I am interested in modifying some Talley LWs to fit a Remington model 7. The idea is to buy some 34mm rings for a Model 700, and shorten the rear ring base if necessary, and drill a new screw hole to fit the Model 7 screw spacing. No direct-fit lightweight 34mm rings are available for a Model 7 and I don't want a heavy rail + picatinny rings.


Is anyone aware of this having been done before, or any reasons that it might not work?

Hopefully you can modify them into something that is not such a piece of scheit. Sorry, just not a fan of them at all.

To answer your question, I don’t see a technical reason why it couldn’t work. Except if there are remnants of the existing screw hole left when you machine it off and this somehow negatively affects creating a new mounting hole.

My biggest concern would be the moment arm you are creating on a small bearing surface on the rear ring. It is obvious there is very little space for the rear ring base to receiver contact on a model 7, and you will be hanging some serious mass above it if you are mounting a 34mm diameter scope. Worst case is an eventual stress crack in the aluminum of the ring. Not the end of the world, you just have to start over.

Good luck with your project, post photos

Cotis:

You beat me to it. Read the Intro line to the thread and was going to post something to similar effect. Some have good luck with them, but for myriad reasons, foremost being breakage from recoil alone on a set I had, I'm not a fan.


Recently I weighed a set of Talley LW and then a Leupold aluminum rail with a set of NF LW rings. The difference was pretty small, as in a couple ounces. To me it seems a small price to pay in weight for something that's easier to obtain, much tougher, and allows for optimum ring spacing for scope support.

I figure if you're going to strap the rifle to a 34mm scope, a few extra ounces for the mounting system can't be that much of a game changer.

Be aware that the rear receiver profile on a Model 7 isn't exactly the same as a Model 700. I'd contact Talley directly and see what they can do for you...they've done some non cataloged stuff for me in the past.

Upgrading all the mounting screws from 6-48 to 8-40 should absolutely be done on anything with that much mass hangin' in any mounting system.

Good shootin'. -Al

Speaking of which. Why do we insist on using these stupid 6-48 and 8-40 threads
.
I say go 8-32 and 1/4-28, works on everything else.

Not sure why I would want to put a 34 mm scope on a model 7
I sure wouldn't disturb the footprint on those Talley light weights

For additional information: Currently using a 3.5-10x40 FFP Leupold Mk4 in 30mm low Talleys. It is a good weight and setup for my 5.5lb .223, however I wouldn't mind a slightly more compact scope with a bit more magnification for assessing trophy quality of animals without carrying a spotting scope. I have a 3-18x44 Leupold Mk6 I'd like to use, but it is 34mm tube. It only weighs 50 grams more than the Mk4 (1.5 oz - 590gm vs 640) however adding a picatinny rail & 34mm picatinny rings probably adds another 100-150 grams on top of that c.f. Talleys. Talley 30mm low = about 70 grams for a pair. Warne Mountain Tech 34mm low rings = ~100gm pair, any rail = 100+ gram.

Adding the extra 50 grams of scope + 100-150 grams of mounting gear would be adding a full half pound to the rifle, I'd prefer not to do that - and might just buy a March 3-24x42 FFP instead as it's a 30mm tube 610gram scope.


Not willing to go for a SFP scope as I simply strongly prefer to use FFP exclusively

PFNZ:

I just weighed a short action Warne rail: 44g. Pair of Warne Mountain Tech 30mm rings (didn't have a set of unmounted 34mm laying about) : 101g. Set of 30mm Talley LW: 71g.

So, all up you'd take a +/- 74g weight penalty to go with a rail. Maybe there's lighter rings available?

I empathize with your situation. I'm with you on the FFP; unfortunately, there's not a ton of options for lightish weight FFP, and even fewer FFP reticles that are, IME, well suited to hunting throughout their magnification range. So far, my favorite reticle for hunting is the G2H that came in the LRHS's. The Bushnell's have been tough and the adjustments have been right on. But, they are a heavier scope, and I'm always going back and forth on putting one on one of my lighter weight hunting rifles, which currently have SWFA HD 3-9's and NF 3-10 on them. And while those have been awesome scopes, I prefer several aspects of the LRHS's.

The March in reference has been on my radar, so please post back with results if you go that route. Best of luck to you.

That rail is much lighter than those I had on hand!

I have to modify some Talley rings more than others.

Objective bell clearancing?

I used to have objective bell clearance problems... until scope makers got bigger and bigger with the eyepieces.

Leupold was making rimfire scope with small diameter eyepieces. With adjustable objective, it worked with long range deer hunting.

You can cut the middle out of a rail.

Well I found a good deal on a used but mint condition March 3-24x42 FFP, so I bought that...

I wouldn’t want Talleys holding a 34mm scope. YMMV.