I have 4 rifles with claw mount dovetails cut in the front receiver ring. Like you, I felt some unease upon seeing how deep and wide the cuts were, but over the years I've gotten comfortable with it. One rifle is an early Mannlicher Schoenauer '06, and the other is a Sauer 9.3x62. The '06, liked perky loads, so I gave it what it liked. Over a period of years, I checked the front ring with a dye penetrant kit I have, and was unable to detect any flaws and annually I checked the locking lug bearing surfaces, again, no apparent set back. The beautiful old Sauer was loaded mild to duplicate RWS factory 286 gr loads...mostly because I have lost interest in dealing with recoil. Never tried MD's RL-15 barn burner load, with the stock drop and steel buttplate on my rifle, which would probably be...memorable.
