@Dude - Mounted Leupold QR bases last night. First scope will be a VXIII 4.5x14 for accuracy check/load development. Long term will probably be VX3 2.5x8. Only concern is that there will not be much adjustment left for eye relief given the short tube on the 2.5x8, even with extended front ring.
@Hawk - Get in touch with ShortActionSmoker (Darrik at Whittaker Guns). He can work out the details with you. Keep In Mind, this was not a group buy rifle. Everything was custom ordered (ala carte).
@Jason - Max COAL is approx 3.5" with a spacer welded into the mag box (ala Winchester). That is plenty for the 6.5x55, 7x57, .30-06, etc. Looking at it, I would assume that you could order a mag box and follower for the full 3.6" if desired. I will try to measure it if I take it apart again.
FWIW, Even tho the mag box is "snug" in the stock when assembled, visual inspection appears that the mag box is approx 0.040" shy of bottoming out and binding on the bottom metal.
