Elevating Your Remington 700: Precision Scope Mounting with Leupold Standard 2-Piece Bases

For serious shooters, dedicated hunters, and tactical enthusiasts who rely on the legendary Remington 700 rifle, optimizing every component for peak performance is paramount. When it comes to mounting your vital optic, a foundation of unwavering strength and precise adjustability is non-negotiable. This is where the Leupold 50017 Standard Base 2-Piece with Reversible Front steps in, offering a time-tested, robust, and intelligently designed solution for securely attaching your scope. Engineered specifically for the iconic Remington 700, 721, and 725 platforms, this black gloss steel base provides the reliability and subtle adjustability required to achieve and maintain pinpoint accuracy.

Who Needs This Scope Base? And What Problem Does It Solve?

Are you a hunter preparing for the next season, meticulously zeroing your rifle for that critical shot? Perhaps you're a sport shooter looking to minimize variables and maximize consistency on the range. Or maybe you're simply building out a new Remington 700 and demand the foundational strength that only a top-tier scope mounting system can provide. If you own a Remington 700 and seek a durable, precise, and highly dependable mounting solution for calibers up to, but not exceeding, .300 Win. Mag., then the Leupold 50017 Standard Base is precisely what you need.

This base solves several common challenges faced by shooters:

• Ensuring Absolute Scope Stability: The primary function of any scope base is to provide a rock-solid anchor for your optic. Loose or flex-prone mounts lead to inconsistent accuracy, frustrating zero shifts, and wasted ammunition. The Leupold STD 2-piece base, crafted from robust steel, eliminates these concerns, ensuring your scope remains precisely where you mounted it, shot after shot, season after season.
• Achieving Optimal Zero with Ease: Traditional mounting systems can sometimes make initial bore sighting and fine-tuning difficult. The Leupold STD system uniquely integrates a reversible front dovetail and rear windage screws, allowing for crucial lateral adjustment during the initial setup phase. This ingenious feature dramatically simplifies the bore-sighting process, getting you on target faster and with less hassle.
• Withstanding Recoil and Harsh Environments: Hunting rifles and long-range shooting platforms endure significant recoil and exposure to diverse weather conditions. This Leupold base's steel construction is inherently resistant to deformation under heavy recoil and provides exceptional durability against corrosion and wear, making it ideal for everything from a dusty range day to a wet, rugged hunting expedition.
• Maintaining a Classic, Streamlined Profile: For many, the aesthetic and traditional lines of a rifle are important. The 2-piece design of the Leupold STD base maintains a sleek, low-profile appearance on your Remington 700, without unnecessary bulk, complementing the rifle’s classic design.

Unpacking the Precision: Key Features and How They Benefit You

The Leupold 50017 Standard Base isn't just a piece of metal; it's a meticulously engineered component designed to deliver superior performance. Let's delve into its core attributes:

• Leupold Standard (STD) Mounting System: This is more than just a base; it's part of a comprehensive system. Leupold's STD rings and bases are renowned for their versatility and robust design. The STD system has been a cornerstone of reliable scope mounting for decades, trusted by hunters and shooters worldwide. Its enduring popularity stems from its proven ability to hold zero under challenging conditions. When paired with Leupold STD rings (sold separately), this base forms an integrated unit that excels in stability and adjustability.
• 2-Piece Base Design: This specific model features a 2-piece configuration, meaning separate bases for the front and rear of the receiver. This design offers several advantages, particularly for the Remington 700:
  • Enhanced Access to the Action: A 2-piece design leaves more open space around the rifle's action, facilitating easier loading, ejection, and cleaning. This can be particularly beneficial in field conditions or for rapid reloading.
  • Compatibility with Various Action Lengths: While designed for the Remington 700, 721, and 725, the 2-piece nature often provides flexibility across different receiver lengths (short, long action) without needing a single, specific, custom-fit base for each. The key is ensuring proper ring spacing for your chosen scope.
  • Weight Reduction: Compared to some 1-piece rail systems, a 2-piece base can offer a marginal weight saving, contributing to a lighter overall rifle setup, which is valuable for extended treks in the field.
• Reversible Front Dovetail: This is a standout feature unique to the Leupold STD system. The front ring (when paired with a compatible STD ring) utilizes a dovetail connection that allows it to pivot. This pivoting action, combined with the windage adjustable rear ring (using windage screws on the rear base), provides crucial lateral adjustment during initial scope setup.
  • Simplified Bore Sighting: This capability means you can roughly align your scope with your bore using the base's built-in adjustments, getting you very close to zero before you even fire a shot. This saves time, ammunition, and frustration at the range.
  • Compensating for Manufacturing Tolerances: Even the finest rifles and scopes can have slight manufacturing variations. The reversible front dovetail, combined with rear windage, allows you to compensate for these minute discrepancies, ensuring your scope is perfectly aligned with your bore's axis.
• Robust Steel Construction: Material choice is paramount in scope mounting. Leupold opts for high-grade steel for these bases, a deliberate decision for maximum durability and rigidity.
  • Exceptional Strength: Steel provides superior resistance to bending, twisting, and deforming under the stress of recoil, ensuring your scope's zero remains consistent.
  • Long-Term Reliability: Unlike lighter alloys, steel maintains its integrity over countless shooting sessions and years of use, making these bases a long-term investment in your rifle's performance.
  • Optimal Recoil Absorption: The mass and rigidity of steel help to absorb and distribute recoil forces effectively, minimizing stress on your scope.
• Black Gloss Finish: The base features a sleek black gloss finish. This isn't just for aesthetics; it provides an additional layer of corrosion resistance, protecting the steel from the elements and ensuring the base looks good and performs flawlessly for years to come. It also complements most traditional rifle finishes beautifully.
• Perfect Choice for Standard Calibers Less Than .300 Win. Mag.: While incredibly robust, Leupold thoughtfully specifies this base is ideally suited for standard calibers below .300 Winchester Magnum. This indicates its strength is ample for popular hunting rounds like .30-06 Springfield, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, and many others. For extreme magnum calibers, shooters might consider heavier-duty or specific tactical mounting solutions, but for the vast majority of hunting and sport shooting applications with a Remington 700, this base provides exceptional stability.

Installation, Compatibility, and Achieving Optimal Performance

Installing the Leupold 50017 Standard Base is a straightforward process for anyone with basic gunsmithing knowledge and appropriate tools. The package includes all necessary mounting hardware, typically high-strength Torx or hex screws, ensuring a secure attachment to your Remington 700 receiver.

• Firearm Fit: This base is precisely engineered for the Remington 700, as well as the Remington 721 and 725 rifles. Always double-check your rifle model to ensure proper fitment.
• Mount Type: Designed for direct attachment "To Receiver," ensuring a strong, low-profile connection.
• Rings: It is crucial to remember that this product is the base only; rings are not included. You will need to purchase Leupold STD rings separately, ensuring they are the correct diameter for your scope (e.g., 1-inch, 30mm) and the appropriate height to clear your rifle's barrel and allow for comfortable eye relief. Leupold STD rings come in five different heights, allowing you to customize your scope's position for optimal cheek weld and sight picture.
• Installation Best Practices: For best results and to prevent damage to your base or rifle, it is highly recommended to use a quality torque wrench when tightening the mounting screws. Adhering to manufacturer-recommended torque specifications (often found in the rifle's manual or Leupold's instructions) is critical for a secure mount that won't loosen under recoil. A small amount of blue thread locker can also be used on the screws for added security, but always ensure it's a non-permanent type that allows for future removal.

Why Trust Leupold for Your Remington 700?

Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is an American manufacturer of optics and accessories, renowned for producing high-quality, durable, and reliable products for over a century. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in every component, including their scope mounting systems. When you choose Leupold, you're not just buying a product; you're investing in a legacy of precision, robust engineering, and unparalleled customer support. Their products are rigorously tested to withstand the toughest conditions, earning the trust of hunters, competitive shooters, law enforcement, and military personnel worldwide. This Leupold 50017 Standard Base exemplifies that dedication to quality, offering a mounting solution that will serve you faithfully for years to come.

In summary, for any Remington 700 owner seeking to build or upgrade their rifle with a dependable, precision-engineered scope mounting system, the Leupold 50017 Standard Base 2-Piece with Reversible Front is an outstanding choice. Its steel construction, unique reversible dovetail for windage adjustment, and compatibility with Leupold's versatile STD rings provide an optimal blend of strength, adjustability, and enduring performance, ensuring your optic remains steadfast and your shots consistently hit their mark.

Product Specifications Overview

Feature	Detail
Brand	Leupold
Model	Standard Base
SKU	50017
UPC	030317500177
Firearm Fit	Remington 700, 721, 725
Color	Black Gloss
Material	Steel
Firearm Type	Rifle
Mount Type	To Receiver
Rings Included	No
Style	Reversible Front
Pieces	2
Weight	2.80 oz
Includes	Mounting Hardware