Correct ring height for 40mm scope ?

[porscheboy]

Hey guys, I just recently bought a Barska 4-16x40mm scope for my Remington 700 SPS .270 Win and I'm going to order some Leupold Rifleman rings, they come in low medium and high, what is the best setup for me?
-Thanks

 

[dougw47]

I keep medium and high on hand, never were able to use the low ones. You might get away with mediums with that 40mm objective...nobody close to you stocks rings?

 

[wally]

The bell diameter sets a minimum ring height, but what you need will depend on the rifle, its stock, and to a lessor extent the size of your head -- you want the scope centered where your eye is with a good cheek weld on the stock.

That is why there is an enormous variety of rings, mounts and risers. Cheek pads are usually needed with very large bell scopes since you usually can't get them low enough and thus have to raise the stock.

If you are buying from a catalog, make lots of measurements and and hope your math is correct to get the right rings.

Odds are medium will work, but may not be the right fit for you. But you also have to worry about bolt lever and safety clearance at the rear.

 

[jpwilly]

A lot depends on your scope bases. But if I were you I'd go get a set of Weaver Quad Loc Rings at Wally World or the Leupold rings they sell and if they don't work out...exchange them.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Here's an easy redneck way to figure your combined needed base and ring height.

Put your rifle in a gun vise, vise, or whatever. Make sure it is 'level' across the top of the receiver.( Seriously, use a bubble level)

For a 40mm objective 'lens' scope, start with 'two' stacks of 5 quarters, taped together, put these two stacks of quarters on top of the receiver where the bases are going to bolt up.

Put your scope on top of the quarters and see IF you have enough objective bell clearance. Mind the fore and aft position of the scope, it should be close to where it needs to be for proper eye relief.

If you don't have the 'top of barrel' to 'bottom of objective bell' clearance you need, add a quarter or three, whatever, to your stacks of quarters.

When you have found the right amount of quarters, simply measure the 'stack' of quarters with a dial caliper.

This is the COMBINED base and ring height you need.
( Leave yourself about .125" clearance) from the TOP of the BARREL to the BOTTOM of the scopes OBJECTIVE BELL, this will give you some 'wiggle' room as you probably won't get a ring and base combined height to land exactly on the measurement you found you need from measuring the stack of quarters.

Or you can let the scopes objective bell touch the barrel and just 'add' .125" or whatever you feel you may want as to objective bell clearance, to the measurement of the stack of quarters.

The measurement you get from the above task, is the COMBINED, ring and base height you need.

All ring and base manufactures list the base and ring heights for their products, although you'll have to call some of them on the tele to get these dimensions.

Careful with the 'ring' height measurements as some companies give ring height dimensions from the 'top of the ring mounting base' to the 'center' of the ring, you'll have to subtract .500" for a 1" ring and .591" for a 30mm ring, from the 'total' given ring height to find the ring height dimension from the top of the ring mounting base to the bottom of your scope tube. IF the rings do have their height dimensions given to the center of the ring.

Easy, and all it takes is a 10 minutes and a roll of quarters! lol hehehe

Good luck with it!

 

[BADUNAME37]

I have a Leupold 3.5-10 x 40mm and I have that so low on a bolt action that the front of the scope (the bell, if you will) is about 3/16" over the tapered barrel, just in front of the chamber. I find it perfect for myself. It has a one-piece Leupold base with the lowest Leupold rings, I presume.

Other than an AR, I always liked my scopes low. I hate (actually DESPISE) those Quick Mounts or whatever they are called that are so high, you can view the OEM sights under the scope.

Rather than that, I decided on another gun to install the lowest QD (Quick-Detachable) Leupold Rings. When I re-mount the scope with the two little levers, that scope is exactly where it was when I took it off!

I use Loctite on EVERYTHING~!

 

[jmr40]

I always use the lowest possible. Because of minor differences in scopes, mounts and rifles you may have to go up to medums. I can usually use lows with most scopes, mounts and rifles. That is what I would do.