WHY are Dovetail rails still a thing?

If it ain't broke, don’t fix it. Machined correctly, aligned to bore and a good set of rings (Bkl) is very hard to beat. Ideal for low powered guns.

I tend to agree with Shambozzie.
As far as manufacturing goes, a dovetail is very simple once the operator has it dialed in. Like a picatinny, it’s critical that it be centered as close to perfect over the bore axis, but there’s a lot less details involved, and easier can mean cheaper. So if a manufacturer is trying to keep manufacturing cost to a minimum, a dovetail can help.
From what I’ve seen, I believe it’s primarily European manufacturers using the dovetail.

Dovetail looks cleaner and works absolutely fine in most cases. Picatinny is definitely a more secure system but I'm personally not a fan from an aesthetic standpoint in some cases.

Dovetail mounts often seem to be as simple as three simple cuts made in a barrel. Two long skinny ones, and a flat one between.

So if you can make a barrel, you're not far from making a good, aligned dovetail mount.

Cost And maybe more centered

Picatinny rails and rings look hideous on a nice clean airgun.

yeah a clean gun especially using open sights still looks like a clean gun with a dovetail ..

$$$$$$$ it cost $$ to manufacture a pic rail and install $$
11 MM rail is a simple cut for manufacturing . Also very precise line on the barrel bore . AND it looks much cleaner, to me anyway

cavedweller said:

I'd like to know the logic behind why dovetail rails are still a thing?
Why hasn't the more modern and more secure picatinny rail simply replaced all the old dovetail machining in airguns?

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Agree,...yes a dovetail on a classic looking springer looks nicer but but otherwise the picatinny is way more functional,
for PCPs with the actions as they are no reason for not having Picattiny that also takes a much bigger variety of rings,...cannot get super low rings for dovetail

Dovetail rails are cleaner looking, easier to mount and position rings, and carry no 'tactical' connotation. In other words more practical on recoilless guns, and more aesthetic.

More aftermarket for Picatinny rails. The mfg's need to get on the same page

The Warne bases and rings on my Winchester 52 would be awesome, tidy and neat but I think the screw mounted bases could be a problem because the thinner metal on a compression tube requires a short screw and some might run into problems using the wrong length. Pistons might need a clearance slot like an R10 has(inherited from BSF).
A sweated on base, silver soldered, might be an option as used on earlier Theobens.
11 mm cut dovetails were designed for nearly recoiless .22 rf. Barely sufficient for a Springer. Most mounts put the scope left or right of center. Not ideal either.

MIL-STD-1913 picatinny rails are my preference especially for a scope mount base. It's not about being "tactical". Just more options available.

High Recoil = Picatinny rail (Springers) Low Recoil (PCP) = Dovetail Not that complicated.

Dovetails are lighter smaller easier and cheaper to manufacture and work just as well on low recoil guns.

cavedweller said:

I'd like to know the logic behind why dovetail rails are still a thing?
Why hasn't the more modern and more secure picatinny rail simply replaced all the old dovetail machining in airguns?

Click to expand...

cavedweller said:

I'd like to know the logic behind why dovetail rails are still a thing?
Why hasn't the more modern and more secure picatinny rail simply replaced all the old dovetail machining in airguns?

Click to expand...

Are picatinny rails really more secure? I wonder... because I never had a problem with 11mm dovetail rails for scopes.

Most accessory rails ARE picatinny, even if the scope rail IS 11mm dovetail. I think? (chuckle)

I even have one scope mounted to dovetail using an adapter. Never have had a problem with the mounting. (smile)

Because it's a simple milling operation once it's set up. Cheapest way to go. And it's the industry standard.

I've thought about my preference often between the two. I'll let you know if I can ever land one one over another!