What scope rings are preferred?

[RootballExpress]

I am going to be putting a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20 on my Win Mod 70 416 Rem Mag.

What brand scope rings would you guys prefer? Any bases required as well? First time ever owning a Win Model 70.

Thank you in advance!

 

[professor]

The AlaskaArms qds have been great for me. I dont have them on a magnum though. But they are made for it.

 

[mdwest]

On a 416 I’m assuming you want QD?

I pretty much use Warne steel rings on everything whenever I can.

There are some ring/mount combo 1 piece options like Talley… but in most cases you’re going to need both a set of bases and a set of rings…

 

[BourbonTrail]

+1 on Warne

 

[358 Norma]

.330 spacing Talley bases! The magnum caliber Winchester mod 70's have a different whole spacing on the rear mount then the standard calibers.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I'm dressing my 458WM with QD Talley bases and rings. They are a PITA but they are sturdy.

 

[BJH65]

I used the same Winchester M70 Safari Express 416 Rem Mag except mounted with a Leupold VXII 1-4 scope on our first African hunt. I used Leupold QR rings and bases. I fired over 200 rounds in preparation with zero issues. I felt it a nice set up.

I‘m presently using Warne QD rings on my present big bore, CZ 416 Rigby, and am very pleased with them so far.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Another vote for Warne QD rings. I use them on both my 30-06 and 404 Jeffery. Both rifles have backup iron sights. I bought my third set of these rings this year for $65. A muzzle loader online store was clearing them out. With that scope and that gun I think you should go with "low" rings. VX3 1.5-5 scope has no aperture bell so clearance with barrel or bolt handle should not be an issue. A low mounted scope should make for quick acquisition and less felt recoil.

One thing to keep in mind: it's very hard to find Warne QD rings in anything but matte finish. Some folks who are cosmetically overwhelmed may not find that acceptable with glossy gun and scope. Doesn't bother me.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Another vote for Warne QD rings. I use them on both my 30-06 and 404 Jeffery. Both rifles have backup iron sights. I bought my third set of these rings this year for $65. A muzzle loader online store was clearing them out. With that scope and that gun I think you should go with "low" rings. VX3 1.5-5 scope has no aperture bell so clearance with barrel or bolt handle should not be an issue. A low mounted scope should make for quick acquisition and less felt recoil.

One thing to keep in mind: it's very hard to find Warne QD rings in anything but matte finish. Some folks who are cosmetically overwhelmed may not find that acceptable with glossy gun and scope. Doesn't bother me.

Edit: Should read " ... objective lens bell" not aperture bell. Half awake!

 

[BeeMaa]

I had Warne QD rings on my CZ550 375H&H that mounted the scope directly to the recoil notch and dovetails in the double square bridge. Zero issues with that rig.

However you will require bases to mount between the receiver and rings. For a DG rifle, you want to keep the area over the magazine open as much as possible for easy access to top load. This means a two-piece base.

I’d highly recommend the Talley magnum bases (.330) and two-screw QD rings for your setup. Once you get it them where you want, use BLUE or PURPLE Loctite to hold the fasteners in place. Please do not use RED Loctite, as this is designed to make a nearly permanent bond.

The only thing I’m not sure of is the height of the rings required for clearance between the bolt handle and the scope. There are others here with more experience than me on the M70 and this scope who can advise you on this.

 

[Pheroze]

I really like the Alaska Arms rings and used those for a long time. But, I have recently converted to EAW pivot mounts on my two best rifles, and I am a big fan of these. They really are a different beast.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I am a Talley fan. Use Talley on all my rifles with zero failures in all my years of hunting.

 

[The Engineer]

+1 on Alaska Arms. I have them on my 416 Rigby. I have two scopes pre-sighted in and I can interchange the scopes with no loss of zero.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have a one-piece base on my standard Mauser built 404J. I was kinda compelled to go that route because the donor action had already been tapped for it. Apparently, military Mauser actions with the stripper clip port required one-piece due to screw placement. Anyway, I have had no difficulty loading this rifle when it's wearing a scope with low Warne QD rings and either of two different one-piece bases. Both bases have a cutout for loading. Warne, Leupold, and Redfield one-piece bases all have similar cutout for loading. I believe Talley also makes a one-piece base. Leupold and Redfield are proprietary for their rings. Warne QD rings are designed to clamp onto standard p-rail or old Weaver bases. In my opinion, it's a cosmetics issue. I would have liked two-piece bases but that would have required some welding and grinding to modify my receiver. I would have done it if it turned out loading was an issue. But loading is not a problem. And OP's Model 70 is CRF with "snap over" so he can always drop a round in the chamber to quickly refire his empty rifle. One-piece rail won't impede that.

Some scope/rifle combinations will require one-piece rail for proper eye relief. My Springfield 03A3 wore two-piece bases for forty years. Then I changed scopes to a Nikon 3-9x with a short tube. In order to bring the scope back for best eye relief, I had to switch to a one-piece semi-pic rail with multiple slots for rings. The rail was not expensive so figured I'd give it a try. If it didn't work out, get another scope and go back to two-piece bases. But no problems loading. It also has the cutout. But the OP has chosen a scope with no bell on the objective lens end so this will not be an issue for him. He can move his scope wherever needed in the rings for eye relief. His Model 70 should be tapped for two-piece bases (though one-piece bases made for that rifle will use same screw pattern). I don't believe their magnum rifles have integral bases machined in the receiver?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

There are no standard height in rings. For example, "low" Warne rings are only just slightly lower than Weaver "medium" height rings. Either Midway or Brownellls has a chart on their website listing ring heights for various manufacturers.

 

[zephyr]

Talley's ... Bases and Rings