I'm sure there are guys who can install claw mounts here, DM. The issue was more a shortage of smiths who said they had one to suit or could get one within the few months available before I was going to Africa. Having heard Heym's quote, I didn't look too far, of course, convinced it would all finish up costing more than I wanted to pay.

Your situation, carpediem, reminds me bit of the inverted Redfield extension mounts on my Sako 338. A coin gets them off in a moment, and they go back pretty well. I just don't make a habit of doing it, having a scope that goes down to 2X. The Europeans, it seems to me, once tended to put 6-powers on rifles for use in the forest. No wonder they wanted to reef the them off when they got in close.

Cheers
- Paul