[DesertRat]

O.K. Folks, its been a few weeks since I made an inquiry here on scope mounts. Well, I selected Conetrol scope mounts for mounting my Kahles to a new Winchester 70.

One small potential problem though. My bolt handle (arm) comes very close to the rear scope bell and in fact, if I apply a little (normal) pressure I can actually touch the rear bell with the bolt arm in a couple of places along the travel of the bolt. :)

I'm presuming that if the bolt arm can touch the scope bell that this is simply too close and I should probably opt for the medium height rings. What do you guys think?

My thoughts are that while I don't normally bump the rear bell with the bolt handle right now, as time progresses and the action wears this will eventually result in the bolt regularly bumping the scope over time.

Does anyone have a rule of thumb for how close a bolt is allowed to travel near any part of the scope? :scrutiny:

[Art Eatman]

Wuz it me, I'd get a smith to heat and bend the bolt-handle just a smidgin to get another sixteenth or eighth of an inch of clearance. Or, grind the handle a bit and reblue. Or both. :)

I sorta doubt that future wear is going to affect things.

Art

[MAURICE]

I had the same problem on a marlin 25mn with the scope. Took the bolt out, ground it down a little and polished it up. Ill reblue it one of these days, but Im not in a hurry.

[Chuck Dye]

I vote for one or both mods already mentioned, especially if the rifle in question is a hunter: even deliberately brisk cycling of the bolt in practice barely compares with the slammin' and jammin' that occurs when you are trying to get a second shot into a critter and there are real benefits to keeping the scope axis as low as possible.

[TooTech]

Is everyone kidding? GRIND the gun? How much metal are you going to file off to get the needed clearance?

Get the next higher rings.

Nice choice of scope BTW!

[Andrew Wyatt]

low rings are good. grind the bolt handle. Guns aren't sacred tablets; modification to them is not a crime against god.

[DesertRat]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Your answers were 'bout as I figured. As of now I've removed the scope from the bases and found that the bolt handle has left a small line across the entire length of the rear bell. Apparently there is full contact the entire length of the bell when I fast cycle the bolt.

Not a huge deal, but I called Conetrol and they were incredulous that this would happen. They said they were certain that with the newly reconfigured bolt on the current production model 70s that there would be no problem. Remembering back to the time I ordered the mounts Conetrol didn't believe me that Kahles made a 4x36 scope either.

First step, I have opted to go with the medium height rings (this will only add 1/16" height anyway). Well considering my front scope bell is nearly resting on the barrel/chamber area leaving maybe 1/16" clearance. Conetrol brags that their high rings are still lower than the low rings of most manufacturers (I believe they're probably right).

The second step is that I WILL grind and polish the bolt handle a little was well, as I believe that I'm going to need at least 1/8" additional clearance to cycle the bolt. Heck, my hand nearly glances off the bolt (and always rubs) the rear scope bell when I cycle the action.

I realize lower is better when mounting a scope, so you guys can slap me if you disagree with my rationale., but you'll have to catch me first! :p

[Sunray]

The only time you have to worry about it is if you have to cycle the action in a hurry for a second shot of game. Otherwise, it doesn't matter. It's not like you're going to deliberately bash the scope. 1/8th is a lot to grind off the bolt. You only need enough clearance to get past the scope. A clean 1/16 is plenty.