I've never even owned a scope.
That's about what I figured. I know that actual hands on experience and actual numbers might be hard for you to swallow but you can read below.
I have looked over the game reapers, and it seems they are bulky and lacking in the looks department. Sure they will work. Just don't look like an all steel construction which I prefer.
I understand your reservations. I was skeptical at first about these rings being that they are aluminum and I have always preferred to use steel rings (usually Warne). But after reading the reviews from a couple of other HNI members a couple of year ago I decided to give them a try. I can tell you that after actually using them I have absolutely no hang ups about them and prefer them to any other systems I have used. I have had a set of game reapers on a Remington 700 338RUM for two years now and not the first problem with them. I also have them on a Winchester 70 in .270 Win. Not even a hint of slippage with either.
Below are pics of the .338RUM. I actually think that they look very clean. The machining is excellent and the finish shows no flaws. Notice that they are machined to match up with the receiver and do not hang over in the front or rear. The corners are nicely radiused and notice that there are no "wings" sticking out for the screw like so many other horizontally split rings have. Just one clean ring. Scope fit and ring alignment is perfect and lapping the rings is absolutely not necessary. There is absolutely no binding of the scope at all and no way that you can get the two rings misaligned.
I can understand if someone just doesn't like the looks of something though. That's what there are blonds, brunets and redheads.
Most people here (those that actually still visit) would know that there are very few products that I am adamant about pushing to others but every now and then something comes along that I will recommend above most, if not all, other similar products. The last product was Slick Trick broadheads when I discovered them 8 years ago.
The bottom pic is a Talley LW next to my Game Reapers for comparison of the amount of surface area. Half the width huh?
AS for exact numbers.
Game Reapers - .625" (edit) base and ring cap.
Talley LW - (edit) .649" for the base, .660 for the ring cap. (love that QC)
Leupold STD. - .624"
Leupold Rifleman - .740"
Warne - .704"
Ruger - .619" (edit) base and ring cap.
Weaver - .813"
Looks like the ole Weavers come out on top for gripping surface.
(EDIT) Almost forgot the thread engagement of the screws.
Game Reaper - .425" per screw - .850 total per ring
Talley LW - .180" per screw - .720" total per ring
