Could you tell me if the aluminium bases are good for target shooting? I knows the steal bases are more rigid. A Warne base is $130 and the aluminium base is $40.00. It's a big difference. Am i obliged to chose the steal base to have good results? If i have no choice, i will buy the Warne but i don't want spend money for nothing. Is it a marketing trick?
Picatinny rail for a 308 win
- Thread starter soditide
- Start date
The way I look at it, either one is still held by only 3-4 little #6 screws.
Steel rails generally will be entirely machined, where as aluminium ones can be machined or have the main profile extruded so quality/accuracy of the product itself varies between brands.
If a steel rail makes you feel more confident in your set up, it may be all it takes to make it shoot better.
For $40, if you end up not liking it, sell it and try something else.
Steel rails generally will be entirely machined, where as aluminium ones can be machined or have the main profile extruded so quality/accuracy of the product itself varies between brands.
If a steel rail makes you feel more confident in your set up, it may be all it takes to make it shoot better.
For $40, if you end up not liking it, sell it and try something else.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
One advantage the rail has over a two piece base is that it provides unlimited latitiude for situating the scope without crowding the rings too close to either the ocular bell, the power-ring or the turrets. Another is if you have 2 or more rail equipped rifles, it allows you to interchange your high quality scope between those rifles even if they are of different action lengths, rather than having the expense of purchasing a dedicated scope for each rifle, which might cause you to skimp on glass.
- Location
- East ontario
Well there is no doubt that steel is better, as long is its not one of the powdered metal or cast rails we are seeing on the market now from Thompson, Buris, Weaver and all the other rebranderd china mart stuff
If you are looking for a quality base that does not cost over $100, then is will have to be aluminum.
First off, there is eveything from cheap exstruded weaver style to fully machined barstock 6061 T6 Aluminum.
The issue i have with exstruded or cast aluminum is that you se ealot of change in the spec, sure some are machine finished, but when you see companies like EGW selling off lenghts of exstruded out of spec railfor cheapmakes you wonder....
Also to be talked about is the finish.
You will see eveything from powder coated raw aluminum , to mil spec type III hard anodized.
You need a good tough smooth finish,many such as millett ( chinamart) acid dip then typeII anodize so it looks close to mil spec...
If your going to buy a good base that does not cost alot you should be looking for 4 things.
Machined for bar stock
Bead blasted not acid dip
Mil spec Type III Matte Hard coat anodizing ( or better)
bbb
If you are looking for a quality base that does not cost over $100, then is will have to be aluminum.
First off, there is eveything from cheap exstruded weaver style to fully machined barstock 6061 T6 Aluminum.
The issue i have with exstruded or cast aluminum is that you se ealot of change in the spec, sure some are machine finished, but when you see companies like EGW selling off lenghts of exstruded out of spec railfor cheapmakes you wonder....
Also to be talked about is the finish.
You will see eveything from powder coated raw aluminum , to mil spec type III hard anodized.
You need a good tough smooth finish,many such as millett ( chinamart) acid dip then typeII anodize so it looks close to mil spec...
If your going to buy a good base that does not cost alot you should be looking for 4 things.
Machined for bar stock
Bead blasted not acid dip
Mil spec Type III Matte Hard coat anodizing ( or better)
bbb
After puting together 3 different rifles lately a few things came to light for me.
1st off I don't think a one piece rail is necessarily stronger or more secure than a 2 piece setup. Quality components and the 2 piece is totally capable.
The only real, and it's a biggie, advantage is the flexibility of locating and accomodating a very wide spectrum of optics. Often a rail is the only way to get your choice of optic on your rifle in the position you want it.
IF however you can get the position and fit using 2 piece bases they are lighter, often cheaper, and are a lot more user friendly loading/unloading/and overall operating the rifle than a rail.
As for ally vs steel......
There's no doubt steel is superior for outright strength and potential for being and remaining in spec.
Steel will obviously be heavier if that is of concern.
Steel will be more expensive if that's a concern.
Steel will likely be a higher quality product as it expensive as a material and to machine/produce so is typically only undertaken by top quality makers.
Steel is an obvious choice where recoil gets severe. It's NOT required in the lighter calibers IF the part is of quality material and finish.
Steel is a waay better choice if there is expected to be a lot of mounting/dismounting of optics in your application.
IMO steel's only drawback is price and weight. Also if your recoil isn't severe and you spec a high quality aluminum part you can have the best of both worlds.
The same goes for rings BTW. And don't forget to use the same info with regard to rings as well...the best base in the world will underperform with lameass rings and viceversa.
Ya pay for what you get as usual although in this area it really shows. Worse yet you won't realize the limitations of the poor quality stuff till you're all setup and shooting and your zero is wandering, yer missing, stuff is breaking and life is just plain ugly......all for $50 less
1st off I don't think a one piece rail is necessarily stronger or more secure than a 2 piece setup. Quality components and the 2 piece is totally capable.
The only real, and it's a biggie, advantage is the flexibility of locating and accomodating a very wide spectrum of optics. Often a rail is the only way to get your choice of optic on your rifle in the position you want it.
IF however you can get the position and fit using 2 piece bases they are lighter, often cheaper, and are a lot more user friendly loading/unloading/and overall operating the rifle than a rail.
As for ally vs steel......
There's no doubt steel is superior for outright strength and potential for being and remaining in spec.
Steel will obviously be heavier if that is of concern.
Steel will be more expensive if that's a concern.
Steel will likely be a higher quality product as it expensive as a material and to machine/produce so is typically only undertaken by top quality makers.
Steel is an obvious choice where recoil gets severe. It's NOT required in the lighter calibers IF the part is of quality material and finish.
Steel is a waay better choice if there is expected to be a lot of mounting/dismounting of optics in your application.
IMO steel's only drawback is price and weight. Also if your recoil isn't severe and you spec a high quality aluminum part you can have the best of both worlds.
The same goes for rings BTW. And don't forget to use the same info with regard to rings as well...the best base in the world will underperform with lameass rings and viceversa.
Ya pay for what you get as usual although in this area it really shows. Worse yet you won't realize the limitations of the poor quality stuff till you're all setup and shooting and your zero is wandering, yer missing, stuff is breaking and life is just plain ugly......all for $50 less
