Only down side to claws on the front receiver ring is the position of the back of the scope. Claw mounts have to be fitted at the front of the scope to allow them to tip forward. Claws in the front receiver are fine for a very short scope, but if you want anything more powerful you really need the front claws mounted in a barrel band. Germans tend to shoot very head up with just the jaw touching the stock and you often see old mausers with scopes mounted and far back.

Recknagel do make a swing mount that retrofits into old claw mounts so if you find an old rifle you can still mount a more modern scope quite nice and low.