EAW has developed a technique for installing their swing mount scope system and modern scopes onto guns with existing claw mount bases. The cost is about $350 plus two hours labor. Here is the link:

http://www.eaw.de/eaw/webkatalog/EAW%20SEM-SM%20E.pdf

One of my German gunsmith friends has been doing this. It's pretty good I guess, but has a high rear base that interferes with the sight plane for me when using it as a shotgun.

Claw mount rings can be fitted to existing bases pretty easily by someone who nows what they're doing EAW makesblank rings in 1" & 30mm also. I've made them by just milling the rough blank from high (or XH) Leupold rings & then hand fitting them. It's pretty tedious but not that difficult for someone with a good back & eyes And you can get the scope very low, if you use a straight tube like the burris 1.5-5X (as shown here) or a 1.75-5X VXIII Leupold.
Greg

Brayhaven,

You have a PM regarding the above picture