Ignorant scope mounting question (pics included)

[wamj2008]

I got a Leupold Rifleman scope mounting system... now I'm no genius when it comes to mounting scopes. One of the scope bases is thicker than the other, which you can see here (front piece noticeably thicker):

This causes the scope to angle, obviously. Is this normal? It came with 2 different sets of screws. Should the thick piece be in the back and cause the scope to angle downwards intead of forwards?

Also, there is a gap between the top piece and bottom piece as shown here:

Is this normal as well, as long as the gap is relatively even on both sides? Thanks for putting up with my silly questions.

 

[Mags]

The front piece also sits on a higher part of the rifle than the bcak one. You should switch em around and see how that works. The gap is caused from the scope being angled and is not normal.

 

[statelineblues]

If you purchased the mounts new, there should be some sort of directions included - USE THEM!

And yes, the mounts are INcorrect - the scope should sit parallel to the barrel.

 

[wamj2008]

There really aren't much for instructions. Just "Align holes, screw in" essentially.

I swapped them around, and there's definitely less of an angle, it's pretty much gone. The gap is still there, but smaller. Are my scope rings too small?

 

[matrem]

Assuming you have the correct bases for your rifle, I'd say they're mounted backwards. (front & rear)
Quite a few rifles require one base to be thicker than the other.

 

[matrem]

The gap is still there, but smaller. Are my scope rings too small?

Normal.

 

[Fatelvis]

The front piece also sits on a higher part of the rifle than the bcak one. You should switch em around and see how that works. The gap is caused from the scope being angled and is not normal.

He is correct. Take the bases off, and reverse them. The taller one goes toward the butstock, and the shorter one goes toward the muzzle.

 

[TX1911fan]

A small gap is not unusual.

 

[rcmodel]

The front receiver ring is bigger around then the rear bridge.
So the thicker base goes on the back and the thin one goes on the front.

Hope you didn't torque down the ring screws real tight when you had the bases reversed.
If you did, you may have bent the scope tube, or damaged the internal lens mounting.

rc

 

[H&Hhunter]

Yo dude you put them on backwards. Switch them front to rear if you tried to tighten those rings in that condition you'll probably need new ones as the threads will be trashed.

 

[Uncle Mike]

That 'gap' between the cradle and the top strap of the ring is normal.

Word....ditch those Leupold Rifleman bases and rings, lots o' problems associated with them as to durability and integrity.

 

[You-Two]

Talley Mounts/Rings

That looks like a Marlin XL7...is that right?

I just picked mine up today and mounted the scope with some Talley one-piece mount/rings. One of my other rifles uses the same mounts and I've been pleased with it. Some people may think differently, but I like the simplicity of the combined mount on a hunting rig. They aren't too expensive either.

Here are a couple pics:

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Talley Mounts/Rings

I use these same rings/mounts of two of my Mauser 98 conversions. They are rock solid.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Talley rings and bases are bomb proof. I just wish that they'd start to make some units that are lower. That scope on your Marlin could be lower by nearly a half inch. It sure makes for easier shooting when the scope is as low to the bore as possible.