I've got a Savage long action that has quite a large gap between the rings, so I'm going to install a one piece slotted mount. The two options are a $90 steel unit, and a $12 aluminum one. It's a .338 magnum, which makes me a little uneasy about the aluminum mount. At the same time, however, I keep thinking that if aluminum weren't strong enough, they wouldn't make scopes out of it... Any input would be appreciated.

There is a fellow on E-Bay that mills heavy duty aluminum ones for around $30. They will work well for you. Tom.

Unless you are worried about weight,I usually go with all steel for both bases and rings. You can get by with aluminum bases as the screws are going directly in the steel reciever but by no means do I like aluminum rings except for use on a .22 because the ring screws are going into the other aluminum ring-thus less secure/strong and more easily stripped out.

I went with Warne Maxima bases & rings for my Savage in .375 H&H. I needed an extension front base to span the long gap, so that it would fit the short 2-7x scope. The steel mounts work well and cost much less than $90.

For the rest of my rifles, mostly Remingtons, I have Talley LW 1-pc mounts. They are aluminum and tough as all get out. These are, far and way, my favorite scope mounts. They are light, sturdy, simple, and effective.

The price should tell you something..Don't cheapen out , Steel all the way..

The price is partly because the steel one is a tactical Picatinny rail. If someone would just make a friggin weaver multi slotted rail out of steel, I'd be set.

I thought about the extension rings, but I've yet to see a set of extension rings that look good to me.

The Warne Maxima bases are Weaver style. Go to Brownells. Buy the rear with the extension front. You can order each base seprately. The set shouldn't cost you more than $25 with shipping.

Done deal!

I wouldn't care if the steel DID cost 90 bucks the first time the cheap aluminum rings wear out and come loose or malfunction and youare in the middle of a hunt would make you think 90 bucks is pretty cheap. . . . . . i have been burnt too badly with aluminum in the past but maybe your luck would be different

Get some leupold mounts and be done with it. They're steel I believe.

I have used Talley Lightweights quite a bit with no problems. They are standard on NULA rifles which can generate some serious recoil with no issues. WOuld rather use them than any Leupold ring mounting product.