Winchester Model 70 Alaskan in .375 H&H Scope Base Issues

[William Dykstra]

I recently picked up a new production Winchester Model 70 Alaskan in .375 H&H Magnum. It's a very nice rifle but I'm having some trouble concerning my selection of scope base. I purchased some normal Leupold Dual Dovetail scope bases (two base) , but one the rear end of the receiver the screw holes are too close together for the scope base to accommodate while the front scope base is just fine. Is this normal for the Model 70 Alaskan in .375 H&H or should I contact Winchester?

 

[Robert]

Sounds like they may have been drilled incorrectly. I use Leupold bases on my 375 Safari Express and they fit just fine.

Something else to watch out for on this length action is the length of the scope tube. I have a VX3 2.5-8x36 on my Safari Express and have almost no fore and aft adjustment. It fits and my eye relief works for me but that may not be the case for someone else.

 

[edwardware]

Winchester, or Leupold, or Leopold's find-a-base website, should do. I know the M70 LA mounts seem to be different below and above 300WM.

I have Talley's Lightweight rings, and like them. They're the OE fitment.

 

[HamSlamma]

I only buy DNZ scope rings.....

https://www.dnzproducts.com/game-reaper/

 

[jmr40]

I'm pretty sure the 375's use a different part number for bases than standard long actions. They have to modify the long actions to work with the longer H&H cartridges. The receiver ring is machined a little smaller to give more room and the holes for scope mounting are drilled slightly different. FWIW I wouldn't touch the dovetail mounts with a 10' pole.

 

[cdb1]

Winchester M70 Magnum actions take a different rear base than than M70 Long actions according to the info I have. I imagine the rear base you have is the issue, not the rifle.

 

[eastbank]

after using dual dovetail rings on magnum and regular rifles for years of hard hunting, I have found them to be rock sturdy and have held zero thru many hard knocks.

 

[Stubert]

I purchased an Alaskan in .375 two years ago. Yes, the rear bases are different. I installed a set of Leupold quick release rings. They work perfectly.

 

[Robert]

Goes to show what I remember. I put my bases on years ago and haven't thought about them since. I would have sworn they were just standard Leupold bases but I must have been wrong on that. Looks like you may have the wrong set for the rifle.

 

[edwardware]

I installed a set of Leupold quick release rings. They work perfectly.

And the $100 question: can you use the iron sights over the QR bases? If so, which QR bases (lever on the base, or lever on the ring)?

 

[cdb1]

There is certainly a dichotomy concerning Leupold mounts. I’ve read of accounts where people have had really bad luck with them. I also know there are a number of African PH’s that use and trust them.

I have them on two rifles. My .270 has had the same Leupold mounts since 1972. My 30-30 was drilled and tapped off-center so I used Leupold on it because of the rear base windage adjustment. All of my other rifles excluding AR have Warne rings and either Warne or EGW bases. If Leupold was the only brand a available it would not bother me at all.

I’ve seen bad rings/bases from Warne, Leupold, DNZ, Talley and Burris. They all make a mistake occasionally. I’ve never seen anything bad from Weaver. I do not like installing Weaver but they work as well as the others mentioned.

 

[bihj]

Talley list three hole spacing's for their mounts on model 70's

 

[William Dykstra]

I actually ended up buying the Leupold .330 spacing bases but I’m waiting on them to come in the mail. Why would Winchester drill the holes at different lengths apart?

 

[Bwana John]

I recently picked up a new production Winchester Model 70 Alaskan in .375 H&H Magnum. It's a very nice rifle but I'm having some trouble concerning my selection of scope base. I purchased some normal Leupold Dual Dovetail scope bases (two base) , but one the rear end of the receiver the screw holes are too close together for the scope base to accommodate while the front scope base is just fine. Is this normal for the Model 70 Alaskan in .375 H&H or should I contact Winchester?

It is normal for the magnum length "classic new pre64" type M70 action.

 

[cdb1]

To make mounting a scope easier?
Metric vs Imperial?
Belgian to Spanish- something got lost in translation?
Engineer was drunk one day?

I don’t have a clue.

 

[Jerry M]

I actually ended up buying the Leupold .330 spacing bases but I’m waiting on them to come in the mail. Why would Winchester drill the holes at different lengths apart?

Pre-64 Target model 70's and the .300 H&H and .375 H&H model 70 hunting rifles had different hole spacing then their other caliber Pre-64 actions. But I do not know the reason why? I am sure there was a spacing reason to do so.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[Stubert]

And the $100 question: can you use the iron sights over the QR bases? If so, which QR bases (lever on the base, or lever on the ring)?

And the $100 question: can you use the iron sights over the QR bases? If so, which QR bases (lever on the base, or lever on the ring)?

Yes, I can see the irons with the scope off. The mounts have the lever on them.