New scope, how to remove iron sights from Savage Model 64

[Jason95357]

I've been wanting to get a scope for my Savage Model 64F 22LR semi-auto for a while. I'd been trying to understand all the options for mounting it. I actually started today by purchasing a 3/8" dove tail to Weaver base, but could not mount it due to the height of the curve to the Savage 64 dove tail and/or the width. It fit perfectly on my son's Marlin XT-22, so I'm just going to give him the Weaver base.

So, I was hemming and hawing about what to get, how to mount it, etc., and finally I just said, forget it, I'm going all in (well, mostly all in, but $500 is a bit much for a scope on a 22). So, "all in" for me was a Leupold VX-1 Rimfire 2-7x28mm for $229 at Bass Pro.

They didn't have any rimfire Leupold rings at BPS, but my LGS had these Rifleman .22 RF 3/8-inch Rings.

So the problem: I want the scope as far forward as my rings will let me mount it. The rings and dovetail would allow another inch or so movement forward, but the front of the scope is at the level of the rear iron sight.

I did remove the elevation "ramp" under the rear iron sight, as that would have also been in the way. However, I am wondering if I can completely remove the rear iron sight.

Online I've found some mentions that the Model 64 used to have a screw in the rear iron sight. Mine doesn't have that, but rather it looks like the metal was bent and flattened down and back toward the top of the barrel and inserted into it. I'm thinking I want to remove it so I can have my scope as close to the barrel as possible

I don't want to have to raise the scope if at all possible. However, I could get the Rifleman .22 RF 3/8-inch Detachable See-Thru Ring which would raise the scope above the iron sights.

Thoughts?

[BOBALOO]

Take a hammer and chisel (or flat-blade screwdriver) and gently tap the sight out of the dovetail slot. I did this on mine with no troubles when I mounted a rimfire scope on it. What a great gun and the scope just adds to the fun.

[Bastard]

just take a punch & drift it out if the dove tail, you can either leave the empty dove tail or buy a sight slot blank to fill it.
also with a 28mm objective on the vx1 rim-fire, you should have no issues mounting over the top of the with medium rings.


Stay away from the see through rings if you want any sort of cheekweld, I would also recommend even mounting with low rings but that is just me.

[Jason95357]

If using medium profile rings - and a scope that is 32mm or smaller - you should not need to remove the rear sight on the Savage 64.

=8-)

I found the problem, which the photo doesn't show:

I went to buy the Rimfire VX-1 2-7x28mm at BPS. I gave the guy the model info, but yet he pulled the wrong scope. My bad for not catching it. My main concern when he showed me the box (because it said VX-1 2-7...) was making sure it was the matte and not glossy.

He pulled the Rifleman VX-1 2-7x33mm which is why I'm having the clearance problem, right? Bigger objective lense is too low down to the iron sight.

Note that "Rimfire" and "Rifleman" appear nowhere on the boxes, just "VX-1 2-7-XXmm."

Otherwise, I'm very happy with it. Just too much scope for my rifle, right?

Should I take it back and get the Rimfire VX-1 2-7x28mm? Should I just pop the rear iron sight off? Same cost either way ($229).

[Jason95357]

just take a punch & drift it out if the dove tail, you can either leave the empty dove tail or buy a sight slot blank to fill it.
also with a 28mm objective on the vx1 rim-fire, you should have no issues mounting over the top of the with medium rings.


Stay away from the see through rings if you want any sort of cheekweld, I would also recommend even mounting with low rings but that is just me.

Right, I want a good cheek weld. The problem with the current mounting position is that I do not get a full field-of-view. Moving back 1 inch does get me a full field-of-view, but I lose my cheek weld. Leupold riflescopes state they need 3" - 5" of eye relief.

I cannot get rings any lower. The scope's eyepiece will touch the rear of the rifle (I'm guessing you would call it the receiver"). I'll just barely clear it now as is (if I could move the scope forward to where I want it).

[Bastard]

I would keep the vx1 2-7x33 (I have the same scope) there is more versatility with the centerfire scope than the rim-fire. that said, if you are having issues with parallax or eye relief they I would take it back.

just remove the rear sight.

edit: the vx1 2-7x33 is almost more of a scout scope designed for longer eye relief.