Leupold scope mounting system ?

[Rich Z]

OK, please take a look at this photo and tell me something...

http://www.armslocker.com/pics/leupold_mount.gif


Now, am I right or wrong that with a two piece Leupold scope mount, the part shown on the LEFT of this photograph goes to the rear of the receiver? And with that rear part, the screws on the SIDE of that mount that actually hold the rear ring in place are on the back end of that part of the mount?

Can someone please tell me this?

[RIKA]

From the photo, it appears that you are correct.

RIKA

[Piemaster]

Now, am I right or wrong that with a two piece Leupold scope mount, the part shown on the LEFT of this photograph goes to the rear of the receiver?

Correct

And with that rear part, the screws on the SIDE of that mount that actually hold the rear ring in place are on the back end of that part of the mount?

This is true for every Remington 700 I've used these mounts on.

[Chippathingy]

Ditto......

[John in AR]

That looks an awful lot like a Redfield "turn-in" mount; and on a Redfield at least, that's how it mounts. I have the two-piece version on my Weatherby.

[Rich Z]

Well thank you for verifying that I wasn't just losing it. That's what I thought and that's how I mounted it on my Remington 700. But you know what? When it is mounted that way, the bolt cannot be opened. I wanted to take some photos, but it was raining all day and I didn't feel like lugging the camera through the rain to the other building. So heck, I just turned that rear mount around. But darn if he end of it doesn't overhang the receiver opening now. And that made the space between the front and rear rings rather short, so I had to reverse the front mount as well. Damn, something is not right here. I went dug into one of the vaults and pulled out another Remington 700 I have with Leupold mounts and apparently I must have had this problem before, because on that rifle the rear mount has those side screws to the front as well.

Darn, and all this time I thought I knew how to put on scope mounts and mount a scope to a rifle! What am I missing here?

Oh btw, that is just a generic photo I found on a website looking for the correct orientation of the mounts. Mine are definitely Leupold mounts.

[Piemaster]

When it is mounted that way, the bolt cannot be opened.

You can't open the bolt because the base is interfering with the bolt handle?

[Rich Z]

You can't open the bolt because the base is interfering with the bolt handle?

That is correct. With those side mounted screws to the rear of the back scope mount, the overhang of the scope mount interferes with the bolt handle.

[Rich Z]

Here's a photo of the model I ordered from Cabelas website:

http://www.armslocker.com/pics/i710528sq01.jpg

Text of item I ordered:
Remington 700/722/725 (all short-action)
Reversible Front Base

And item number on the order form:
Leupold Two-Piece Mount Base - Silver Item number: IF-710528
MODEL: BOLT ACTION-REV FRNT
This item is in stock.

The rifle is a Remington 700 stainless heavy barrel in .308. (I think it was called a model 24 or something like that. Some sort of miliary sniper overrun special).

[Piemaster]

Rich, I was wrong.

I just pulled 2 700s (a SA and LA) out and compared via the Mk1 Mod 0 eyeball a Leupold base (STD 50016) to where the mounting holes on the bases are the bases go on the opposite way of what I said earlier.

The base should not overhang the rear of the receiver at all.

The overhang you get on the receiver opening should be pretty small.

I'm sorry for the wrong input I gave earlier, I should have checked it as I haven't used a Leupold dovetail base in several years, I've switched to Badger, TPS, or QRWs.

Screws to the front and green side up.

[Rich Z]

Heck, all you are telling me is that your memory is no better then mine!

Logically I just assumed those screws should be to the back. Just seemed natural to me. Probably one of the reasons that I prefer Weaver style scope mounts. I just FORGOT!

My scope just barely fits there with the proper eye relief because the location of the rings really don't give me much choice in how I can position the scope. The scope adjustment turrets are FLUSH up against the front of the rear ring and the swell of the front bell is RIGHT up against the front of the front ring. If I had had to move the scope backwards another quarter inch, I wouldn't have been able to use that scope mount at all.

I SURE hope I remember this the next time I buy a rifle and want to mount a scope on it. Damn old age is killing off my brain cells too quickly lately....

Thanks for checking for me, btw.

[Piemaster]

The scope adjustment turrets are FLUSH up against the front of the rear ring and the swell of the front bell is RIGHT up against the front of the front ring.

They make the extension ring set to help you with that. You can use it to move the ring position 5/8"

[Rich Z]

Thanks, but I think I am OK with what I have. The eye relief seems fine and I didn't have to adjust my head position when I brought the rifle up to my shoulder. I'm hoping I'll find time to sight it all in over the next year or two...... ;)

[andy]

this is the kiind of crap that comes from having too many different types of guns, rich.

[Rich Z]

this is the kiind of crap that comes from having too many different types of guns, rich.
Yeah, but you have to admit, that of all the types of crap you can have, this is one of the better ones to suffer from.... ;)

[Hard Rock]

Hey Rich, are you dead set on having Leupold bases and rings? You might do well to look into Badger Ord. rings and bases.

See installation guidelines for some pics and stuff...

http://www.extremefirepower.com/M40scope.html

Mike

[Rich Z]

The rifle is only a .308, so I really didn't see the need for heavy duty rings. The scope is mounted now, so unless there is a problem, that is it.

Thanks for the link, btw. I bought one of those electronic levelers and used it for the first time mounting the scope and getting it all level. I like it a heck of a lot better then a bubble level! Seems like it would be much more accurate then trying to eyeball the position of that bubble.