Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Optics for a Pre 64 M70...?

Sweet rig, Sqweeler, and thanks for the compliments John. You have to love some of these older rifles!

Eric

Cool, here's a couple of my old timers...

Parker GH from late 1880s



A 1907 Lefever that I restored...

I've got a standard pre-64 with a lyman peep as well. I carry it as my bear spray while guiding. I've thought about the same question for my rifle. I have a leupold 3x I'd like to put on sometime. I'll probably go with Leupold's dual dove tail rings and mounts in low. It isn't something you can easily change while hunting. But also wouldn't be too hard with a screwdriver and torx-driver. You would have to take the scope out of the rings but you could leave the bottom of the rings still in the mounts. I've also consider talley's mount/rings system. I believe it lets you remove the scope and rings and then mount a peep sight to the rear mount. Would work well for in field.

For rings don't overlook the Talley LW aluminum's in low height, you obviously seem to want to hunt the rifle and not "safe queen" it. Find a used stock or drop it in a McMillan if you want to keep the stock new looking.

I have a once fired 1954 FWT that is about to get dropped into a used wood stock and I'm going to use it for what they made em for. For me life is getting too short to deny myself the enjoyment of using my nicest possesions because I'm too worried about making money on them.

If you are feeling a special bond to that Model 70, go enjoy it and make some memories......

Good for you, GWood. I completely agree. Life is too short, and these rifles were meant to hunt! You should post a pic of that 1954 FWT!

I'll check out the Talley's. Thanks for the recommendation!

Thanks as well for the rings/mounts recommendation, Ralphie!

I use leupold DD's on mine,with 3,4 or 6X Leupolds.Works swell.....

With a VX3 on my pre 64 FE 270, I use Leupold STD's. I hate the windage screw but it does work and my present rifle has stayed in zero for two hunts and two trips to Wyoming.

My Talley LW's must be drilled off-center somehow because the scope won't bottom on 3 rifles I have tried them on so far...

Burris Signature rings are also excellent, attractive, and stronger than most.

I've used a variety of rings and mounts on the pre 64's including Buehlers, Talleys etc. My favorite set up is just the standard Redfield Jr. base and low rings.

I don't have a Lyman sight handy but I'm sitting here looking at a FW rifle. I think you might be able to keep the Lyman with the Redfield Jr. mount?????

On that rifle I like the lighter scopes. 2X7 or 2.5X8 Leupold are my favorites.

Bob, I haven't used the DD Leupolds. Do you use the low or med. rings?

Sendero, I use DD Lows...not all scopes work because the bolt handle lift is higher on pre 64's unless you grind that bolt handle.So I mostly stick to fixed power Leupolds which mount well on about anything....

OK, thanks...

It's been awhile since I've used the low Redfields but I remember that the bolt comes real close to the scope and the scope sometimes is not centered..windage.

Terry

I have a couple pre-64 M-70's and I have a good buddy that has a few dozen. All of them have Talley rings on them.

If I were you I'd go with the QD rings so that you can detach the scope to use with the apeture rear site if it fit OK.

Saying that a 3-9x40 scope is too much for a 30-06 is nonsense. It's not the most Popular magnification range for nuthin'.

Something like a Zeiss or Swaro 2.5-10x42 would be a superb scope for such a nice rifle.

I've hunting several times with a 2-7 range scope including last week. Every time I hunted with it I've ended up moving up to a 2.5-10 range scope. If you hunt in tighter bush the 2-7 makes sense but I prefer the higher magnification and the better optics of the 2.5-10 scopes I own. IMHO better glass is available in the 1.5-6 or 2.5-10 range than you can find in the 2-7 magnification range. Just my opinion but I have hunted with all of the above................................DJ

A shot from last month of my Model 70 30-06, also made in 1955, doing what it likes. It's wearing a 3x9 Leupold Compact in low rings on Leupold reversable bases. The rifle is a standard weight that now has a FW barrel on it. It weighs just under 8 lbs. and is much nicer to carry.

I think a 6x36 Leupold would be perfect

My '58 Model 70 in .30-06 has the steel detachable Talleys with a 4x Leupold. Works great!

I have a prewar .257 Roberts, it has a Leupold 2-7X in a Redfield Jr. mount with the old style rings. My other pre '64 is a .35 Whelen which is my deer rifle, it has a Lyman 48 and a Griffin & Howe Double Lever Mount. I have two top halves for the G&H Mount, one has a Lyman Alaskan and the other a vintage Leupold 2-7X.

I really like that rifle EricM! I can understand the featherweight confusion because your supergrade looks like it has a 22" long barrel in the photos. even though it is obvious it is a standard weight contour which should be 24" maybe its just the picture.
trying to pick mounts can be tough. I have Conetrols on my Pre 64 '06 and 270 featherweights and leupold made redfield style two piece bases w/low rings on my 270 standard rifle.
I would like to try Tally steel mounts.

Hate to hear that Bob, I've had nothing but good luck with Talley's. I'm slowly changing everything over to the aluminum LW's if possible. They aren't the slickest looking, but for utility I can't find much to not like about them.

Only complaint I have with them is the lows aren't really that low and that can be good or bad depending on the rifle and scope design.

Swarovski av 3-10

Swaro Z3 3-9X36 works well on a couple of my rifles!

Ive also had problems with the bolt handle clearing when using Leupold STD Bases and Lows. Burris bases are a smidge taller, and when used with low rings will probably give you the lowest possible set-up.

As far as Talleys, I like their steel rings very much, not so much with the LW aluminum's. First set I had, really goofed a nice scope. Latter sets were better, but still dont like them. If I wanted aluminum rings, I'd probably get Leupold Rifleman's.

I think I'd choose Burris/Leupold Dual Dovetails, or fixed steel tally. Warne are nice, but heavy.