In Alaska, I discovered the hard way that Weaver rings and bases would survive blows that wrecked scopes (like a rifle bouncing a couple hundred yards down the rock-strewn side of a mountain) with no damage to the rings or bases!

BUT, they are UGHLY and it is hardl to keep the crosshairs level when you tighten up the ring screws, because as the ring straps tighten down, they rotate a little, and this can turn the scope tube also. So you have to START with the scope reticle a little off-level in the opposite direction from that which the straps are going to rotatewhen cinching down, and hope you offset the tube the right amount so that the reticle is level when you are donetightening the screws.

However, I will admit to having a subconscious prejudice in favor of all-steel bases and rings. Even though I realize that Weaver aluminum bases and rings are sturdy enough, I don't use them these days! Weird, huh??

For example, the Ruger rings that go on the M77 and No.1 rifles are solid steel, and seem to hold very well. This is my idea of a strong scope mounting arrangement.