Scope ring height

[EnglishSetter]

I purchases Warne Maxima bases and rings for my pre-64 standard stock Model 70.  Installing new-to-me Leupold 3-15 x 44mm VX-5HD.

Following the Warne ring height calculator I ordered medium height.  They came in the mail today.

Preliminary (not torqued or loctited) install gives me a 0.243 gap between the objective bell and the rifle barrel.  So a low height ring (0.125 lower per Warne) would give me almost 1/8" clearance.

Should I return and replace with low rings or am I being to anal?  Always been of the school of "as low as will clear".  Rifle seems to come up nice with good sight picture. 

[bobcat]

If your cheek is where you want it on the stock of your rifle when looking through the scope, there's no need to lower the scope.

[lewy]

If you plan on putting scope caps on it you may want the room

[EnglishSetter]

I can't really see where 1/8" would matter much if any and yes scope caps or cover should be considered. Could they be thicker than 1/8"?  Maybe the neoprene ones, or

I've never hunted with caps, but then I hunted a more arid environment than much of WA.  Caps or cover for storage, riding along in vehicle, etc I like.

[EnglishSetter]

Decided to go with the medium rings.  It looks good and feels good when I throw up the rifle.

Fortunately the eye relief is good as there's no extra room on the barrel with the rings and bases mounted as intended.  Almost up against each bell.  I could move it closer to the stock end by reversing the mounts, but then the mount would overhang the ejection port area....or machine off the front (then rear) groove.

The Warne horizontal split rings form a nice transition between the 60+ year old rifle and the newish Leupold.

Can't find my torque screwdriver, but I did loctite the bases.  Left the rest without.

[MeepDog]

Decided to go with the medium rings.  It looks good and feels good when I throw up the rifle.

Ideally you want your cheekbone resting right on top of the stock. Very few rifle stocks have high enough cheekpieces to properly align your eye with your optic and it's common that people will use a riser/shim to make up the difference.

I use this one: https://a.co/d/3eK6eGZ

This is very popular with synthetic stocked rifles: https://a.co/d/fnxrjGv

[Magnum_Willys]

I was brought up with lower the better theory even used Leupy VXL with bell having a crescent bottom to fit overvbarrel. 

However to stay on target with larger rifles the lower the pad on your shoulder the better - meaning higher cheekrests and higher scope rings.  Worth considering…..

[brokentrail]

I have been shooting my rifle since I was 13 with a set of see through raised rings so I had open sights and optics.  Never had any issues and it has never even been sighted in again since then, it is on, every year.  I doubt the small amount you are talking about will make any difference.