Sometimes you've just got to wonder. I bought an H&R-Sako in .308 on an L579 round top action a few weeks ago and just got around to visiting my dealer to pick it up this last Saturday. Its bore and cosmetics were fine, so I was pleased.
This morning I set about mounting a scope on it, which should have been a snap since it came with Redfield rings in place. Imagine my surprise when I found that the bases were of two different heights (the rear one much taller like on a Mauser), and the rings were also of two different heights to attempt to compensate!
I didn't even bother with seeing how close the double mismatch might come to being level as I don't put up with such atrocities (especially on a Sako!) So I began stripping the bases off -- literally since the idiot who mounted them was so proud of his work that he had welded the screws in place with locktight. The screw heads were hex, so you'd think that you could apply plenty of torque to them with a tight-fitting wrench without them stripping -- wrong! I was finally able to drive an oversized torx bit into them and work them loose. The good thing about the whole mount was that it fit perfectly in my trashcan.
Now to find some proper bases. I searched through my spare parts and finally found a Weaver base which fit the front. I then found a Weaver base of matching height, but the holes were too far apart for the rears, which are only a half-inch apart. Wanting to move forward with the project, I carefully measured and center-punched a mark for a new hole, then drilled it with the proper size small bit. Following that, I made a pretty decent countersink for the screw head on the top side of the base with a larger drill bit. Fortunately, the aluminum of the Weaver bases is easy to drill and I got a perfect fit. Found some proper mounting screws and snugged the bases on and used some pretty decent old Weaver rings to mount a Leupold 2.5-8X nice and low over the receiver.
Just as I finished up with the scope I noticed that the trigger was LOOSE! Lord help me, what was the previous owner thinking? I took the metal out of the stock (finding the actions screws about fingernail tight) and tightened the trigger mounting screw. All looks fine and works fine, but the trigger pull is barely sixteen ounces. Now that's nice on a bench gun, but a tad wispy on a hunting rifle. Someone must have shortened the trigger spring since the adjusting screw was turned fairly far in. However a couple of turns clockwise got the pull up to a glassy 1.75 pounds, which is safe enough for an experienced shooter.
So I reassemble and look everything over. Hmmm . . . that firing pin adjustment screw sure looks unusually deep inside the housing. Better take the bolt out and uncock it to check the firing pin protrusion. HOLY COW!
It looked like Pinocchio's nose sticking out of the bolt face. I went to loosen the firing pin adjuster set screw and found it already loose. Adjusted the firing pin for a normal protrusion, then tightened down on the set screw.
Well, I think I've found all of the problems and I'm finally on my way to clean the barrel and check it for function and accuracy at the bench. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll report when the results are in.
This morning I set about mounting a scope on it, which should have been a snap since it came with Redfield rings in place. Imagine my surprise when I found that the bases were of two different heights (the rear one much taller like on a Mauser), and the rings were also of two different heights to attempt to compensate!
I didn't even bother with seeing how close the double mismatch might come to being level as I don't put up with such atrocities (especially on a Sako!) So I began stripping the bases off -- literally since the idiot who mounted them was so proud of his work that he had welded the screws in place with locktight. The screw heads were hex, so you'd think that you could apply plenty of torque to them with a tight-fitting wrench without them stripping -- wrong! I was finally able to drive an oversized torx bit into them and work them loose. The good thing about the whole mount was that it fit perfectly in my trashcan.
Now to find some proper bases. I searched through my spare parts and finally found a Weaver base which fit the front. I then found a Weaver base of matching height, but the holes were too far apart for the rears, which are only a half-inch apart. Wanting to move forward with the project, I carefully measured and center-punched a mark for a new hole, then drilled it with the proper size small bit. Following that, I made a pretty decent countersink for the screw head on the top side of the base with a larger drill bit. Fortunately, the aluminum of the Weaver bases is easy to drill and I got a perfect fit. Found some proper mounting screws and snugged the bases on and used some pretty decent old Weaver rings to mount a Leupold 2.5-8X nice and low over the receiver.
Just as I finished up with the scope I noticed that the trigger was LOOSE! Lord help me, what was the previous owner thinking? I took the metal out of the stock (finding the actions screws about fingernail tight) and tightened the trigger mounting screw. All looks fine and works fine, but the trigger pull is barely sixteen ounces. Now that's nice on a bench gun, but a tad wispy on a hunting rifle. Someone must have shortened the trigger spring since the adjusting screw was turned fairly far in. However a couple of turns clockwise got the pull up to a glassy 1.75 pounds, which is safe enough for an experienced shooter.
So I reassemble and look everything over. Hmmm . . . that firing pin adjustment screw sure looks unusually deep inside the housing. Better take the bolt out and uncock it to check the firing pin protrusion. HOLY COW!
It looked like Pinocchio's nose sticking out of the bolt face. I went to loosen the firing pin adjuster set screw and found it already loose. Adjusted the firing pin for a normal protrusion, then tightened down on the set screw.
Well, I think I've found all of the problems and I'm finally on my way to clean the barrel and check it for function and accuracy at the bench. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll report when the results are in.