scope and mount suggestion for m70?

[back40]

i just ordered a winchester m70 extreme weather in .308, and need suggestions for glass. i'm willing to spend up to 1k and am leaning pretty hard towards the zeiss conquest hd5 2-10. application is for an all around hunting rifle.

also need suggestions for mounts. at the moment all of my other rifles have picatinny rails. i'm tempted to use one for this rifle as well, because i'm familiar with them and it'll allow me to easily swap scopes around if i feel the need. if not picatinny, which would be the lightest and most durable mount/ring setup? any idea on what height rings for 42mm objective?

 

[Robert]

On my Winchester M70 Safari Express I have Leupold bases, low Burris Zee rings and a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36. For a 42mm you may need medium rings. This set up has help together just fine on my 375H&H.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Nothing wrong with that Zeiss.

Are you wanting something quick detatch, like the Leupold QRW?

Robert's right - you need medium for that 42mm.

 

[back40]

standard rings will do the trick. the rifle doesn't have irons, so no need for the QR rings.

any other suggestions for scopes?

how are the talley lightweight two piece ring/base units?

 

[jmr40]

Here is the same rifle in 308 as well. McMillan Edge stock, Leupold 2.5-8X36 scope in Talley Lightweight mounts. It weighs 7.5 lbs as it sets.

Nothing wrong with Zeiss, I have 2 on other rifles, but I like the lighter weight of the Leupold for this use. I won't use anything but Talley Lightweights or DNZ mounts anymore. Either are great mounts, lightweight, stronger than steel and reasonably priced. I think the DNZ's might be a little more solid, but the Talley's look better.



Using 130 gr TTSX's at 3050 fps this year. It shoots them well.

 

[back40]

jmr40, thanks for the info and pics. i was eyeing the leupolds as well and noticed the weight difference. i'll likely go with the talley lightweights. still undecided.

is the edge much lighter than the b&c the ew comes with? what made you swap? also, what is on the barrel? tape?

 

[Geno]

My Super Grade had Talley. All of my 4 other M70s have M1913 Nighforce rails. When I do, someday, purchase an EW, it too will get an M1913 rail because they are so rugged.

Geno

 

[Kp321]

With no iron sights, I like the idea of non-quick remove rings such as the Talleys or Leupold dual dovetail. They offer a more solid platform than removable rings would.

 

[CB900F]

Back40;

I've got several Zeiss Conquest scopes, the 3.5-10X with the Zeiss #43 reticle to be exact, and they're all in Talley lightweight mounts. You can do a lot worse, & I think you'd have a very hard time doing better.

900F

 

[desidog]

how are the talley lightweight two piece ring/base units?

I have the Talley Ultralight one piece ring/base on one of my M70's, the lowest ones they make, and a Burris FF2 3-9x.

If you're not going to be taking them on and off, i'd go one-piece over two-piece; its just one less connection to fail, and lighter too.

 

[back40]

well, i decided to go with the talley lightweights and the leupold 2.5-8x36. the leupy is more compact and quite a bit lighter than the zeiss i was looking at, plus $450 less. i really like the size of the scope and thin it will serve quite well for a general purpose hunting gun with most shots being under 200yds.

i have to say that i'm a little unimpressed with the talleys. the machining of the cap ring screw holes seem very slightly mis-aligned to the bottoms. they mounted up fine, so as long at it shoots well. so be it. still pretty nice for the money.

 

[jmr40]

Sorry for the delay in getting back. I've been hunting a bit and just never got back to this thread.

I started taping my muzzle probably 30 years ago when hunting in the rain. Finally decided it didn't hurt a thing to just leave it on all season. Not only keeps out rain in wet weather, but I don't have to worry about any debris getting in there. Or if it were to be dropped muzzle down in dirt or mud nothing would get in the barrel. The tape blows off from air pressure in front of the bullet and is gone before the bullet reaches the muzzle so it doesn't effect accuacy at all. I keep about 12" of extra tape on the barrel as spare tape.

The Edge stock took 7 oz off the weight compared to the factory B&C stock. I found the stock used in the classifed ads on another forum at a good price. After selling the factroy stock I really don't have that much in the Edge. Not only is it almost 1/2 lb lighter it just plain feels and balances better.

You'll like the Leupold, 8X is going to be good for as much range as you can get from a 308. Zeiss makes a great scope, but the leupold is about 1/4 lb lighter, has more eye relief and is more compact which I think looks much better on a smaller rifle.

Little things add up. The Edge stock is 7 oz lighter than the B&C. A short action is 4 oz lighter than a long action. The Talley mounts are 4 oz lighter than steel mounts and the Leupold is 4 oz lighter than the Zeiss. A lightweight nylon sling is about 6 oz lighter than most leather straps. The fluted barrel is 3-4 oz lighter than unfluted. That adds up to close to a 2 lb savings.