L61R scope & rings

[jerryinpittpa]

My dad gave me his pre Garcia Sako Finnbear L61R some years ago and it has a 40 year old Leupold VX-2 2-7X scope on it with original Sako rings. The zoom ring was real tight, a gunsmith told me to oil it, let it soak in and it might loosen up. I decided to buy a new Leupold VX-1 2-7X. When I took off the old scope the zoom ring loosened up, must of been stress from the rings not being perfectly alinged. Tried to put on the new Leupold VX-1, but its objective diameter (33mm) is larger than the old scope and the scope housing hit the barrel. I measured the outside diameter (OD) of the new scope 40mm. The old scope OD is 35 mm.

1.) I need higher mount rings for a new scope. I see Leupold has a medium 0.86 ring that should fit.

2.) Need to mount the rings perfectly alinged before attaching the scope. I guess I could buy a 1" steel rod the lenght of a scope and use it to hold the rings straight while tightening the dovetail clamp screws.

Any comments?

My Finnbear was originaly a 264 Win Mag, the barrel was geting rough near the chamber. Found a Sako AV 7mm Rem mag barrel a guy had shot 40 times then changed barrels. I bought it.

My dad had a custom left hand Fajen stock made when the gun was new, but I'm right handed. So I had Mcmilan make a fiberglass right hand Sako hunter stock. Now it fits me but need to straighten out the scope issue. Haven't shot the 7MM Rem Mag barrel with Mcmilan stock yet

When I first got the Sako could connect holes on the target at 200 yards, fine shootin gun!!

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[hayseed51]

Hi Jerry -

Apparently you had Sako low rings on the rifle. You should be able to use either Sako med (5/16") or the Leupold lows ringmounts with your new scope. Seems like the 0.86 set would be unnecessarily high.

Dick