I am so familiar with Murphy and his Law, I swear that we are related. This idea has been proven time and again throughout my life. It is especially true in situations where it is not possible to fix something. There are many mounting options available, with many different materials and conformations. I have had a lot of them over the years. Ruger’s Rings
My dad, affectionately known as Ol’ Grumpy Pants, gave me my first rifle when I was 14 years old. It was a Ruger Model 77/22, which is still my favorite rimfire rifle. Ruger rifles were chambered in.22 LR. They came with a set a proprietary steel rings that my father valued. The bottom of the ring was attached to the recesses of the receiver using a large slotted nut. The top of the ring was secured to the receiver using four slotted screws. They are very reliable and can withstand magnum recoil from cartridges like the.300 Winchester Magnum or.338 Winchester Magnum. If I had to complain, I have seen many Ruger rings with badly stripped screw heads and the large nut loosen more than once. They work well overall. Weaver Style
The Weaver base/ring combination was my favorite mounting system growing up. They were easy to find, affordable, and easily obtainable using either machined aluminum or steel bases. The cross-slot Weavers were on almost everyone’s rifle, and while they might seem a bit archaic by today’s standards–especially in comparison to some of the modern designs–the deer fell just the same.Ol’ Grumpy Pants’ favorite rig: a Mossberg Model 800A in .308 Winchester, with a Redfield scope in Weaver Tip-Off mounts. It still holds zero well. The Weaver system is still viable and has been updated over the years with steel bases, Picatinny Rails, and Grand Slam steel bases (designed for severe recoil mitigation). Grumpy Pants purchased a set Weaver tip off mounts and rings to hold his Mossberg 800A.308 Winchester. This system has been used to shoot more deer than I will ever be able to shoot. Grumpy Pants doesn’t want to be within 250 feet of the man who has spent half-century shooting that rifle. He bought a set of Weaver tip-off mounts and rings for his Mossberg 800A.308 Winchester to hold his Redfield Lo-Pro 3-9x with the TV rear ocular. It held zero despite being transported halfway around the globe. Weaver continues producing a wide range of bases and rings that can be used to meet almost any shooting need. There are steel dovetail rings and skeletonized aluminum rings. There are also six screw variants. This is in addition to the Sure Grip model which is still very popular. Leupold’s Non Gold Rings
Another popular choice was the Leupold rings and bases, but they were reserved for hunters with larger hunting budgets. Leupold’s steel bases with dovetail front rings and rear ring with adjustable windsage have been a staple in the shooting community. They have been used on many rifles. The rear mount has been known to come loose on a hefty.458 Magnum. However, the same design has held up to.375 H&H as well as.416 Remington Magnum recoil. The dual dovetail rings of the Winchester Classic.300 Win are rock solid. Mag. These are still used to hold a VX-6 2–12x scope. The dovetail slot at the front and the dual screws that hold the rear ring in place are the Torx-head screws. They can attach both the bases to the receiver using Torx-head screws. Leupold’s Backcountry model is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and features an integral base/ring system that increases rigidity while reducing weight. These are a great choice for mountain hunters who count ounces. This Leupold Mark 5 is mounted on Leupold’s 35mm rings, which are mounted on a Picatinny Rail. Burris Bases and Rings
Burris makes great rings and bases with innovative features that may help you achieve the accuracy that you desire. Burris Signature rings feature their own Pos-Align inserts that help to maintain full contact with the scope tube. This aligns the scope so it can “go to bed” in the mounts. There are three sizes available: rings in 1-inch, 30-mm, and 34mm diameters. They also have bases for a variety of rifle models, including hunting, target, and tactical.
Talley Manufacturing rings and bases have been a staple in my life for many years. I am a big fan. Their vertically-split steel rings are machined to very high tolerances. Their steel bases are equally accurate and the combination of both has been amazing. I review a lot of rifles each year. I noticed that it took very little adjustment to zero the rifle when I mounted a scope in Talley bases and rings. I have taken Talley rings and bases with me all over the globe. There are models for almost every rifle available, including the Heym and CZ rifles that require an integral ring. Their Quick Detachable rings with Lever are a great option for hunters who wish the scope to be detached to access the iron sights. Talley Manufacturing has a variety of models for vintage hunting rifles, tactical target rifles, and dangerous game guns.
Solid choices include bases and warne rings. They also offer a vertically divided steel ring with a square recoil key that reduces the recoil effect. These rings are available in two versions from Warne: a permanent attach and a detachable. They are easy to install and hold zero in my experience. For best performance, the screws must be properly torqued. Warne rings can be used with their own bases or with Picatinny or Weaver bases. There are many other manufacturers that offer similar designs. The Warne vertically divided steel rings are available for many MSRs, whose Picatinny bases allow the use of many different rings. The recoil key is used to reduce the effects of recoil. There are many bases that will give you additional elevation to increase the range of your chosen bullet/cartridge combination. Sometimes, a 20- to 40-MOA increase can make shots beyond 1,000 yards easier.
What is the best choice for your shooting situation? I prefer a system that allows me to mount my chosen scope as low as possible to the bore. This allows me to quickly reach cheek weld on my stock from any position in the field. A mounting system that is reliable and easy to use, especially when I travel to remote parts of the globe, is something I appreciate. Talley’s rings, bases and screws are what I rely on the most. I don’t use Loctite, but rather use a set of Fix It Sticks to adjust the torque. Despite the best efforts of Mr. Murphy and the baggage handlers, my rifles have been able to travel the world without any problems using Talley’s products. Talley’s Lightweight Aluminum Scope Mount is perfect for lightweight rifles with mountains in mind, or light-recoiling guns. Their rings are precise and eliminate the need to lap. All of my scopes mounted in this combination of ring/base hold zero and give me no reason for concern. This Nosler rifle has a Leupold VX-3i rifle with a Talley scope ring and Talley bases. Target rifles, where the comb can be adjusted to match the scope height, will have their game changed. The benefits of the 35mm, 34, and 35mm tubes will be evident. Their adjustment ranges will allow for the most accurate targeting at long ranges. This is why I prefer a wide ring with six screws per band. It allows me to keep heavier target scopes in their place.
It used to be that scope mounting was not considered an important part of the rifle and was simply used to attach the scope to the rifle. Conetrol was one of the first companies to appear on the market in 1964. As a result, shooters became more aware of the advantages of precision machining. A solid mount for your optic will eliminate any potential problems and make you a better shot. Get a torque wrench and some new bases and rings to make your shooting more confident. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. Get Free Targets
