Have heard on this site & on Hunt America that the Warne QD dovetail mounts with the recoil lug shears on heavy calibre rifles. The rifle I have is a Sako L691 in .375 H&H with Sako optilok mounts with Leupold Vari XII 3-9 x 40.

I am thinking of getting a 30mm Kahles 1.5-6 x 42 for this rifle & need to get a set of the 30mm rings. This scope for hunting in low light conditions which is common for our equivalent of your Elk called Sambar. The guy selling the Kahles said the Sako mounts are not recommended for heavy scopes. He recommended the Warne Premiers but the fixed type not the QD type.

I have heard of the problems others have had with the Warne QD mounts with the recoil lug. Apparently the Warnes fixed type don't have a recoil lug. But I fail to see how not having a recoil lug can make it stronger or better. Should I get them or the Sako mounts?

What do you all think? Anyone with actual experience?

I know Talleys are suppposed to be better but I can't see that they make a mount for Sakos & I do not know of anyone selling them in Australia.

Regards,
JohnT

I use Warne QD mounts on Sako 308 & 375. They work alright. The rear mount on the 308 seem to move forward a bit after installation and therefore the recoil lug doesn't contact the action, only the dovetail holds it still. The recoil lug on the front mount contacts. However the rifle hold zero over extended periods just fine anyway. With the 375 both recoil lugs contacts just fine and it also keeps zero just fine. I believe the reason for this is because of different dimensional tolerance of the actions(rifles were built in -76 and -85). None of the rifles carry heavy scopes.

The Warne fixed Sako mounts are a piece of worthless crap. No recoil lug and more oval than round. You simply cannot mount a scope with these without seriously damaging the scope. Staw away from them at all cost.

The QD mounts are much better. Another suggestions is to have the rings lapped, they need it. As I see it the advantage with WArne is that they�re lowest available mounts and they�re light. However the Sako originals(with polymer inserts) have a reputation of being bombproof but heavy and makes for high scope mount.

I abandoned warne after a number of years using them, as on ocassions the recoil of a big bores will flip the levers around to a position that will stop the bolt uplift...I had this happen on a Buffalo charge and it locked up my gun, I finished that hunt with electricians tape on the levers in an upright position...that will never happen again...I came home sold all 15 or 20 sets to my neighbors and purchased Talleys and have never looked back.....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

PCH,

All the Sakos I have seen only have the Recoil lug recess on the rear of the receiver not the front. You talk of a recoil lug on the front base? Is your rifle a Sako or a Tikka?

Are your Warne Rings Premier Series or Maxima? Does it make a difference?

Thanks for the advice on the Warne Fixed Rings.

Regards,
JohnT

I have the Premier series on Sako rifles (not Tikka). Never seen the Maxima, can't comment on that. Warne mounts doesn�t make use of the recoil lug recess on Sako action.

Instead there is one recoil lug on each mount. The front mount is aligned with the back of the front dove tail, rear mount is aligned with front of rear dovetail.

The lug on front mount contacts the back of the front dovetail and the rear mount lug contacts the front of the rear dovetail.

Confused?? It isn't as complicated as it sounds, maybe someone with better english can explain it better. This means that a mounted scope shouldn�t be able to move neither forward or backwards.

Even if the levers would rotate under recoil they could never come in such position to hinder the bolt or any other function of a Sako. It has never happened to any of my Sakos. Obviously it can happen to other rifles.