Rifle Scopes Should I cut scope base?

[longtalltechsan]

I have a Rem700 SPS Tactical in .308. I just got a Weaver tactical 20 moa scope base, Burris XTR low rings and a Bushnell Elite 3200 10x scope. I mounted them all up tonight and because of the extended rail of the base and trying to get the scope in the right position for eye relief and the ring height, the front bell of the scope base hits the rail and doesn't allow me to move the scope far enough back. I really want the 20moa base, but don't need the extra length. So I was wondering if I should cut about 3/4" off the front of the rail to allow me to move the scope back a little. Here's a pic to show what I am referring to.

 

[CamW]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

Cut it! I had to do this with a Badger Ordnance scope base to get the proper eye relief.
A Dremel tool with cut off wheels works great, a hacksaw and file will work too. A dab of cold blue on the cut, you'll never see the difference.

 

[Goldbeachman]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

Yep, cut it. I had to do that once on a <span style="font-style: italic">really </span>expensive sako rail on a trg-42. Not a problem at all.

 

[MWDG3]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

At 6'2" with a propper LOP, had to cut a couple of rails to get my scopes back to me.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

Cut it. It's not a big deal.

I had to cut the Weaver Tactical rail on our Budget Precision Project in order to get proper eye relief.

 

[ORD]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

+1 on the Dremel. I have done the same thing twice now in order to get the proper eye relief and the proper scope height/clearance although I didn't have to "cut off" any length...just some height on the forward-most lug. I just took a grinder wheel (sander...whatever you want to call it) and shaved down the front lugs on the rail as needed. I then put a little touch up pen/paint on it to knock the shine off. Since the Weaver rail has a longer extended section of rail than some others, I'd be temped to take a cut-off wheel instead and just hack it off right here then touch it up:

 

[longtalltechsan]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

Thanks for the info guys. I figured I would have to cut it, but hadn't seen where someone had mentioned doing that before and didn't want to mess up the rail in anyway. I will report back.

 

[jwpark]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

Is the base contacting the barrel at all?

 

[vferguson3006]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

I have cut several, both front and back, depends on the base.
Used hacksaw, jewelers files, actually cut them at the same angle as the bottom contour, new coat of flat black, almost impossible to tell it, they, have been modified.

 

[Aries64]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

Since the Weaver Tactical Bases are inexpensive, I would just cut-it. If you're not married to the one-piece base design in the future you can just buy two-piece bases from Tactical Operations. Tac Ops Two-Piece Base Sets are available in cants of 15 MOA, 22 MOA, 34 MOA, 40 MOA, 45 MOA, and 60 MOA. Below are photos of the Front and Rear of a Tac Ops Two-Piece 40 MOA Base Set. Pardon the dust I missed.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Tac Ops Two-Piece 40 MOA Base - Front:</span></span>

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Tac Ops Two-Piece 40 MOA Base - Rear:</span></span>

Keith

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

Another option would be the Nightforce 2-piece 20MOA bases:

Nightforce 20MOA 2-piece bases Remington 700

Mark H.

 

[longtalltechsan]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jay Park</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is the base contacting the barrel at all? </div></div>

No the base is not contacting the barrel. There is a slight gap between the base and the barrel.

 

[longtalltechsan]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

Ok so when I got home I let the surgery begin. I cut off a good amount with the dremel, then smoothed it up and hit it with some flat black spray paint to make it match. I think it came out pretty good, but I'll let ya'll be the judge.

Now my scope can go far enough to the rear to get the eye relief that I need.

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

whacked my badger base off. not a biggie. function is far more important than asthetics to me.

 

[VjjR]

Re: Should I cut scope base?

I haven't mounted mine yet but I have a feeling I will have to do the same on my weaver 20moa base on a Savage. Just waiting on a barrel before I mount the optics.