What are the lowest scope bases and rings

[bcraig]

Hi, just got an old mauser 98 that was drilled and tapped.what are the lowest weaver style bases and rings that will work with say a Leupold 4x or a leupold 2-7 ultralight ? Rifle has a low swing safety.Where can I buy them ? Thanks,Craig

[cwlongshot]

 IIRC its a 46 rear and a #55 front base... The trouble is those scopes are too short (OAL) for the two piece bases and LO rings...  If you go with a one piece, its higher as you need room to load/unload so that base is thicker... Cannot use Offset rings if you want it lo as they are only available tall...Used to be able to get them in medium.

I have a 3x9 Leupold in Redfield two piece bases and Burris ULTRA lo rings as well as a Bueller swing safety on one of my Mauser's, and that works just fine. This same setup also had a Bushnell 3200 2x7 in years past and it too was fine, but you had to creep a bit on the stock as there was no room between the rings to move the scope. Even with my 3x9 Leupold, I would like it back a bit further. I have the two piece weavers on another in LO PRW rings and a VX III Leopold and a side safety. This one could be a bit lower, but the bolt is fairly close to the ocular lens, so I don't know how much lower it could go.

CW

[bcraig]

Hi,CW I sure am glad i read your post before I went and bought something that wouldn,t work !! The rifle i bought has an old Weaver K1.5-C3 scope on it already that is in Pristine condition but i got my doubts as to whether it would work for 200 to 250 yard shots. I also have a Leupold M8 6x  and a Fx II that will work but it is heavier than the little weaver. i am just looking for a lightweight scope for shots from say 50 to 250 max yards that i can mount low. You seem like you know your stuff so what are your thoughts on this? Thanks,Craig

[cwlongshot]

How is the OAL of that lil Weaver?  I have had a Leupold M8 3X mounted on a Mauser action as well as a Old Redfield 2.5X on a Springfield (Close to the Mauser is length) and they worked fine as they have a 20MM or straight objective. If that Weaver is straight, it may work for ya!!

I have had a M8 6X on a full length Remington as well so that one two is likely long enough.

CW

[bcraig]

Hi,CW the little weaver is just a tad less than 9 3/4 inches long.I dont have scales to weigh it but it is less than an m8 6x . by a feelable amount when picked up by the hand.i like the lightweight of it and can see it as being Ideal for 100 maybe 150 yards but dont know about 200 or 250 yards . Guess i will just have to get me a piece of cardboard and cut it approx the size of a deers chest and see if I can reference where the crosshairs should be held .What did you think about the Leupold 3 x? would it work out to say 250 and how does it compare in weight to say a M8 6 x or fx II 6 x? Thanks Craig  oh one other thing I understand that the leupold 4 x in the older version has a longer tube ,think one of them would be long enough ? Have a good one and talk to you later,Craig

[cwlongshot]

I like the 3X for my kind of hunting here in the north east. But to 250... IMHO that's pushing it. For shots to that range my eyes want more magnification. Would it work, sure, better then open sites too. But not optimal.

Unless your gonna be carrying this thing over hill and dale, the slight difference between the mentioned scopes will likely be negligible.

CW

[bcraig]

Hi CW, I took the little weaver 1.5 x to the post office along wuth the M8 6 x and the scales showed 8.4 ounces for the weaver and 10.4 for the Leupold. Then I went out and set up a cardboard box about 12 x 12 and then backed of in increasing increments looking at the target with the two scopes and also with a varible i have set at different powers. What I found was that I could easily hold on the VITALS of the box with the 1.5 out to 125-150 yards and with the variable set at  3x 250 yards  would be no problem at all. I was suprised at the results but I dont know why as I used to shoot a contender with a red dot(5moa) at a hundred could get 1 1/2 inch 3 shot groups.course that was 25 years ago !I have a Leupold 3x coming my way and it has a premier dot reticle in it and I am going to give it a try. probably will also try one of the older M8 4x scopes with the long tube as I have recently found out that they have about 7 inches between the bells.  I am really starting to believe the old saw that a good 4x is really all a man needs ! The only thing that I dont believe it would be as good as a higher powered scope would be trying to count the points on a buck at extremely long range.Of course the 6x is just a wee bit heavier and  I can hold on the middle of a milk jug at 450 plus yards and it will still work in the woods plus retain the trim looks and reliability of a fixed power annnnnnnnd oh well you know how it is ,decisions decisions !!LOL    Later,Craig

[cwlongshot]

Good show!! 

Post up some poics of what you end up with!!

CW