Leupold QR 51711 fit Howa 1500?

[CIG]

I ordered Howa 1500 quick release 2 piece base steel blue - per the description.  What I get is Leupold QR Weatherby Mark V lightweight 51711 bases.  Well they fit so I think no big deal.  Mount rings on two scopes:  Tasco 3-9X40 for hunting and a Bushnell 4200 6-24X40 for target.  I mount them on my 1993 Howa 1500 in .270.  Well this thing shoots 16inches low at 25 yards with both scopes, no more adjustment.  Is this the wrong mount?  The Leupold web site seems to show I need another model base.  Did the 1993 Howa's have the same holes drilled as the current Howas, which is the same as the Rem 700?  Thought I would get some ideas before I e-mail this company about this problem.  If they can't get this right they might need all the help they can get and I ain't it.  Thanks.

[gunnut69]

I've not heard that the howa's had changed.  They have made these rifles for several companies and other than cosmetics were all the same.  I looked at the leupold sight and all the base charts I could find were for a newly introduced mounting system, not the QuickRelease. Does the mount fit close to the action all the way around it's joint with the receiver?  Do the rings fit the bases completely down and tight to the bases?  Does the scope sping up when the rear lever is released?  It takes little to make a rifle shoot that high but,, if it were the rings or mounts is should be visible and that much should show a lot.  If all else fail call Brownells teck line at 800-741-0015, they are very helpful.

[CIG]

The bases fit perfectly and I had several guys at the club look at it also.  Seems to be a good fit.  The one near the butt end is lower than the one in front of it and you can't switch them around, the holes only match up in this position and the directions say levers on the opposite of the bolt.  The scope on the tasco is a little rought to pull in and out, but the Bushnell goes in and out perfectly and match nice and flat.  Guys at the club seem to think it fits good.  They just conclude it's the wrong bases or I'm going to have to shim the back way up and I'm not sure I am confortable doing that.

 The Cabel's site says, "Interarms Howa 1500
Reversible Front Base (Rem. 700 Spacing)" and this makes me think Howa  changed the configuration, but maybe I'm reading that wrong.  I didn't buy these from Cabela's - they have it as Item number: IE-710517 and I'm not sure what that means on the Leupold box, where the one I have says 51711.

[gunnut69]

'Reversable front base' means that on a 2 piece base assembly the front base only can be turned to allow the front scope ring to be mounted in front of the mounting screws or behind the mounting screws.  This is to allow the using scopes with varying eye reliefs and differing shooter styles.  Using shims on a scope mounting job is unfortunately not unusual.  When sporterizing mausers in their infinite variety it is fairly commonplace.  It's a bit unusual on a modern day rifle but not unheard of.  I'd advise taking the piece to a gunsmith and allowing him to shim the rear base to fit.  I usually use rods that fit the rings and have precision turned points on them.  These allow me to set the bases up with shims until the points align.  The scope(s) are in a bind when the bases are this far out of line and may already have 'ring marks' caused by their being forced into conformity.  If you wish to do it yourself the alignment rods can be made on a lathe or are available from Brownells as are premade shims of varying thicknesses.  These shims already have the holes punched for the spacing needed..and can be marked and cut with a good snip.  Be certain to buff off the burr from the snips if they are used.  The shim must lie flat..  This is the second Howa I've heard of(on the web) that had this problem, unless it the same rifle..  This is not a fatal error as rifle maker errors go.  If you wish aa call the the importer or the maker may yield a replacement rifle..but the rifle's performance should not be significantly altered.

[CIG]

Well I picked up the base that the Leupold site says to use and put them on and bore sighted it and took it to the range and it is right on.  Remington 700 and Howa 1500 use the same bases.  The others are going back. They get no future businesss from me and not just because of this.  I had other problems with them with the other items I purchased.  You get one shot to make it right, but when you screw up everything on the order?

[longgun]

Howa actions were used on the Smith Wesson 1500 ( I think that was the one). I owned one once.  Also the action was used on one of Weatherby's action.   It is the same as the Remington 700 short action  on top, but is like a 98 mauser on bottom.  All four will use the same mount.  Don