Rem 700 5r Milspec scope mount screws

[EminenceGrise]

Do any of you gents know what size screws I need? The ones that came with my rail are way too fat (and they were advertised as a rem 700 short action scope mount too. It's a short action / .308 if that makes a difference.

The rail looks like it fits perfectly... aside from screws that don't fit.

[baih777]

what brand rail did you order ?
some scopes are offered with bigger screws and you should have a gunsmith enlarge the mounting holes.
I think they are 6-48. I don't know the length. the front screw may be shorter than the other three. measure carefully.

[NordicDave]

Remington 700 base mount hole are 6-48 threads, although some people retap them to 8-40 threads.

Standard factory 6-48 is more than ample for any round the rifle could possibly shoot.

Check the thread type supplied with your bases. Many bases like Badger supply longer screws that must be cut or fitted to length or they will interfere with the bolt.

[killshot44]

Nearly every 700 clone action (Surgeon etc) has the 8-40 tapped holes and pretty much every builder bores them out on actions they true.

As OP has discovered, many of the aftermarket suppliers take this into account.

As for "enough" screw...........the stock ones have far less contact area in the theads. I wouldn't mount a 2-3lb scope with them. Many go on and bed the ring mounts or rail to the action for even better contact.

OP can have Randall knock those out in ten minutes.

[baih777]

second thought.
if the rail is drilled for the bigger screws, don't use the smaller screws to mount the rail.
wait for Randall to chime in and make a appointment and have the mounting holes drilled and tapped for the bigger screws.
he's in van nuys.

[ar15barrels]

Do any of you gents know what size screws I need? The ones that came with my rail are way too fat (and they were advertised as a rem 700 short action scope mount too. It's a short action / .308 if that makes a difference.

6-48 are standard sized.
You likely bought the wrong rail with 8-40 screws.
I can open up the existing screw holes to 8-40 for you if you want to stick with the rail you bought.
8-40 screws are significantly stronger and are a good upgrade.

[EminenceGrise]

Well, the rail came with both size screws that you all have mentioned and neither one of them fits. The existing screw holes are tiny, which leads me to believe tapping is the way to go.

I send Randall an email, thanks for all the feedback.

[EminenceGrise]

Remington 700 base mount hole are 6-48 threads, although some people retap them to 8-40 threads.

Standard factory 6-48 is more than ample for any round the rifle could possibly shoot.

Check the thread type supplied with your bases. Many bases like Badger supply longer screws that must be cut or fitted to length or they will interfere with the bolt.

OK, this proved to be 100% accurate. Good tip.

Just thought I'd close this out - apparently the nice people that shipped me the rail (La Rue Tactical) sent me a two-sided pouch with ostensibly 2 different size screws - 4 6-48 and 4 8-40. Since they were in different little pouches and my near vision is dog poop these days I tried one from each bag and neither fit. you know what they say about ASSUMING...

Well, Randall measured each one and they sent me 7 of the 8-40 screws and 1 6-48. That explains why nothing fit anyway... so he tapped the holes out to the larger size, trimmed one of the screws so it didn't interfere with the barrell threads and all is well.