Hey guys, any of you have a Classic Safari Express in 375 H&H, I've got a few questions.

1. what height rings are you using? I am mounting a 2.5x Leupold and the L&S website recommended for the rifle scope combo low height. but the front sight is visible in the scope when looking through (although not aligned yet so maybe when raised it will disappear? assuming it is low now)

2. They fit right so I am guessing it is normal for the rear base to extend over the port of the action, right?

That's it. the iron sights are a bit low for me, but the scope seems to be right, so makes figuring out how to use both more complicated.

Red

Too lazy to look but I think the Leupold Weaver style bases/rings eliminates the rear base over the chamber.

I use the QR low rings on my M-70 .375H&H with a Leupold 2.5x-8x.

The base does extend over the ejection port, but that has not caused any problems on the three safaris the rifle has accompanied me on.

Yes, the front sight is visible at 2.5x, but it never interferes with the sight picture. I only 'see' it now if I look for it; my brain disregards it otherwise.

George

Thanks guys. having not shot it this way I didn't think about my brain just disregarding the sight there. I am going to put a higher blade on it, but remove the hood, so it should balance out and still not get in the way.

Red

I am installing a set of Leupold low QDs on my new .416 I just stocked..Scope will be a 3X, 1x4x or 1.5x5, whichever works best...

That should get the scope as low as possible...All of my guns wear Talleys, but thought I'd try the Leupolds because I have heard so many pros and cons on them, some say the don't return to zero well, and I have seen two sets that the levers broke off on, and the guys that broke them swear by all thats holy the did it by hand, but you know how that goes, they probably used a wrecking bar to tighten them up if the truth were known...

I agree with Will. Leupold QRW rings and bases seem to work well for me.

Tim

I have one Leupold QR set on a .416 Remington M70 Classic Safari, with low rings and a 2.5X Leupold. Sweet. Good thinking Ray. I just had to try one too.

The QR rear base does overhang the rear of the ejection port a bit, but O.K.

All the other M70's wear either Talley or Leupold QRW, both of which I really do prefer over the QR.

I reckon I like the QRW best of all: the Weaver style base, and the new rings with the square recoil shoulder on the bottom of the ring that fits in the square cross-slot. It is lower profile and smoother contoured than the Talley, and invites me to caress it when port arms with a rifle with the scope detached. They are strong, these new QRW's, not the old ones with the round cross bolt in the square cross-slot.

The rear base of the QRW can be reversed so that it does not overhang the ejection port, but requires a longer scope tube to mount. Not good for a 2.5X Leupold, for example, but a Zeiss Conquest will work, for example.

Turned the other way, the QRW rear base will overhang the ejection port a little bit on the M70 Classic H&H length action, but allows use of a shorter scope tube.

I just ordered the brockmans scope base with built in ghost ring for my M70 classic 375 H&H to be used with a set of talley quick release rings. They seem to be the best all around scope mounting system I have seen. I'll have to let you all know how they turn out.

If you like the Leupold QR the rear base can be drilled and counterbored .330 forward of the existing hole which reduces the overhand to 1/4 inch and will still work with a leupold 1-4 vxII (on new Safari Express). Makes reloading easier and stopped ejected brass from smacking bottom of scope. Don't know why the factory doesn't do this.

Have the safari express in 416 rem with the qrw bases and a vari x 3 scope 1.5x5 - rear base does overhang a bit but does not hinder quick reloading or ejection of brass / cases any at all - used the low rings, works fine

If you find the overhang of the QR rear base really objectionable you can eliminate it altogether. In addition to adding a hole to the base that is .330†forward of the front hole as 86thecat suggested you also mill off the back of the base till you’ve completely removed the rear mounting hole. Then drill and tap a hole in the receiver .330†back of the rear hole. The base can now be mounted with its new front hole in the old rear hole of the receiver. This moves the whole base back .660†and requires pretty long scopes (Leupold 3X, Weaver K2.5 or K3, etc.) but it looks really nice and makes loading the magazine easier, especially when the scope is removed.

Kurt

I haven't tried it out in practice yet, no objection looks wise as it still looks better than a 1 piece If the gun is fuctioning right I am thinking that the brass coming out should not be hindered. I might get up to the hills this weekend to try a few rounds through it.

Red

Red, You may be right that the brass should clear the rear mount, I may need to look at the extractor. The case head was hitting only when the bolt was worked extremely fast which tipped the neck up into the edge of the scope windage cover and "center section", cleared after relocating rear mount. I also found once the bases are in final position that seating the lower ring halves (some wiggling and coaxing required) then lapping for the scope tube allowed easier R+R and helped with return to zero. Doesn't seem to take much mis alignment to throw things off. You may have better luck but it took a little effort before I was completly happy. Good luck this weekend.