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Gunsmith Didn't Like Base and Rings

Herd_Bull

Hi. I recently dropped off a stock rem 700 LSS (270wsm) with my gunsmith for him to custom fit and bed into a new HS Precision stock. He gave me a little grief with the rings I currently have on it… Leupold dovetails.

https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/mounting-systems/dual-dovetail-mounting-systems/

He basically told me that there are better mounting systems out there and he recommended detachable rings. He said the dovetails are strong as hell but not a great option if one ever wanted to change scopes and can be finicky to align exactly correct with each other.

I was in a hurry so had to get going, but I’ve been thinking about what he said and will give him a call to further discuss this week, but I thought I’d ask on here what some of you more experienced guys think and would recommend for a good ring and base option for this rifle? It’s just a hunting rifle… and I like one and done type options for long term dependability. I’ve never used the detachable rings but thought they might be a good option...??? Not sure.

The scope will be a Leupold with a 1” tube if it matters. Thanks.
 
I've use those rings and like them well for hunting. They are finicky to align but are strong and solid. That said I don't use them on any of my target or PD guns because there are better systems if you change scopes frequently. If I recall correctly, the leupold rings have a feature that allows you to adjust scope alignment if that is necessary. But so do other mounts.
 
Personally I prefer the old school weaver , the ones with the coin slot tension screw . Strong , light , and easily removed and reinstalled . Newer designs exist but the Weavers are still my choice .
 
Herd_Bull said:
What other types of mounts do you guys recommend for a hunting rig? Thanks.
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I have used Warne mounts (and vertical split rings) for quite some time and I've been very happy with them.
 
I tried the dual dovetails and yes, alignment can be problematic. Presently, I use the Burris universals with inserts, dovetail front with windage adjustment rear. This facilitates keeping the scope mechanically centered without shims and no lapping required.YMMV.
 
I have had dovetails on my A-bolt hunting rifle since I mounted a Vari-X 3 on it in 1990. I know scopes sometimes fail, but after 27 years, both scope and rings are still going strong. I usually only need one shot to confirm zero before hunting, but I do shoot a box or so to try out different shooting positions so I don't go in the woods with a poor touch.
 
Herd_Bull said:
What other types of mounts do you guys recommend for a hunting rig? Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have tried them all...some more than once. There are many good rings and bases out there that work. I have to say that currently, on all my big game {no Africa stuff, North America only} rifles I use the exact set up you have. I have found the Leupold Dual Dovetails to work flawless. They are tough, they are trouble free and they DON'T MOVE.
I would seriously question anyone calling himself a "gunsmith" that thinks dual dovetails are "finicky" to align??? I have had zero problems either using or installing them. Now, I agree, if you intend to pull the scope on and off they are not the ones to use. The easiest way to say it is this; when you are done playing with some of the B.S. that can go along with some rings and bases and you want one more set to hold zero and give you no more problems the ones to buy, install and forget about is the Leupold Dual Dovetail!!!!! Period, end of story. The best advice from me to you is, you don't need different rings and bases, you need a different gunsmith!!!!!
 
I am not seeing the problem of pulling a bad scope from the dual dovetails and replacing it. I"m sure even in Africa you can find a PH that has a torx driver. Once the rings are aligned and lapped, any one inch(or 30mm for those size rings) will drop right in. I do use other rings,(Warne's ARE built like a tank) either from application, convenience, even what was on the prize table, and it hasn't been a hassle to make any of them work just fine. Save your money, stick with the dovetails on that rifle, ignore the supposed problem with them and bag your game.
 
If you have been around big animals you know that at short distance if ones chargeing you even with a quick disconnect mount you will be lucky to get the scope off and on target before your lion dinner or stomped smooth with the dirt..
 
Rsadams said:
.......before your lion dinner or stomped smooth with the dirt..
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I knew there was a reason I stayed out of Africa all these years!!!!! Seriously, I guess there is a call for some guys to have a rifle that can be shot with a scope or sights. Or it sounds like even one where you swap scopes back and forth on the same rifle. Me personally, I like to find what works and just leave it alone. I have one rifle, I guess you could say it is my "primary". It's a pre-64 70 in 30-06AI with a McMillan stock, Krieger barrel and Zeiss scope....it has been together since early 1990 and I have killed a lot of animals with it. If I gotta flop scopes back and forth then somethin's wrong.
 
msinc said:
I knew there was a reason I stayed out of Africa all these years!!!!! Seriously, I guess there is a call for some guys to have a rifle that can be shot with a scope or sights. Or it sounds like even one where you swap scopes back and forth on the same rifle. Me personally, I like to find what works and just leave it alone. I have one rifle, I guess you could say it is my "primary". It's a pre-64 70 in 30-06AI with a McMillan stock, Krieger barrel and Zeiss scope....it has been together since early 1990 and I have killed a lot of animals with it. If I gotta flop scopes back and forth then somethin's wrong.
Click to expand...
Yup , when I find a combo that works good together it stays put till it breaks..I just pulled two scopes after buying a new Leupold for one rifle and the scope off that one replaced a scope that had been on another rifle probably 60 years but hazed over... Was my grandfather's but its a nice rifle chambered in 30.06 and is to much for these south Texas whitetails.. An old woodsmaster 720 auto I think it has not had two boxes of shells through it in its life.. A nice 100 percent example of one.. Shame they are not worth alot..
 
Rsadams said:
Yup , when I find a combo that works good together it stays put till it breaks..I just pulled two scopes after buying a new Leupold for one rifle and the scope off that one replaced a scope that had been on another rifle probably 60 years but hazed over... Was my grandfather's but its a nice rifle chambered in 30.06 and is to much for these south Texas whitetails.. An old Woodsmaster 720 auto I think it has not had two boxes of shells through it in its life.. A nice 100 percent example of one.. Shame they are not worth alot..
Click to expand...

I think you mean "742" Woodsmaster????...yep they are nice rifles for hunting. About the only thing that happens to them, and it is rare, is that the nut securing the barrel to the receiver can sometimes wiggle loose. The rifle will shoot crazy...all over the paper if you can hit a target at all. Simple fix, loosen it and get some red Loc-Tite on it and re-tighten. I am a 760/7600 man myself. That was the pump version. I really love the lines of that rifle. Love it so much I built one in 260.
Even more rare with the 742/7400 rifles is the bolt stop can wear and fly apart...this takes a lot of rounds and wear with little to no lube before that happens. Only seen two do that.
 
I tried double dovetails once. They worked great, but I didn't like the process to get them aligned perfectly.

I have used QR rings on guns that were switch barrel or where I occasionally wanted to use the open signs. The couple brands I used (Leupold, Warne?) worked well and returned CLOSE to zero.

I wish I had enough money to put QR on everything and have extra scopes lying around to swap out to a higher power for targets/competition then a lower one for hunting...
 
Herd_Bull said:
What other types of mounts do you guys recommend for a hunting rig? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Leupold dual dovetail or Talley's. I don't switch scopes around. No matter how good a mounting system is, it's just not in my DNA to trust a freshly mounted scope without verifying it on target. So, I take a back up gun.
 
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For my hunting rifles I like 2 piece bases.
There is plenty of good rings out there.
Those Dovetail Leupold base & ring system I don't dig so much.
 
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