Rings.. cheap vs expensive
- Thread starter eco
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CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
I see the value in premium hardware, but I didn't always.
My expectations for accuracy and precision have become more stringent over time. I have experienced scopes slipping in their rings, bases coming loose.
I have consumed components and time dealing with these issues. Had I failed to learn anything along the way, it would have been time and components wasted - instead it was just learning the hard way.
I can recommend Burris Z Rings (with delrin inserts). They are reliable, and inexpensive. They can also help with scope alignment problems.
DNZ one piece mounts are also a good value.
A torque driver is a very good idea.
Cleaning and degreasing all threads is a good idea too
My expectations for accuracy and precision have become more stringent over time. I have experienced scopes slipping in their rings, bases coming loose.
I have consumed components and time dealing with these issues. Had I failed to learn anything along the way, it would have been time and components wasted - instead it was just learning the hard way.
I can recommend Burris Z Rings (with delrin inserts). They are reliable, and inexpensive. They can also help with scope alignment problems.
DNZ one piece mounts are also a good value.
A torque driver is a very good idea.
Cleaning and degreasing all threads is a good idea too
I have 2 nightforce NX8 scopes and used nightforce extreme rings to mount them $235 for rings, 2 of my other rifle have warne rings and they work just fine also $85 and also I have a couple scopes mounted in tally rings that also work just fine. never had a problem with any of them coming loose of scopes shifting in them even with my 300 RUM which has the tally 1 piece rings
I have been buying and installing scopes for more than 60 years. In the beginning, for me were the Weaver rings and mounts or Bushnell mounts and rings very similar to the Weaver stuff. To be frank those older systems with steel and aluminum parts combined worked just fine if properly installed like the mfg. suggested. The troubles with those systems arose when the wrongs parts were intermingled with the proper parts. Then along came the Svarovski, Zeiss, Vortex etc. etc. stuff that would cost you the price of a good used car. These luxury items were scooped up by many because it was "in vogue" to be able to have and afford this loot. Money means nothing nowadays unless you're spending on all the tops brands.
Now if you go to the range with the old stuff you're deemed to be in the poorhouse. If you are lucky enough, those nouveau riche guys around you will take up a collection right there and you be able to finally afford those picatinny mounts and $400 scope rings! Yuk,yuk! All this crap that is available around you is not necessary to become a good hunter. Stick to the basic stuff and you'll have some cash in the bank when it comes time to pull the pin on everything and retire.
Now if you go to the range with the old stuff you're deemed to be in the poorhouse. If you are lucky enough, those nouveau riche guys around you will take up a collection right there and you be able to finally afford those picatinny mounts and $400 scope rings! Yuk,yuk! All this crap that is available around you is not necessary to become a good hunter. Stick to the basic stuff and you'll have some cash in the bank when it comes time to pull the pin on everything and retire.
This is partly true. I have both cheap and more expensive rings. Some of the cheap rings I bought are clearly out of spec, not all actually. What often damages the scopes is wrong mounting. You really have to be very careful and mount to specs and not just slam it on. But $100 Warne rings are usually very good for anything. But if you drop $2K on a scope, you should really do yourself a favour and also spend $200 or $300 on rings, even used, lots available.
Precisely. Most of my optics are above the $2k but even a $750 scope deserves rings that your not flipping a coin they’re not gonna damage your scope. Lots of high quality rings on the EE for great prices. I do have some Warne rings and have great luck but still not putting my Kahles or other high end optics. Junks always junk and finding out you saved $100 on a set of rings that just fuxked your new 328i @$6000 wasn’t such a great roll of the dice!
Obviously you’ve never looked thru a good optic or used good rings! Just because you’ve mounted scopes for 60 years means 2/3 rds of SFA! Stupid is not a fixable thing. Just for the record it’s SWAROVSKI. Not sure what kind of car, unless it’s Matchbox, you’re using for the price but I wouldn’t be taking it far from home haha. I’m thinking your comparing car prices from 60 plus years ago too modern scopes of today. Just an FYI , new Corvettes are $175-260K not the $3500 when first introduced.
well, it's on.. talleys worked out ok. Thinking now I should have gone with taller rings, only a sheet of paper gap in the front. (I know it looks off in the picture bcz of the angle while I was hovering over it)Decided not to go with the rail but one piece instead.
Setting up my 10/22 now, for that one went with the cheap Amazon stuff for a bushnell scope. Seems completely fine and hits the paper reasonably accurate.
Scope rings…I've got literally 100’s (because I don’t throw anything out). So here’s my 2 cents worth. I prefer steel rings over aluminum if available. Same for Pic rails, give me steel…aluminum rails machined from 7075 alloy, not 6061 alloy if you need aluminum and have a choice. If you swap scopes frequently or attach and detach thermals often the 6061 aluminum rails will fracture and expect POI shifts.
If you’re scoping a hard kicker spend the bucks on Nightforce products, a .338 Lapua will move things around. Treat yourself at least once in life to rings and rails made by Richard of Near Manufacturing out of Alberta. You won’t be sorry…. Air rifles, especially springers, you have it easy. Just buy the SportMatch brand, precision machined in England and perfect for any and all 11mm groves found on air rifles and European rimfires.
For middle of the road scopes that give good value and good performance for under $600.00 you can get by with ARKEN scope rings for $99.00 that will handle recoil with room to spare in the recoil world of 6.5CM and equivalents. There are options and flexibility to a certain degree but as others have mentioned don’t sell yourself short and experience the many disappointments down the road that accompany trying to save a few dollars at the start.
If you’re scoping a hard kicker spend the bucks on Nightforce products, a .338 Lapua will move things around. Treat yourself at least once in life to rings and rails made by Richard of Near Manufacturing out of Alberta. You won’t be sorry…. Air rifles, especially springers, you have it easy. Just buy the SportMatch brand, precision machined in England and perfect for any and all 11mm groves found on air rifles and European rimfires.
For middle of the road scopes that give good value and good performance for under $600.00 you can get by with ARKEN scope rings for $99.00 that will handle recoil with room to spare in the recoil world of 6.5CM and equivalents. There are options and flexibility to a certain degree but as others have mentioned don’t sell yourself short and experience the many disappointments down the road that accompany trying to save a few dollars at the start.
Over the years I've been upgrading to Leupold QRW2 and PRW2 rings on Leupold steel cross slot bases. Still using one set of the standard Leupold dovetail rings and bases.
on leupold cross slot bases. I also use the leupold standard rings and bases
on leupold cross slot bases. I also use the leupold standard rings and bases
Stupid is not
"Stupid is not a fixable thing." What a terrible, degrading, boorish comment! Thanks for your spelling correction of Svarovski. Now for your grammar corrections... " from 60 years ago too modern...." really? Next is your "Just an FYI" . You've got to be new to the English language...just FYI. Just because I am old does not make me stupid .... What is the meaning of "2/3 rds of SFA"? Perhaps you could enlighten us, and what is a "rd"?
Just a few years ago, $3500 could buy you a pretty nice used Chev or Ford truck off the lot, and 4x4 to boot.
"Stupid is not a fixable thing" Seems to me that you are insinuating that this applies to me. I find that to be childish, reprehensible, and hurtful all at the same time. You are some piece of work. At least you know how to spell Svarovski correctly! Let's correct your grammar mistakes. First of all the to, too, two thing. You say "from 60 plus years ago too modern..." Really???? Next "Just an FYI" is not proper English. Makes me think the English language is new to you. Am I right?? Try "just FYI" . It will make you sound smarter. "
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I have Millett Angle-Lok rings on all my rifles and they've served me well for many decades. Sadly, they're out of business but they can still be found on EBay and at local gun shows. Some folks have had pretty harsh criticisms of them, but given how they've performed for me I can only assume they weren't used or mounted correctly. What I love about them is the all steel construction and when I have my scope traverse at zero, I can coarse adjust my scope with the rings and then fine tune with the turret on the scope. Just my 2 cents worth.
I'd need to have a very good reason to spend more than $100-$150 (before tax) on scope rings, but then the most I've ever spent on a scope was about $1,500. (Sightron SIII)
The following statement won't help you either=the most I actually spent were for a set of Leupold rings for a CZ527 as the options for that rifle are limited and I think Leupold was supposed to be the best option. Didn't notice the imperfect machining on the rings, or the damage they caused until I took that scope off to sell it a year or so later. And I use a torque driver/don't guess btw.
Anyhow, can't remember if I chucked those out the window or if I kept them, but selling wasn't an option unless the buyer can lap them.
So what do I do? Buy the best/recognizable brand that works and don't let price be the deciding factor. I probably use WARNE more than anything, but the last two sets of scope rings I've bought were from EAW, sold by NORDIC MARKSMAN. Very well made/finished, and I love the rimfire models. I'll be turning to Nordic/EAW next time I need rings, they're now the first stop.
The following statement won't help you either=the most I actually spent were for a set of Leupold rings for a CZ527 as the options for that rifle are limited and I think Leupold was supposed to be the best option. Didn't notice the imperfect machining on the rings, or the damage they caused until I took that scope off to sell it a year or so later. And I use a torque driver/don't guess btw.
Anyhow, can't remember if I chucked those out the window or if I kept them, but selling wasn't an option unless the buyer can lap them.
So what do I do? Buy the best/recognizable brand that works and don't let price be the deciding factor. I probably use WARNE more than anything, but the last two sets of scope rings I've bought were from EAW, sold by NORDIC MARKSMAN. Very well made/finished, and I love the rimfire models. I'll be turning to Nordic/EAW next time I need rings, they're now the first stop.
I don’t know how many places manufacture them currently, and I wouldn’t buy garbage ones again. I do know my Vortex rings were made by Warne, and Leupold used to sell the identical Warne-made rings.
Vortex PMR rings are made by Seekins. Zeiss rings are made by Tier One in the UK. Many companies outsource manufacturing certain things. There’s a big difference between 6061 and 7075 aluminum. I will agree that many times the damage occurs from improper mounting or using improper products for the application. Use whatever suits your purpose or works for you but like most things in life, you get what you pay for!!
