Just a comment and a couple questions for our newbie. First of all I'd find another gunsmith because IMHO $500 is way too much just to put an aftermarket Timney in it along with cleaning and boresighting since that trigger isn't much more than $100 and putting one in is relatively simple. The questions are why do you feel the existing bases and rings are not adequate to stay wih them and just buy a new scope and exactly what is the $400 you mentioned the gunsmith now wants you to spend covering?