Model 70 SE scope mounts

[Just Passing Through]

If you have a Model 70 Safari Express, what rings and bases are you using? Are the Leupold QD (Weaver style) extension rings solid? Any luck using low rings with a 40mm objective?

JPT

 

[Red Leg]

Warne makes weaver style, detachable rings that are ideal on a DG rifle (get the lever model). Have them on half a dozen rifles and they are rugged and return to zero every time. Last summer, I helped with a leopard follow-up with my .338 with the scope in my pocket, and the next morning shot an SCI gold gemsbok at a 175 yards with the scope remounted and no follow-up sighting in. Great product.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Warne makes weaver style, detachable rings that are ideal on a DG rifle (get the lever model). Have them on half a dozen rifles and they are rugged and return to zero every time. Last summer, I helped with a leopard follow-up with my .338 with the scope in my pocket, and the next morning shot an SCI gold gemsbok at a 175 yards with the scope remounted and no follow-up sighting in. Great product.

+1, I love the Warne rings. The design is such that it brings the two halves together evenly and thus unless you tighten one screw at a time, you really can't have the scope misaligned. This versus Leupold rings where you have to twist them into place and tinker around to make sure the scope is fitting perfectly in line without binding. It's almost impossible to mess this up with the Warnes, they essentially "float" into place on the scope.

 

[DOC-404]

I only use Warne QD mounts,never let me down. Have a look here-

Maxima Quick Detach Rings

 

[Just Passing Through]

Thanks for the opinions about Warne QD rings, however, I am trying to get information from M70 SE owners about extension rings, and ring height.

Either I find extension rings, or use a different scope with a longer tube (and larger objective). If I use a larger scope, ring height is critical due to the positioning of the rear sight. This is for a .375 and I don't want to end up using a scope with a 20mm objective.

JPT

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Thanks for the opinions about Warne QD rings, however, I am trying to get information from M70 SE owners about extension rings, and ring height.

Either I find extension rings, or use a different scope with a longer tube (and larger objective). If I use a larger scope, ring height is critical due to the positioning of the rear sight. This is for a .375 and I don't want to end up using a scope with a 20mm objective.

JPT

I understand your problem, I had it too. Warne makes an extended front base that will solve the short tube issue. They also make their rings in 3 different heights. When I get home to tonight I'll post a pic of my M70 SE setup with a 3-9x40 scope on it.

 

[35bore]

I don't know if they make them for the M70 (don't know why they wouldn't) but, Warne does make a solid one piece base with 4 contact points for the rings. That way you could use almost any scope you saw fit to mount. Warne Maxima 1 piece base.

 

[Just Passing Through]

I understand your problem, I had it too. Warne makes an extended front base that will solve the short tube issue. They also make their rings in 3 different heights. When I get home to tonight I'll post a pic of my M70 SE setup with a 3-9x40 scope on it.

That looks like the answer. Obviously I did not look hard enough at the Warne web-site, and missed the extension bases. Brownells has them in stock, and a new front extension base has now been ordered (already had a set of Maxima bases on the rifle). Thanks much
JPT

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

That looks like the answer. Obviously I did not look hard enough at the Warne web-site, and missed the extension bases. Brownells has them in stock, and a new front extension base has now been ordered (already had a set of Maxima bases on the rifle). Thanks much
JPT

Sounds like you've got it handled, but as promised a couple of pics of my setup. By the way, I was in a hurry messing around with this rifle before a shoot last weekend, so don't make the mistake of putting the QD levers on the right side. It didn't mess me up, but the levers are something you then have to work around when loading. The scope is a 3-9x40 and I bought the longer of those two extension bases that Warne offers. You'll notice the rear sight blade is just a bit higher than the bottom of the scope bell. But even at 3x magnification it does not show up when looking through the scope. Good luck!

 

[Just Passing Through]

Thanks Phil. It looks like you have plenty of space between the objective lens bell and the barrel. How high are your rings?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I'm fairly certain I ordered the medium height. With that 40mm lens, I would not have attempted the low version and the sight blade would come more into play. And yes there's plenty of daylight between bell and barrel, so no issues there.

 

[Bobpuckett]

I love the Warne rings I just bought a set for my 308 and they are great at an affordable price. I'll be replacing a lot of my older rings with Warne rings.

 

[Just Passing Through]

I ended up with the Warne M905M base (.854" extension). The .554" base just was not quite long enough. The base extension does not interfere with either loading or ejection, so I am a happy guy.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Glad it worked out for you.

 

[desertloper]

Finally found a M70 SE in .375h&h!

I already have a Trijicon 3-9 and the warne fixed rings....my question is which bases do I need to get? Looks like the topic here has been discussed, but just want to double check before ordering so that I don't have to return.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Finally found a M70 SE in .375h&h!

I already have a Trijicon 3-9 and the warne fixed rings....my question is which bases do I need to get? Looks like the topic here has been discussed, but just want to double check before ordering so that I don't have to return.

I'd bet you'll have to put on the extended front base in order to set the scope far enough back to shoot comfortably. The long action puts the space long enough between the front and rear mounting holes that your scope would be too far forward with the regular base.

The Warne rings have a "key" underneath that sits in a slot in the base. The extended base sets that slot further back allowing you to set the scope further back before the ring interferes with the bell of the scope. The extended base will lie over the ejection port, but won't interfere with ejecting the spent brass.

The rear base is also something to be careful with. Again due to the long action, the distance between the two holes is shorter than on the shorter action M70's. If you measure the distance between the centers of the holes, you'll know then which one of the rear bases to order.

EDIT:
Okay I looked it up on the Warne website. I'm fairly certain you'll want the M905 extended front base. For the rear I think you'll want the M802 for 0.330" rear hole spacing (RHS). I would call Warne and confirm the rear base model number.

Warne Scope Mounts

 

[desertloper]

Warne " buy the M902/802 you need .330" RHS if stock front base does not work, we'll exchange the front to an extension for free, .554" should work if stock does not."

Nice Customer Service IMO

I'll let everyone know and post pics once it's assembled.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Warne " buy the M902/802 you need .330" RHS if stock front base does not work, we'll exchange the front to an extension for free, .554" should work if stock does not."

Nice Customer Service IMO

I'll let everyone know and post pics once it's assembled.

Yeah, they're nice folks. I'll bet again you need an extended front unless your scope has an exceptionally long tube.

They make a set of rings that will set right to the bridge of my son's Tikka. There's a small metal pin used to hold the front ring in place. Little bugger is so easy to drop and lose, which of course I did. I called them happy to buy one, they commiserated with me and sent me one for free.

 

[desertloper]

"I ended up with the Warne M905M base (.854" extension). The .554" base just was not quite long enough. The base extension does not interfere with either loading or ejection, so I am a happy guy."

Looks like I'm going to take the same route. Mocked it all up today and I don't thing .554" is even worth ordering to try.

How much clearance does a guy need to leave between the ring and the objective adjustment and/or where the main tube transitions into the bell?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

"I ended up with the Warne M905M base (.854" extension). The .554" base just was not quite long enough. The base extension does not interfere with either loading or ejection, so I am a happy guy."

Looks like I'm going to take the same route. Mocked it all up today and I don't thing .554" is even worth ordering to try.

How much clearance does a guy need to leave between the ring and the objective adjustment and/or where the main tube transitions into the bell?

Yeah I'm not surprised you need the longer extension. I really don't know that there's a rule for your question. As long as I can see just a small amount of the main tube between the ring and the objective/bell, I call it good. I don't think you should put it right up against either, might be a bad thing.