fps), the amount of drop was -28.25” (10.85 MOA) at 250 yards, -71.36” (22.81 MOA) at 300, -208.19” (49.79 MOA) at 400 and -426.33” (81.47 MOA) at 500 yards - nearly 36 feet!

I also love using this mount on a Schultz and Larsen Legacy in .300 Blackout and my .338 BR subsonic Tikka. The latter shoots a Sierra 300-grain MatchKing at 1060 fps (748 ft/lbs) from a 14.5” barrel, using 7.5-grains of HP38 powder. Zeroed at 100yds, you are -213.2” low at 500 yards, which is +170.6 clicks (40.72 MOA) from a ¼” click scope. This is where the 70 MOA Recknagel really shines, as it means I can plink away at silhouettes at this range and still have enough adjustment to try shots out to 750 yards - great fun.

Conclusions

This Recknagel is a onestop- shop scope mount that does it all. Yes, it is £505, but it will not let you down, literally. It is worth every penny and that assurance of maintaining zero, ease of fitment and all that lovely adjustment make it priceless.