Let talk about rail/base

Kamikaze11

Kamikaze11

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Gatineau Qc
Since i buy a brand new rem 700 in 308 , i need a rail !
I read a lot on the subject , bit im more lost then ever !

Steel or aluminium ?
Recoil lug ?

I saw the egw hd , 7075 aluminium , but a lot of people complaint the lack of recoil lug
Badger ordonance is really expensive but steel and have a recoil lug

Any opinion / suggestion / advice ?
 
For a .308, anything will work. A recoil lug is really only "necessary" on heavy recoiling guns with big scopes. Anything else (ie, smaller) probably isnt worth it. Aluminum vs. Steel isnt much of a debate. 7075 has more then enough strength for anything you may want to do, but a good quality steel rail made from 41xx or 17-4 steel is also nice.
 
I went with a steel rail for the added strength. Not a big deal, but for the additional minimal weight I figured there was nothing to lose. I went with a Warne 20 MOA steel base for my rifle, and epoxied it and screwed to the receiver..
 
Your scope tube and probably rings are made out of 6061. You give nothing up to a 7075 rail, from the web b:

General Mechanical Properties of 6061 (T651)
Tensile Strength – 45,000 psi
Yield Point – 40,000 psi
Brinell Hardness – 95
Elongation at Break – 12%
Shear Strength – 31,000 psi
Thermal Conductivity – 170 W/m-K
Strength to Weight Ratio: 115 kN-m/kg

General Mechanical Properties of 7075 (T651)
Tensile Strength – 83,000 psi
Yield Point – 74,000 psi
Brinell Hardness – 150
Elongation at Break – 10%
Shear Strength – 48,000 psi
Thermal Conductivity – 130 W/m-K
Strength to Weight Ratio: 196 kN-m/kg

https://metalpress.onlinemetals.com/6061-vs-7075-aluminum-alloy/

7075 is plenty strong, two things up the chain are weaker (your scope and rings in contrast). 7075 pretty much doesnt give up anything to decent steel even, but around 1/4 the weight.

compared to A36 carbon steel

https://www.makeitfrom.com/compare/7075-T6-Aluminum/ASTM-A36-SS400-S275-Structural-Carbon-Steel

edit: and you'll drop 3-5 ounces going to 7075 from 17-4 depending on long or short action.
 
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for 308 any rail will work.
If you choose aluminum make sure they are 7075 hard anodized.
used blue lock-tite for screws.
 
Blastattack said:
For a .308, anything will work. A recoil lug is really only "necessary" on heavy recoiling guns with big scopes. Anything else (ie, smaller) probably isnt worth it. Aluminum vs. Steel isnt much of a debate. 7075 has more then enough strength for anything you may want to do, but a good quality steel rail made from 41xx or 17-4 steel is also nice.
Click to expand...

The recoil lug that a few manufacturers extol on is a farce. The only way they are remotely effective is IF the recoil lug is fitted to the individual action. Both rails and actions have dimensional differences that in most cases negate any contact of the "recoil lug" built into the rail and the action.
Even on the boomers such as 338 lapua and bigger recoil does not make a recoil lug or even bonding the rail to the action necessary.

As you know most large manufacturers use mild steel for their rails, very few use 4140 due to cost both in material and machine time costs. I agree 100% that 7075 is plenty structural for a scope rail 17-4 or 416 would be the other choices. We make our rails from 7075 or 416
 
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