Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Is it possible to use Redfield Widefield on a 1951 model 70?

I have a 2x7 Redfield Widefield I would like too mount on my 1951 model 70 in .270 When I bought the rifle,it had a Weaver KV scope with 2 pc Weaver mounts.The scope rings are Weaver steel detachable low rings.I see there is not much clearance between the bolt and scope with this rig.There is no way my Widefield scope with the wide "TV" eyepiece will work using whats on the rifle.I want to use the the lowest scope rings possible.If I have to use High Rings in order to have clearance,then I will be looking for another scope.Will be using it for whitetails this Fall.Any suggestions on this would be appreciated.

I have the same scope mounted on a pre64 7MM. I used leupold medium rings and bases. If you can't find something that works for you I'd be interested in the scope if you want to part with it.

In 2005 a guy in Alaska died and his nephew down here sold me the 1956 M70 with Redfield 2x7 Widefield on it for $585.

I replaced the barrel, stock, scope, bases, rings, sling, and added a bipod.
And then I killed 9 deer with it.

Like GSPfan said, you should be good to go with Leu. Meds. While I don't have a widefield mounted currently, I seem to remember that if a current production Leu. (not a compact) will fit with occular clearance, the Widefield I had would too in the same ring set-up.

John

+1 to everything said. I would add that in my experience any thing with a type 1 clover leaf receiver has a slightly higher bolt rise, and needs medium rings regardless of scope choice. I know that your gun probably is a type 2, but it just seemed applicable.

I got it too work ok with Weaver Top mounts-I now see that you can only use mediums with the "newer" scopes ,or maybe even high's if going with scope covers for clearance.Even with the older scopes with smaller diameter eye pieces,I see some of those rifles that someone ground the bolt in order to get clearance.I sure like low rings,but like mentioned in other posts-its really not possible with these old guns.

Says who? I run lows on most of my pre's. I don't like small scopes either... I also believe it's sacrilege to grind on a bolt handle. Unless it's an old enfield or something like that... : Also, if you do decide to go with a different/newer scope on your model 70, keep I mind there are different brands out there than Leupold. I often hear how the oculars are too big on the leupys for the pre's, but I don't think they are bigger than most European manufactured scopes. Zeiss for example: I run medium rings on my Zeiss scopes because of the bigger oculars, but drop down to lows for my 3-9x40 Burris FFII 3-9x40's... The older American made Burris FFII's are pretty damn good scopes and work great on the pre's with low rings. I've also used Nikon scopes with no problems... The most important thing to keep in mind when mounting a scope is how your head positions on the stock. Mounting height of the scope should be adjusted to your style of shooting with your eye alignment (to scope) with proper cheek weld to the stock.

Well thanks for the input on the low rings-what is the brand of mount and the brand of rings you use on that Burris set-up you have?

I much prefer Leupold dual dovetails to just about anything I've tried:

30-06 fwt:



338 Alaskan with the same type of mounts/rings (low DD's):


I also had my 270 fwt set up that way:

Talley lightweights (lows or mediums) would also work for your old Weaver scope. Here are some I had on my 30-06 fwt. I've since taken the hubble off and replaced it with a smaller scope:

These were medium Talleys:


A good set of Leupold PRW's work as well. These are mediums because of the 44mm objective:


When it is possible, I like to go with strong light mounts and rings but with my 375 H&H I wanted to go really robust with the PRW's. They are not a bad set-up..

Nice set-ups you got there!I'll have to check out those American-made Burris scopes if I see one at a gun show sometime.What is the stock you have on your 375?

BSA that black and grey rifle is the nicest pre'64 I believe I've ever seen. What was the % of each color? powdr

Thanks guys. The stock on the 375 H&H is a McMillan pre 64 montecarlo pattern mcswirl with the old coyote bomber colors. I used to have the stock on my fwt 30-06, but it was too heavy for my likings. I transferred it over to the 375 and it seems to be a match made in heaven.


Coyote bomber (oldstyle colors):

50/25/25 Dark Grey/Black/Med Tan

I just mounted a Redfield 2-7 wide angle scope (the one that looks like a TV screen)on a transition era M70 300 Savage. I did have to remove the rear sight and put a blank in the slot but other than that no issues. A classic scope on a classic rifle now we wait for deer season.

There was one mounted on the Remington 760 I just bought, but I told the gunshop owner to keep it. He took $50.00 off the price of the rifle. It looked great and fitting on the rifle like it belonged there, but the scope was real cloudy. When they are not compromised/fogged, they are nice little scopes.

BSA there is just something about a period correct scope on a vintage rifle. I have a 270FWT with a Leupold Vari X III 3.5X10 so I do use and like more modern scopes as well. The Redfield 2-7WA has a better field of view than the compact 2-7 leupold. I have Redfield 2-7 widae angle TV screen scopes on both the 300 Savage and a 7MM carbine.

It's cool until they fog up on you. But that can happen with any scope. The optical clarity of the new glass is a bit better too, even in the cheaper Burris FFII's I generally use. However, you are correct in that the older scopes look more fitting on the older rifles. I like the look, just have seen many that were foggy. My elk hunting partner has used an old Denver 5 star redfield on his elk rifle for over 20 years and it finally puked. He now uses a Nikon Monarch and much prefers the new glass over the old scope..

I had a Burris 1.5-6 on my .416 Taylor puke in Africa of all places. Fortunately the PH had a spare. I had to send a Leupold 4.5x14 back once also. Things happen it's just the way it is. A shot at a Whitetail here is rarely over 100 yards so a lot of scope isn't necessary.

Redfield Widefield scopes would be period correct on 1970's era Winchesters....