Lower mounts would require bolt handle alteration and iron sights to be too low, or would require receiver ring obscuring and too-high iron sights. As iron sights would be used for close range, the scope would be used for long range; the stock measurements are set for iron sights. If shooting long range, might as well use the more powerful light gathering of a large scope. This arrangement revolves around the function of the open sights with the scope system secondary yet picked intelligently: if forced to use a scope might as well use a scope that overcomes the deficiency of iron sights well and puts the round to its optimal use.