Trying to scope my Savage ML II and want to use the Leupold QD's. I had a pair for a TC of some sort and the hole spacing on the receiver matched up perfectly--problem is, the supplied screws are too big! I think they are 8x40's and the drilled and tapped holes in the Savage are 6x something, not 32, I guess NF is 6x48 for #6 size screws??

At any rate, how big a deal would it be to re-tap to 8x40? Would the tap chase the threads out of the # 6 size holes, or would the tap break, in other words would you have to drill out the exisitng threaded holes, or could you just run an 8x40 tap throught there and end up with and 8x40 threaded hole--I've done that before, but not in material as hard as a rifle receiver.....I can't seem to find screws that fit the receiver and the heads fit the holes in the bases properly, the heads on screw that fit are way smaller than the holes in the bases.....

Open to help/theories, Thanks--Don