Short Scope on a Remington 700 Long Action

[wanderinwalker]

Welcome to Friday all.

I've recently come into possession of a synthetic Remington 700 ADL in 30-06. It's an early J-lock rifle with the blind magazine, I think it's 17-18 years old and I know it has about 10 rounds through it.

Anyway, I also have a Leupold FX-2 2.5x scope I'd like to attach to this rifle. I know it's a short scope; it barely fit on an old Ruger 77 in 308 with room to adjust the eye relief. Right now it's on a CZ452 Lux and looks like it belongs there.

I haven't had a chance to measure and eyeball the dimensions yet, but I'm assuming I'll need offset bases to make this combination work. Has anybody here put together a similar setup before? What mounting system did you use? How do you like it?

I'm trying to avoid going to a Pic rail to keep the scope low over the bore and action. I'm also not above going to a fixed 4x or a longer low-power variable. Please don't recommend a 3-9x40 or bigger scope.

 

[jmr40]

I've just barely had room for a 2-7X32 on a long action with most any 2 piece mount such as Weaver or Talley. The Talley's can be mounted in either direction and that does give a lot more room than you'd think. Something like the DNZ mounts would probably work too. If not offset may be the only option.

https://swfa.com/dnz-game-reaper-1-scopemount-854.html
https://swfa.com/talley-lightweight-aluminum-1-scopemount-870.html

 

[LoonWulf]

I've got Talley light weights on my b-14 with both bases turned into the port. There's 5" from the back of the back, to the front of the front. Bout 3.75 between the rings. Dnzs should be a little closer together.

I think either will.be a little tight unless you like your scope way forward.

 

[cdb1]

I don’t understand why a picatinny base will make the scope sit higher than two piece bases.

Warne makes a very long front extension base.

https://warnescopemounts.com/product/m905/

 

[eastbank]

the weave one piece picatinny base is not any higher than the two piece set of weaver bases and will allow you to move the scope back where you want it. I have several of the one piece bases on several rem 700 SA and find them good.

 

[cdb1]

To somewhat echo Mr. eastbank, I prefer the looks of two piece bases. I believe in the past scopes were of a more unified length and there did not seem to be as many issues mounting them due to a lack of length. I run across issues frequently and sometimes in my business I run across a scope that just can’t be mounted with two piece bases. Even more frequently(a bunch) I’ll run into a scope that can be mounted but cannot be positioned far enough to the rear. For that reason I don’t buy two piece bases anymore, only picatinny rails, I also encourage my customers to do so. Makes life easier. And I’ve never noticed a picatinny bases causing a scope to sit higher than two piece bases. Another plus to using a picatinny or Weaver style one piece base is the elimination of many alignment issues.

There are numerous brands of picatinny bases that work great. I used to use Warnes but found another brand that’s works just as well for half the cost, EGW. Weaver brand picatinny’s are great too. I mounted many customer scopes at Cabela’s with them and never had an issue as far as I know.
Nikon P-223 3x32-the King of stubby rifle scopes.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Thanks for the replies all. It seems my visual impression of the Picattiny rails being over-tall is false. This is good news, as it looks like a rail is the quickest way to make sure whatever scope I want to use will fit the LA Remington. Though I do really like the Talley rings; I have a set on my maple T-Bolt Sporter with a Leupold 4x rimfire mounted up. It's a very lightweight, clean arrangement.

Now to be honest, I just stood the CZ with the little 2.5x scope next to the Remington and decided I'll probably go to a longer scope. The Leupold looks visually "correct" on the Lux, and I really dislike disassembling a scope/rifle that's already zeroed. Odds are good I'll pick up one of the the fixed 4x Leupolds for the odd-six. This is something I'm planning to put together as a "set and forget" rig using one load, and I've learned I kind of like fixed power scopes in general.

cdb1, you may be on to something with older scopes being more uniform in length, or potentially just longer in general. I have a 2.5x Bushnell that my grandfather used on the Ruger 77 I mentioned back in the first post. It's easily 3" longer than the Leupold, maybe more. I'll probably put it back together and leave it that way. The glass isn't as good for my eyes as the Leupold, but the LOP on that rifle is a hair too long for me (I'm 5' 8" and my grampa was 6' when he was younger) and the extra adjustment range will be useful.