Model 70 Rings/Bases

[BonUm16]

At 70yo, and after a lifetime of buying inexpensive rifles and scopes, one of my best friends stunned me yesterday with his purchase of a “nice “ rifle, a current production Model 70 Super Grade .308, and a VX5HD scope. He asked me about rings and I suggested my go-to Talleys. Thinking about it today, perhaps there is a better choice. Any other suggestions?

 

[mdwest]

you cant go wrong with Talley.. for the price point they are exceptional in my opinion...

I personally prefer Warne Maxima rings and bases.. most of my rifles wear Warne... but.. I do still have a few that wear Talley.. for me, those two brands are as good as it gets before stepping into the cost of something like Alaska Arms, Badger Ordnance, etc.. and paying hundreds of dollars for a set of rings and bases..

 

[Roosterlund]

I like a nice two piece gloss Leupold bases and rings on a beautiful Winchester. Looks classy especially on a super grade.

 

[Tex .416]

Luepold’s comparable model is more robust than Talley lightweights and worth a look for that style.

Leupold 2-Piece Backcountry Scope Mount 30mm Rings Winchester 70 Matte

Leupold 2-Piece Backcountry Scope Mounts with Integral Rings are constructed of lightweight and rugged 7075 aluminum. These premier precision machined...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[BonUm16]

Luepold’s comparable model is more robust than Talley lightweights and worth a look for that style.

Leupold 2-Piece Backcountry Scope Mount 30mm Rings Winchester 70 Matte

Leupold 2-Piece Backcountry Scope Mounts with Integral Rings are constructed of lightweight and rugged 7075 aluminum. These premier precision machined...

www.midwayusa.com

Have you used them?

I was leaning a bit towards them (they’re saved in my cart at Eurooptic) this morning and are, in part, why I posed the initial question. I like simple/fewer points of failure rings which is why I tend toward Talleys. The Leupolds are similar in that regard and more aesthetically pleasing to my eye. I’ve just never used them and haven’t read a lot about them.

 

[Tex .416]

Have you used them?

I was leaning a bit towards them (they’re saved in my cart at Eurooptic) this morning and are, in part, why I posed the initial question. I like simple/fewer points of failure rings which is why I tend toward Talleys. The Leupolds are similar in that regard and more aesthetically pleasing to my eye. I’ve just never used them and haven’t read a lot about them.

Yes, on a rifle for a friend. The are holding up without any issues. I have used Talley lightweights in the past and had them crack. I will no longer use them for anything. Dave’s heavier duty rings are solid and good to go.

I always use a torque wrench to mount optics, so the cracking was not due to being over torqued. The Talley lightweights seem to have pushed thin to the edge of the envelope.

Durable and reliable are the most important consideration for mounts to me. On my personal rifles, I use Picatinny rails and rings and on a couple of rifles now have gone to Spuhr mounts, which are the most robust lightweight option I know of at the moment.

fwiw - I mounted a Luepold pic rail on a new M70 Super Grade just today. It will have an old well proven NF riding up top until the rifle proves itself reliable and accurate. Then it may have these Luepold rings on it, or the Pic rail may stay.

So many seem to get all wrapped around the axle on maintaining the look of rifles from our youth. Scopes and mounts have evolved dramatically in the last twenty years and strengthened one of the weakest points.

To consider aesthetics of a Pic rail set up on a traditional styled rifle, here is one of my customs made by Sterling Davenport with a lightweight Pic rail and NF ultralight Pic rings. It is rock solid. The stock will break before the scope is knocked out of whack.

 

[jbirdwell]

I used to be a Talley only guy but I have been slowly moving most of my rifles to a Talley rail mount if they make one for a model and the Warne Maxima Vertical Rings. Having a lot more rifles than scopes, this allows me to share a scope with a couple rifles more easily if I need to.

 

[Tex .416]

I used to be a Talley only guy but I have been slowly moving most of my rifles to a Talley rail mount if they make one for a model and the Warne Maxima Vertical Rings. Having a lot more rifles than scopes, this allows me to share a scope with a couple rifles more easily if I need to.

The vertical rings have more trouble maintaining consistent pressure moving between rifles.

The rings with a top cap piece, i.e. a horizontal split, are very fast and easy to swap between rifles. As you mention, that is one of the best features of using a Pic rail.

Two weeks ago, I wanted to use my Henry .45-70 to go deer hunting, but wanted a scope on it. I pulled a NF 1 - 8 LPVO in a Spuhr mount off an AR and stuck it on. It will not win a beauty contest, but it was ready to hunt in a matter of minutes.

Here were the first two shots after pulling it from the AR and putting it on the .45-70. A torque wrench is used to mount it.

 

[DaddyFlip]

I just posted a first impression and install review of the DNZ Products Game Reaper 1-piece mount for my Model 70 you can look at.

 

[Rifleman97]

On cheaper rifles like the Winchester (cheap being relative) the lightweight talley’s definitely need to be lapped. In my limited experience with them (2 model 70’s, both FN made) when I started the lapping process there was almost no contact on one of the rings, and limited on the other. This isn’t talley’s fault but rather the nature that the top surface of mass produced actions is just not as precise as it should be. After lapping they’re amazing.

 

[Northview902]

If your friend values a clean, classic, and lightweight look, he should stop looking and buy the Talleys. He will not be disappointed.