Author Topic: Who makes scope rings for the Savage/Valmet 2400? (Read 1973 times)

Mike A. · « **on:** November 19, 2011, 04:00:56 AM »

I just got a perfect Savage/Valmet 2400 in 12x.308. It has the scope mount but no rings. Does anybody make the Sako-type rings for regular 1" scopes for it?

And, if they do, does anybody have experience using those rings on a 2400? Do you use low, medium, or high rings? I plan to put a low-power, straight-tube scope on this. I'll try my old Redfield 2 3/4X first, but may then try a Weaver V-3 or another low-power variable such as a 1-4x or 1.5-5x, since I'd like the option of going down to a wide view for close range and for use of the shotgun barrel.

Are there "see-thru" rings that will fit this gun so that the open sights can be used for the shotgun barrel?

I'm planning on using the Remington "managed recoil" 125 gr. and equivalent handloads in this gun since I have found they are very accurate, kill deer and pigs fine at closer ranges, and don't kick or stress the action. I started using them in a Baikal single shot and I'm hooked. (Sometimes less IS more!)

dougk · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2011, 03:15:42 AM »

Hey Mike,

I believe Sako made the scope mount for the Savage 2400. You might want to look at Savage rings.

I use low mounts on my 12/30-06 and 12/222 Valmet 412's. All the other Valmet DR or combo guns have medium rings. I have found the low mounts afford me a slightly faster target acquisition when stalking hogs or raccoons at night.

Doug

flaflash · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:38:42 AM »

Hi Mike
I got the weaver 2pc mount for my 12/308,then added the see-thru leopold rings and installed an aftermarket hi-vis turkey sight on the rib so I can see it thru the rings.I really like how it lets me aquire and quickly line up for 12ga shots.As for the 308 ammo I'm hooked on the hornady TAP 110 gr--shoots really nice

Mike A. · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:54:47 AM »

Thanks, guys! I found that Leupold makes rings for the "Sako type" mount that came with my gun, and may try the low version. But man are they pricey ($62 a set at MidwayUSA, plus shipping to CA).

I'll look into the Weaver bases since I'd like to be able use see-thru rings for the open sights on the shotgun barrel.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2011, 12:58:06 PM »

Personally, i MUCH prefer the Sako mounts on my 2400. I carry my combo's with open sights, and only put the scope on when i need it to shoot longer distances...

It really works out well, as then the scope is only there when you actually need it.

I don't think those "other" mounts will come back to zero on a 2400, so Sako it is!

DM

dougk · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2011, 02:52:44 PM »

I have to go with Drilling man on this one. IMHO having a removable mount that goes back to zero is much more beneficial than peep thru sights.

I have found most peep/see thru sights lift the scope too high for me, and change the cheek bone contact point with the stock.

Also, the right scope power 1-6 or 2-8 on low power remove the need for peep thru/see thru sights. If I am using thecombo for birds or snakes the scope come off.

Mike A. · « **Reply #6 on:** November 20, 2011, 03:33:30 PM »

Points taken, guys.

Dalgo · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2011, 04:53:35 AM »

Hi, Mike A.

I also have a 2400 in 12/308. It's in pretty mint condition, and I was really concerned about a clean and classy mounting of a scope on the gun. My solution was to go with the Sako optilock quick release mount/rings. My rings are medium height, and, feel they are a tad high for the Leupy VXIII 1.5-5X scope, with its straight tube that I mounted on the gun. However, I am going to a different scope eventually, with a bit longer eye relief. The eye relief is a short, and I need to snug up a bit on the stock to get proper eye relief. I would like a scope w/a bit longer eye relief, and a bit more magnification (which would mean an objective end with a bell). If you go with a scope that has a bell, then the medium height rings probably would be the way to go, otherwise a low ring height will be fine. Now, with the quick release of the Sako Optilock ring/mount set-up, the scope returns to zero just fine, no matter how many times I take the scope off and put it back on. Sako is a bit proud of their products however, and the rings are definitely pricey, but the quality is superb. I can take the scope off quickly, and use the iron sights, which I can see pretty well with, and quickly put the scope back on. I don't believe in "see-throughs," because, as others have pointed out, they really make you raise your head (sometimes off the stock) to center your eye in the scope. I had this problem with a Mannlicher Schoenauer that had a removable scope w/attached rings. Too inconvenient and uncomfortable. A friend of mine just bought a Sako Finnlight, and put Talley rings/mount on his gun (not quick release), and they fit great. These would also fit the 2400. Quality is very good on the Talley products. The design of the Sako rail on the gun, allows removal of a scope and replacement with the zero maintained, regardless of whether it is regular screw attached or with quick release levers. As long as the ring placement on the scope isn't changed, the scope will return to the exact place you originally mounted it. The Talley rings and mounts for the Sako system are considerably cheaper than the Optilocks, and a great option. I don't know if they have quick release rings for it. BTW, with the Weaver mounts, you have to screw them into the rib to hold firmly in place, and that will ruin the value of the gun, as they will leave ugly marks on the rib. Good luck in your search.

Pierre

dougk · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2011, 02:38:56 PM »

Hey Pierre

Great cpmments... thanks....

Have you looked at the Zeiss Conquest ni 3-9x42? It is a great deal and typically on sale for $399.

On my guns I either have the Zeiss or Leupold. IMHO the glass and low light transmission is better in the Zeiss while the Leupold have better turrets and adjustments. My favorite Zeiss Conquest is the 1.8-5.5x42 but sadly they do not make that scope any longer. If you want to spend more $ the Zeiss Diavari is very nice.

I have Talley quick release mounts for a drilling Krieghoff Shlage (sp) base. Talley makes excellent products...

Doug

Mike A. · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:25:38 PM »

Thanks, guys. I looked at the Talley rings a while ago and "think I remember" (not exactly the same as remembering when you are scrapin' the underside of 69...) that they do offer QD Optilocks in all three heights. I'll look again: the ones I saw were at Midway USA.

I'm gonna try a Redfield 2 3/4x on this gun first, in low mounts. The QD rings would be excellent because I could try one of my Lothar Walther .22LR inserts in the .308 barrel and see if it is accurate, then put a 2x7 .22 Scope in the same kind of rings if it is, and have a "three barrel".

I've used the .22 insert in my Baikal .308 single shot and found that it is accurate at closer ranges (up to 50 yards) and VERY quiet if you use subsonic ammo. The insert is 6" of rifled .22 barrel and the rest of the .308 barrel seems to act as a suppressor. With CB caps, it makes less noise than my .22 air rifle! The Savage/Valmet might be similar.

I'll let you know how it works....

Dalgo · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2011, 06:55:41 AM »

Doug,

Yes, I am contemplating the Conquest 3X9. I have one that I mounted on a Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter .308, and love it. Very sharp, and good eye relief. I believe Zeiss was marketing a 2X8 Conquest here in the states, and people seemed to have liked it. Apparently not enough for Zeiss to continue offering it, though. That, to me, would be the ideal scope for that gun. Looking at the Diavari to put on a Sauer 202 .300 Win Mag, however. Those scopes are a bit heavy, but okay for a kicker. However, the S/V 2400 shooting Brenneke slugs is no slouch in the "kicking" dept. Those kick about the same as my .375 Ruger!. Yeah, I think that the Conquest 2X8, or an equivalent would be just about perfect. Ever have a slight extraction problem with the .308? I'm shooting 150 gr loads, and seems the 2400 doesn't like the pressure levels. Mannyrock may be on to something w/reduced recoil loads. Anybody having this experience?

Pierre

Dalgo · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2011, 07:05:00 AM »

Mike A,

The Talley rings/mount may be a little lighter than the Sako Optilocks, a plus on that gun I think. Let us know how that Lothar Walter .22 insert works out for you. That would be an option I would love to explore, if works out well. They're supposed to be pretty accurate. I believe that the barrel length on the 2400 is 23 1/2 in., if not mistaken. How well does it fit?
Thanks,

Pierre

Mike A. · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2011, 08:27:48 AM »

Pierre, my Savage is still in the infamous "California Gun Jail" until next Saturday, so I can't answer your question until after then. Unfortunately the Walther inserts are not obtainable except in Europe and Canada right now. For some reason the geniuses at BATF have declared them non-importable. Walther executives are working on this issue as I write. I can't imagine a less threatening item! Tune in for further updates in this ongoing soap opera, which could be called "The Stupids Step in It."

I'll look into the Talley rings. Expensive but probably worth it. Are the screw lock ones as "repeatable" as the lever lock ones? I could see some advantage (besides the $20 difference in price) to the flush release screws as opposed to the levers, as long as you don't have to put the scope on/off in a hurry.

Regarding the loads used in the .308 Savage, I'm going to start with Remington "Managed Recoil" 125 gr. .308 ammo and then, if that works out OK, I'm going to handload to that general level of pressure and recoil. I have shot both blacktails and feral pigs with these in my Baikal single shot with excellent results and don't need anything hotter. If these don't shoot well, or have higher pressure than the action will handle easily, I'll go to .30-30 level loads, which I also use in my .30-40. They are accurate and don't kick and kill medium game at ordinary ranges very neatly.

Anybody else made up "reduced pressure" loads for the 2400 .308 barrel?

Drilling Man · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2011, 11:10:55 AM »

For hunting purposes, you don't have to baby that 2400. You will never shoot enough full power loads through it hunting to ever hurt it one bit.

Just keep a light film of CLEAN grease (i like automotive synthetic grease) on the bbl. parts that touch the action and it will last for longer than you will.

If anyone is interested, i have one of those Zeiss 1.8x5.5 scopes Doug mentioned above, that i never used and never will...

DM

Mike A. · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2011, 04:30:12 PM »

Drillingman, good to know I won't hurt the poor little thing with a few "real" .308s from the general store. I'm more concerned with babying myself, tho. Figure enough "soup" is enough soup in my handloads and the 125 gr. bullets more than do what I need.

If I hunted elk, moose, or bear with the gun, I'd go to 180s or 165s and just let adrenalin take care of any recoil trauma! The 2400 is a fairly stout, heavy gun if it's anything like my 12/.222, so the recoil shouldn't be too heavy even with full-grown .308s. I don't usually do long range sessions with any of my long guns: just enough to get them hitting where I need them to hit. I'm mostly a hunter, not a shooter.

Dalgo · « **Reply #15 on:** November 26, 2011, 03:45:44 AM »

Mike A, you might have to "baby" your 2X7 Redfield scope shooting slugs out of your gun. Particularly if it is a scope designed for .22 recoil levels. So keep a close eye on it if you're putting slugs through it.

Doug, yeah, the Diavari is a superb scope! You do have to spend "more" for one. Bunches more, lol. But, if you're willing to spend on a great glass, that would be the one! I recently purchased some things from Euro Optics in PA (great people to do business with), and they offered the 3X9 Conquest for $375. Don't know if it was because I bought other things from them at the time. Anyway, your point on the Conquest vs Leupy is well taken.

Drilling Man, right now I am shooting Federal Fusion 150gr. factory ammo through the gun because that's what I've been using with my Mannlicher. I just thought my cases were a little "sticky" coming out. Not bad, though. For outside treatment of the 2400 I've been using Balistol. Great stuff once you get past the smell. Automotive grease sounds like a good option. I totally agree with you on the Optilocks. IMHO they are the only way to fly. Euro Optics sells them at a great price. Still expensive, but quite a bit less than list. I really like your idea of using irons for most of the close-in hunting, and putting the scope up for longer shots. The scope mounts fairly quietly. We might be conversing on the 1.8X5.5 you have available, however.

Mike A, today you get your 2400 out of "jail!". Let us know how you like it, what decisions you are making on the scope set-up, and how the inserts work out.

Pierre
(I really would love to have a drilling)

dougk · « **Reply #16 on:** November 26, 2011, 04:08:40 AM »

Quote from: Dalgo on November 26, 2011, 03:45:44 AM

Doug, yeah, the Diavari is a superb scope! You do have to spend "more" for one. Bunches more, lol. But, if you're willing to spend on a great glass, that would be the one!

Pierre
(I really would love to have a drilling)

Hey Pierre,
The Zeiss Conquest typiocally sells for $399 which is about $60 more than the Leupold VX-II and a little less than the VX-3.

There are some very good deals on drillings. I believe the market is soft right now for drillings.

Doug

Dalgo · « **Reply #17 on:** November 26, 2011, 07:09:58 AM »

Doug, I paid $399 for my Conquest. When I went to EuroOptics this year, Alex said he could let me have one for $375. That's a bargain! I do like the quality better than the VX-3s. The Z3 Swaros are a bargain, as well, and a little lighter than the Conquest. So, that's an option. Last year I purchased a Leupy 30mm 1.5-5X "Euro," (lighted reticle), which wasn't cheap. Seems to be 'okay, but am not impressed with it as much as I thought I'd be (have it mounted on a Marlin GG .45-70). I do believe the Conquest, which is by far cheaper, is brighter. I imagine that the Zeiss Victory Diavari, and the Swaro Z6 are very much brighter (although you pay over 2 bills for one!).

As for a drilling, finding one of a proper vintage, in really good shape, and in the 'right' gauges/caliber, at the right weight, won't be easy. But, I'm patient. I guess that what I would look for would probably be a 16X16X? (any reasonable caliber up to 9.3) and weigh inat about 6 3/4 lbs, and lastly, scopeable (quick detach, of course). It's a tall order, I'm afraid. I would definitely rule out the Blaser (though in the single shot K95 it's okay-but better in the Kriegoff or Merkel - but we're talking drillings). Till I find one, I have the 2400 to play with. Any ideas where to look for drillings, outside of "Double Gun Journal?"

Which brings up a question. Without the scope, the way it's regulated, by holding the top front sight level with the rear, the .308 is 'right-on' at 100yds, but the slug barrel is about two feet low at 50yds. If I sght the slug barrel w/the bottom of the front sight lined up level w/the top of the rear sight, it's right on at 50yds. So, if I sight-in the scope for the .308 barrel (which is the way I have it now), the slug barrel is, again, 24 in. low at 50 yds. I'm thinking of sighting in the scope w/slug barrel dead on at about 50-60 yds, and then regulating the bottom barrel (.308) to hit dead-on at 100yds with that setting. However, it would definitely be off in shooting w/irons. Thoughts? I would appreciate your and DM's inputs on that one.

Pierre

dougk · « **Reply #18 on:** November 26, 2011, 11:43:23 AM »

Quote from: Dalgo on November 26, 2011, 07:09:58 AM

Which brings up a question. Without the scope, the way it's regulated, by holding the top front sight level with the rear, the .308 is 'right-on' at 100yds, but the slug barrel is about two feet low at 50yds. If I sght the slug barrel w/the bottom of the front sight lined up level w/the top of the rear sight, it's right on at 50yds. So, if I sight-in the scope for the .308 barrel (which is the way I have it now), the slug barrel is, again, 24 in. low at 50 yds. I'm thinking of sighting in the scope w/slug barrel dead on at about 50-60 yds, and then regulating the bottom barrel (.308) to hit dead-on at 100yds with that setting. However, it would definitely be off in shooting w/irons. Thoughts? I would appreciate your and DM's inputs on that one.

Pierre

Hey Pierre

That is a great question which I tried to answer in this post. http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,245775.0.html

Doug

Mike A. · « **Reply #19 on:** December 04, 2011, 01:54:56 PM »

Turns out my "new" Savage/Valmet came with a pair of 1" low screw-lock Talleys that fit the integral mount. Haven't had a chance to mount them yet, but will probably try a Weaver V-3 that I have first.

I like that scope because it is light and compact and you can keep it at 2x for general use, pop it down to 1x to use the shotgun barrel (you can shoot that with both eyes open) and up to 3x for longer shots with the rifle barrel. I had one on a Baikal .308 single shot which has considerable recoil and it stayed put and functional for about 300 rounds (sold the Baikal to help finance this Savage, so I still have the scope). The V-3 has long eye relief to keep it away from your eyebrow when you touch off the 12 ga barrel, too!

I won't be using this gun at long range, over about 150 yards max, so 3X should be fine. ( My other deer/pig gun has an old steel 2 3/4X Redfield).

Thought about having choke tubes fitted to the 12 guage barrel but on reflection just bought some Polywad spreaders to open up the patterns on that IM choked barrel. Cheaper, and I might want that tighter choke for turkeys or called coyotes later (probably NOT be going to take this gun to the duck blind, tho).

And gunsmiths always complain that Valmet barrels are "harder than woodpecker lips"! When I had one of the chokes on one of my 12 ga. O/Us opened, the guy ruined a reamer before he figured it out. The choke came out OK, tho.

dougk · « **Reply #20 on:** December 04, 2011, 03:24:19 PM »

HEy Mike

Please let us know how those Talley rings work out. I have a pair of Talley rings that fit a 1932 JP Sauer drilling perfectly...

Doug

Mike A. · « **Reply #21 on:** December 05, 2011, 09:16:03 AM »

Will do, Doug. Probably no shooting until after Christmas, tho. Have an hunting trip and full-day range session with my brother in early January and will test everything out then. I'm also gonna pattern RST and Polywad "Spreader" shotshells in the IM 12 guage barrel, plus try a few Brennecke slugs.

Mike A. · « **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2012, 06:00:29 PM »

FINALLY got to the range with my 2400 today. Didn't have much time since we'd spent the day quail/chukar hunting and it was getting late and I was BEAT... But I did get time to shoot 5 3-shot groups at 100 yards and get the gun zeroed.

The first thing that happened was that I decided to shoot a couple of slugs just to see where they went. The first slug "showed" me I'd mounted the scope wrong....put it back on correctly and started shooting the .308, using the Weaver V3 on 3X. Once I got used to the scope without my bifocals--works fine, by the way--I was able to get in the black with the second group. After that I was shooting groups that averaged 1.4" at 100 yards, average of 3 groups. I was used to great accuracy from my other 2400 (12x.222) but forgot the .308 is famous for accuracy, too!

This was sitting at the bench resting the combo on my left hand on my range bag. Not a hunting position, but not exactly a machine rest either. I expect to get really excellent accuracy with my lighter handloads--these were Winchester factory 150 gr. Powerpoints. Recoil was very manageable in this rather heavy combo with the original "Savage" pad, which looks like a Pachmyr to me. Stock shape is excellent for me; feels good.

I didn't attempt to use the regulator on the rifle barrel, since I don't intend to use the shotgun barrel with slugs except as a close range insurance second shot when hog hunting. I did pattern the shot barrel to see if I could hit anything with it without taking off the scope (I've used the other 2400 for turkeys that way--scope on.) Like the other gun it shoots a very tight pattern at 25 yards and you have to aim slightly high at that range to center the shot pattern, about a "midnight hold." I'll take the scope off and use scatter loads if I ever press it into use as an upland gun (just got some Fiocchi #8 scatter loads--anybody ever used those?).