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Steel w/ Steel Alum w/ Alum? |
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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Posted: February/07/2012 at 22:08 |
Is it always a good idea to put steel base with steel ring? Or can you miss match the steel with alum?
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Old Mil ftw
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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Nevermind Aadmounts website answered my question.
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Old Mil ftw
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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So what was the answer from Aadland? I couldn't find it on the website. I had always heard aluminum rings are GTG on both steel and aluminum bases, but steel rings should go on steel bases. I would trust JonA's take on it, though, could you update? |
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-Matt
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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You're correct alum can go on steel or titanium bases. It actually says on their site that their mounts are most impressive on steel or titanium bases because aluminum can flex.
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Old Mil ftw
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Jon A
Optics Journeyman Joined: March/14/2008 Location: Everett, WA Status: Offline Points: 670 |
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Actually that was referring to how little deflection happens between zero and torqued--you can feel the difference in material with different rails.
Anyway, aluminum rails are generally most likely to be damaged by rings, usually the cheaper ones without a quality hard coating. And since steel rings are harder, they can be more likely to mark one up all else being equal. Of course all is rarely equal so it isn't that simple. The design of the rings is most important. Rings like mine could be made from Ti or steel and it would have zero affect--they still wouldn't damage a soft rail. A rounded surface on the clamp instead of a sharp edge, a ton of bearing surface on the lugs to spread out the recoil force, etc, keeps them from damaging the rail and making them from steel wouldn't change that. On the other hand, especially with heavy recoiling rifles, many cheaper weaver-style steel and aluminum rings use a round crossbolt that can dent the recoil groove on the base. A sharp edge on the clamp can also leave a mark. Even some high quality stuff can do it with enough recoil--I had a pair of badgers put dents on a (really soft) base on my 300 RUM with a heavy scope. There just wasn't enough bearing area on the crossbolts to spread the load out enough. This is one of the reasons I designed my rings the way I did. In short, with a steel or Ti base you really don't have to worry about it. I also like those for general durability--I like to permanently bed bases to the rifle so using one less easily dented or scratched from abuse makes sense. They also add a bit more stiffness to the action. Ti is expensive though and steel is heavy, so aluminum is a good choice for many who are saving ounces. Just keep in mind you need to pay a bit more attention to your ring choice--design more importantly than material--if you do use one, especially on a really heavy kicker. All that above is for picatinny bases. For weaver bases, you've got a round slot so rings like mine don't work. You're kind of screwed in trying to spread that load out. For a weaver base on a heavy kicker, I'd always go steel regardless of rings to be used. |
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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Thanks Jon you make more sense than their website! I'm going to go with a steel base and the addmount medium aluminum rings. Putting that on my savage 308 when the new SS fixed are out. I had looked at the TPS steel kit but the addmount just look intense haha.
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Old Mil ftw
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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Aadmount*
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Old Mil ftw
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Bitterroot Bulls
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: May/07/2009 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 3416 |
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Thanks from me, also Jon.
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-Matt
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Jon A
Optics Journeyman Joined: March/14/2008 Location: Everett, WA Status: Offline Points: 670 |
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No problem guys. RotoReuter, since all those scopes will have 42mm objectives, you should have no problem using lows if you want.
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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Thanks again! Greatly appreciated
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Old Mil ftw
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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RotoReuter... Jon A is being modest. He IS Aadamount...
I've always shied away from aluminum rings, but when I run out of rings on hand or have a special need for rings that will perform in the most adverse conditions on a new rifle, I'm going to try out the Aadamount rings. I've never used them, but I've seen the drawings Jon published on the OT right after release. I've been intrigued ever since.
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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Yea regardless I think I'm going to try them aswell. Seems to me they are just too big to be terrible. I like the idea of actual screws tightening the plate against the rails not a hand knob with a small plate like some rings I see on the market. Thanks kick
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Old Mil ftw
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Everyone I know who has used them has nothing but good to say about them. People I trust...
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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That's good to hear they will be a top my tactical style build as soon as that long awaited SS mil/mil is out...
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Old Mil ftw
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