Steel or Aluminum Scope Bases?

[VAhuntr]

I'm getting ready to mount a scope with some Burris Signature Zee rings. I already have some 2 piece aluminum bases but I was wondering if all steel bases would be better since those Burris rings are steel?

[jmfa1957]

Steel is a bit heavier to carry but it is a whole lot tougher than aluminum. I personally would not care to mate steel to aluminum; I just wouldn't trust the aluminum not to deform.

I once had inexpensive aluminum see through mounts on a Remington 742. I hated the rifle for years. Last year I put Leupold steel mounts and rings on it and it does make a difference. The aluminum mounts wouldn't hold the screws tight over time, even with Loctite. This still isn't my favorite rifle, but the scope mounts are no longer a point of irritation for me.

You might be ok with the aluminum Weaver-type mounts, but I personally will use steel every time.

Just my 2 cents worth. Good Luck!

[handloader1]

Steel. Good luck.

[oldelkhunter]

I have a friend that has Burris Zee rings mounted on weaver aluminum bases on his Rem custom shop 280. Has used this setup in conjunction with a leupold 3-9x40 for at least 18 years and never missed a beat with it. He is a mechanical engineer with an advanced degree by trade and I really doubt he would have done this if he thought there would be any problems.

[Ruger-Redhawk]

I prefer steel over aluminum.They are Stronger.

Ruger Redhawk

[swisslake]

Ok, Now I'm concerned. I recently bought a Rem. 700 Mountain rifle that will be the basis of a project rifle. I am going for a finished weight of about 6.25lbs so I decided to go with alluminum mounts. I bought Talley's one piece extruded mounts (rings & bases in one). A gun not friend told me they have a good reputation. The guy at Talley assured me that they were plenty strong. They will be used on a .270 win. Should I be concerned?

[jmfa1957]

I wouldn't say that you should be concerned, but I would say that you should be careful. Your goal is to reduce weight. The reduced weight of aluminum comes with the tradeoff of reduced strength compared to steel. However, if you are careful not to over-torque the screws in aluminum threads (so as to strip them) and you respect the fact that aluminum is not as hard as steel, you will probably be alright. I would definitely use a strong threadlock compound on the screws.

ORIGINAL: swisslake

Ok, Now I'm concerned. I recently bought a Rem. 700 Mountain rifle that will be the basis of a project rifle. I am going for a finished weight of about 6.25lbs so I decided to go with alluminum mounts. I bought Talley's one piece extruded mounts (rings & bases in one). A gun not friend told me they have a good reputation. The guy at Talley assured me that they were plenty strong. They will be used on a .270 win. Should I be concerned?

[bigbulls]

No you should not be concerned one bit. Until you get into the extreme recoiling cartridges, like 375 mags and larger, there is no problem at all with using aluminum bases and rings.

Your .270 will hold up just fine with the Talley set you purchased.

Look at Weaver rings and bases. Nearly all of them are aluminum. They have been used on probably every gun cartridge combo made at one time or another. Some even consider them to be one of the strongest mounts made.

[oldelkhunter]

I wouldn't say that you should be concerned, but I would say that you should be careful. Your goal is to reduce weight. The reduced weight of aluminum comes with the tradeoff of reduced strength compared to steel. However, if you are careful not to over-torque the screws in aluminum threads (so as to strip them) and you respect the fact that aluminum is not as hard as steel, you will probably be alright. I would definitely use a strong threadlock compound on the screws.

Same rings used by NULA for years on their ultralightweights and Havne't heard anyone complain about them.