In a few days I may be the owner of a 1959 vintage Model 70 .30-06. If I end up with this rifle, I want to put a scope on it and so I would appreciate some input on this. First, was the pre-64 Model 70 drilled and tapped for scope mounts? If so, what mounts would you suggest? I've got experience with just about every mount except for Talley. I just want to know if any one in particular works best everything considered including bolt handle clearance. How about Conetrols? I've got these on one of my other rifles and like em' a lot.

Also, what about a scope for this rifle. I've read about problems with the bolt handle clearing the ocular bell, so I'm thinking a small fixed power Leupold M8 might be the ticket. What do you think?

Thanks in advance for any and all input on this.

That rifle has been drilled and tapped and should have no bolt handle clearance issues that I can think of. It is the pre-war M70's that were not tapped on the rear bridge and whose bolt handle would not clear some scopes. Your's should be fine.

I have leupold Rev front and rear bases on all my pre 64 m 70. They fit perfect and are square and in plain, bore sighted with the rear scope ring centered its already sited in on all i mine.

Most have low rings but a couple the bolt handle just barely rubs with low rings so I had to screw in the windage screw just alittle past center to clear the bolt handle and site in on the scope adjustment was only about 5 clicks from zero.

I have had dozens of those, use Leupy Dual Dovetails with Burris Signature rings-medium-and a Leupy VX-III 1.75x6 scope. This setup works and is inexpensive. I also use Talleys, Conetrols and a lot of others, but, the foregoing is simple, cheap and bombproof.

I have 2 sets of burris signature rings in a brown ups truck somewhere . Talleys are expensive and are they going to fit right ? Ive never used them so I dont know. I keep useing what I know fit properly.

I have 2 sets of old beulers bases and rings , and they look good but they are loose on the front base probable just worn out. Why waste money/time tring to fix them ?

Thanks guys, I appreciate the assistance. The Leupold dual dovetails and Burris Signatures sounds like a good idea.

I have 2 sets of old beulers bases and rings , and they look good but they are loose on the front base probable just worn out. Why waste money/time tring to fix them ?

GSP7

Is this after fitting the ring to the scope as per the directions and then tightening the cross-screw in the front of the base after the ring is inserted? I have never had problems with Buehlers doing this like other standard dovetail rings which will wear the dovetail over time, especially if the scope is taken off and replaced many times. This is one of the reasons I like Buehler rings and bases, they don't loosen up.

If you don't need quick change ability, you might consider Talley's lightweight series of integral bases/rings.

Attractive, inexpensive, and strong.

I've been playing with a set on my "55 pre-64 375 H&H. Really like 'em.

I mount my glass as low as possible and most Talley's on late pre-64s will accomodate normal scope eyepieces. The European style quick focus eyepieces can certainly be a clearance problem in terms of bolt clearance.

You've received some very good input here and you really have a variety of choices for that action.

My input is, of course, leading edge in content and definitely deserving of your greatest consideration

Hey Kutenaymtnboy, how are the Talley's treatin' you? The gentleman that was planning on buying my 375 turned out to be a yuppie-type collector who managed to insult me within ten minutes of our in-person meeting.

He left town quickly and I'm still packin' the old girl.

Guess I'll keep her for another decade or so...

Regards to all.

~Holmes

Idared.

The buelers that came on one of my pre 64s The front base and ring wobble and is loose even with the base side screw tigtened all the way in.
Looks like the ring base is worn to much where it contacts the screw.
Pissed me off because I spent alot of time cleaning them up and making right length torx head screws for the bases.

Holmes-The Talleys are great, they are im my safe along with various other conponents as part of a pair or two of custom Pre-64s; I have two H&H style original actions and two minty rifles in .338 to be restocked and scoped, just saving up the cash.

I am glad that you are keeping your .375, these rifles should be used, not hoarded by some prick who likes to lord it over other, real hunters because he collects Mod. 70s.My English Grandmother referred to this sort as having...too much money, but, too little breeding... damn straight, IMO.

I have packed those .375s over a lot of ground in B.C. and Alberta while working in Grizzly country; there is nothing I prefer for this, so, hang on to it!

GSP7,

I think I have some old buehler rings lying around someplace. I'm not too sure from your post whether you're looking for the base or the front ring? Give me a shout if it's the front ring and I'll see if I can't dig it up for you.

Jim

Whats the higher level of fit and finish on Talleys?

I ask anyone to post pictures to prove that.

Compare Talleys to Beuhler, Conetrol etc. The finish on Talleys is rather poor.

GSP7

That shim is actually comprised of many thinner ones. You need to fit the ring to the scope, measure the bottom of the ring in a specified place and then determine how much of that .032 shim needs to be removed. If you wish, send me your address in a P.M. or to the e-mail address in my profile, and I'll send you a copy of the instructions on how to do this. The ring needs to be pretty bad off before it won't work satisfactorily. It's possible it is but I have never seen one yet that wouldn't function.

The controls are neat, slick and no projections, they look good and apparantly the QD feature is not important to you, so I would go with the controls since you like them...

I like Talleys but I want QDs on all my guns...

You should not have any bolt handle problems, it happens ocassionaly with extra low bases and rings which I like so a 4X fixed is a good idea, or a 2x7x33 seems to work well...In some cases when the bolt handle gets in the way it is because the installer has the scope too far to the bolt side when installing...I have corrected this on several ocassions buy simply moving the scope to the left or towards the offside by means of the windage screws or on ocassion by simply moving the scope back just a bit towards the shooter eye...

Savage99, I'll have to agree with you that talley's finish isn't the most highly polished. If you want shiney they aren't the ones you want to use.
In my experience they have been the most accurately machined rings that I've used. They return to zero quite well for me. Usually if they don't line up perfectly on a rifle it's because the rifle has crooked holes.
The conetrols are neat looking but I've only had 1 set so can't give a thorough enough evaluation of them. I've never used a set a Beulers so can't say about them. But compared to Redfield, Leupold, Burris, Weaver, and Badger I think that the talley's are a cut above........DJ

djpaintles,

The thing about the Talleys is that one cannot easily see over the bases if the rings are removed. The Weaver base system is much lower. Also there is no adjustment in the Talley system.

On the advice of a benchrest shooter I am now changing over my rings to Burris Signatures for the Weaver bases.

GSP7

Check the shim pack on the top screw of the ring. This is designed to make the bottom of the ring the correct size when mounted on a scope. If you look you will see this shim pack in composed of many thin shims. It sounds to me that this pack is too thick with the present scope you are using thus making the bottom to small.

I prefer the Talleys to any rings and bases on the commercial market by a good margin....I agree the bases are a tad high to clear the line of sight on some guns, but that is an easily fixable problem... run a cut down the middle of the bases which is basically what weaver did...This can be done with a hand file or with a mill cut...

Idared , there is 1 one shim in each ring that is .032.

If i had a new in box burris ring set would it have several size shims?

Actually I can see that the front ring base where it turns in , the metal is damaged from someone taking it off many times , maybe without loosening the screw. The screw shank is worn too.

When I got the rifle the base screws etc where all loose. Rust on the rings too. The rifle was not takin care of.

Thanks Rick