On saturday I managed to win a Savage Bear Hunter in .300 wsm. I also purchased a scope for said rifle in the silent auction held the same night. That leaves me with rings and bases left to purchase, so for best accuracy do I want a single piece or 2 piece bases?
Single or two piece bases?
- Thread starter Albertarookie
- Start date
ultimate_monkey
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- victoria BC
I'm a big advocate of single piece bases, the picitiny style of rail leaves a whole lot more options for mounting the scope for proper eye relief
I think base selection depends on the action. Things like the strength of the action and the length and size of the load port I think can make a difference. For me, I prefer the one piece. I have a feeling it supports the scope and rings much better and puts less stress on the scope tube from firing and for the reasons already described. Ive heard of scopes absorbing so much tension from poorly aligned scopes that it ended up bending the tube. That's the last thing I would ever want, so Ill invest in a strong 1 piece base and good rings.
On the other hand when ever I go to gunshops they keep praising 2 piece bases as the be all and end all by saying some nonsense about not having enough room to load a cartridge into the port or some other nonsense. Bullarchy.
Perhaps you have smaller hands than I do, or perhaps you are more dexterous, or perhaps both are true. All else being equal I think a one piece base should be better, but I do have one rifle I bought second hand with a good quality one-piece base installed which worked very well as a base, but I did find it a bit constricted for loading access. I replaced it with a two base setup which has made loading easier with no discernible effect on accuracy. I think that varies between rifle designs and shooters.
not all internal magazines have an opening bottom.... I too have big hands and with internal magazines I much prefer the 2 piece base.... although I guess that can also depend on the height of the rings being used.
The OP specifically mentioned the Savage Bear Hunter, and it does have a hinged floorplate.
Some people are actually silly enough to use a scope as a carrying handle.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I've always preferred two piece bases. Lighter and they look better to my eye. I also like to have the space to get my fingers into the action to clear a jam or to reload. Turning the rifle upside down and popping open the floorplate to add cartridges is too many steps in the operation for my liking. If you have to get the rifle back in the game there are too many things you have to do versus just ramming the bolt closed and going back to work.
a single base stiffens the action a little which can slightly improve accuracy, and they tend to hold the scope truer. 99% of the time There is NO downside to using a one piece over two separate rings. Two rings work, but a single is better in most cases.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
100% personal preference.
I have both.
Both work just fine, figure out the mechanics you have involved and use one that fits your situation.
I have both.
Both work just fine, figure out the mechanics you have involved and use one that fits your situation.
The best part about using a two piece base system is that you end up with a great carrying handle for the rifle.
Ted
I like the way you think Ted, have you seen some of the new scopes out there, they have 34mm tubes,very nice for carrying.
OK let's get serious, picatiny, one piece, steel, aluminium, Weaver, greater mounting options, yata yata yata,
give me a two piece base any time, I like the larger opening over the ejection port,
that is more of an advantage than anything a one piece can offer.
BB
I broke down today, I could not wait any longer so off to the LGS I went. I came away with Weaver 2 piece bases. Got home now she's all dressed up. holding off until tomorrow to zero seeing as how I don't think it's so safe to be out shooting straight off of the last night shift.
Oh drat I tried to put in that massive case into that tiny little port and it got all hung up. Maybe I should mount that scope further back since that scope ring is obviously in a bad spot with that 1 piece rail so I can get an incorrect eye relief so I need to spend more money and time to build some sort of spacer system for my prefab stock.
Oh heck I guess if that guy said a 1 piece doesn't give you an advantage he must be right.
Oh heck I guess if that guy said a 1 piece doesn't give you an advantage he must be right.
