Medium or Low rings with this setup????

[Mills]

Just bought a Leupold 3.5-10x40 VariX-III for a rifle I'm having built. Will have a Rem 700 action with a Lilja #2 barrel and I will be using Leupold Dual Dovetail rings. Leupold's website says I can use low rings, but the salesman at Cabela's said lows will absolutely not work without having to push down with my face to see in the scope. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[fabsroman]

Depends on the stock setup for the most part. If Leupold's website is saying that you can use lows, that means that the bell of the scope will clear the barrel of the gun.

Now, I have checked Leupold's website and ring guide on several occassions and I am surprised that they have a listing for a custom barrel. Is the barrel the same thickness as the stock barrel on the gun? If the barrel is thicker than the stock one (i.e., a target barrel/bull barrel), then the low rings might not even work from a scope bell to barrel clearance standpoint.

Does Leupold's ring guide list a clearance for the scope rings. If so, you might be able to use these numbers to see if the scope and barrel will work.

[Dom]

Fabs has real good points there on what to consider. The only thing I'll add is that if the weapon has iron sights and you use the low mounts, you might just have to remove the rear sight, or at least part of it. Generally you're better off mounting the scope as low as possible. You might want to try the lowest set up, and if it doesn't work, return for a medium set up, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[Evan03]

ive got your set up on my rem 270. leupold bases with med twist n lock rings. holding a 3-9x40 leo. scope clears the barrel with plenty of room to spare.

id rather run low rings on this gun. its 22" barrel that should be about the same as a #2 contour.