TPS Rings... Aluminum or Steel and Why?

I agree. I have a couple sets of aluminum ones. Actually when I bought the second set I asked the place I bought them from if the steel ones were 'better' in any way and he said no, and generally recommends the aluminum ones over the steel. Maybe someone who has better knowledge of the product can fill us in.
 
I THINK the idea is to match the rings to your base material in regards to thermal expansion, which I have so far always failed to do...
 
If you want to match expansion rates then you better start with the action, ie., steel all the way up, whoops, it the scope steel? Perhaps not, so much for that theory!
 
Ian Robertson said:
If you want to match expansion rates then you better start with the action, ie., steel all the way up, whoops, it the scope steel? Perhaps not, so much for that theory!
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I understand your point

and it may be irrelevant in this case but I was also wondering the use of mixed materials when scoping my m14 (not much of a precision rig...) and asked Mika Sadlak@ Sadlak industries LLC and that's where I got the hint from:

Hi Charles,

At those cold temperatures I'm thinking that you might want to go all steel - steel mount and steel rings.

This way the expansion or in your case the contraction is the same for receiver, mount and rings. The Alum scope won't be effected as the contraction is more linear (length gets shorter).

If I had to error on the side of caution I would pick the steel option.

Mike Sadlak

Sadlak Industries LLC
860-***-**** Ext **
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Again this is higly debatable and I have not followed his advice yet still had good results in our cold Canadian winter :)
 
OK, so if one has a powerful caliber, IE 300 WM, 338 LM etc. then perhaps they should choose the steel ones (strength) if one is shooting basic caliber's IE .223, .308 etc. then the aluminum ones will suffice. Is this fair to say?

I just wasn't sure I got these rings for like 74 bucks to my door and thought that perhaps it was too good to be true...
 
charles.emond said:
I understand your point

and it may be irrelevant in this case but I was also wondering the use of mixed materials when scoping my m14 (not much of a precision rig...) and asked Mika Sadlak@ Sadlak industries LLC and that's where I got the hint from:



Again this is higly debatable and I have not followed his advice yet still had good results in our cold Canadian winter :)
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Well this is interesting... My receiver is the rem 700 (steel) my pic rail is a KPA(steel) and now aluminum rings... what do you think???
 
I really dont think it matters. The coefficient of thermal expansion for 4140 is 6.2 times 10exponent-6 times length times change in temperature in degrees f . 6061 aluminum is 13 times 10exponent-6 so measure the length in decimal inches and figure out how much it will change. minimal
 
Robmcleod82 said:
I really dont think it matters. The coefficient of thermal expansion for 4140 is 6.2 times 10exponent-6 times length times change in temperature in degrees f . 6061 aluminum is 13 times 10exponent-6 so measure the length in decimal inches and figure out how much it will change. minimal
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Yup ,, thats why I use steel rings :)
 
50calshooter said:
OK, so if one has a powerful caliber, IE 300 WM, 338 LM etc. then perhaps they should choose the steel ones (strength) if one is shooting basic caliber's IE .223, .308 etc. then the aluminum ones will suffice. Is this fair to say?

I just wasn't sure I got these rings for like 74 bucks to my door and thought that perhaps it was too good to be true...
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Not so. I emailed the head dude at TPS a couple years back when I bought mine. He indicated that their aluminum rings were tested to 25,000 g's acceleration before failure. He also pointed out that the rings didn't fail, the bolt backed off and the ring was loose. I chose steel for the weight.

TDC
 
When I bought my TPS rings from ATRS for my Rem .308 I wanted something light but tough, Rick suggested unless I was shooting a .50 cal the Aluminum ones will defiantly hold up to the job. As for the rings themselves they are very nice and by far the easiest pair I've ever used.

50calshooter said:
Well this is interesting... My receiver is the rem 700 (steel) my pic rail is a KPA(steel) and now aluminum rings... what do you think???
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50calshooter said:
why do you want your rifle to weigh more, if it's not a matter of strength?
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More weight means less human influence on the shot. I know the weight of the rings is minimal in comparison to the rest of the system. I also chose steel because they were available and my base is steel as well(its an OCD thing;))


TDC
 
In speaking with the Nightfoce warranty technicial, he advised that aluminum was superior and won't use steel. Further, most warranty issues are caused by inexpensive rings.
 
Robmcleod82 said:
I really dont think it matters. The coefficient of thermal expansion for 4140 is 6.2 times 10exponent-6 times length times change in temperature in degrees f . 6061 aluminum is 13 times 10exponent-6 so measure the length in decimal inches and figure out how much it will change. minimal
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I think the idea is that because the bolts are steel and the rings are aluminum, when the aluminum expands or contracts with temperature changes more than the bolts, it tightens or loosens the rings ever so slightly, which can deform the scope tube.
 
thebigslide said:
I think the idea is that because the bolts are steel and the rings are aluminum, when the aluminum expands or contracts with temperature changes more than the bolts, it tightens or loosens the rings ever so slightly, which can deform the scope tube.
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Seeing how TPS rings sport a high 90%+ concentric shape and contact surface, I fail to see how the supposed temperature fluctuation will make any significant difference in performance let alone "deform" the scope tube.

TDC
 
talking about shape and contact surface, anyone had their scope shift in the rings?
I installed the rigns as per instructions provided by TPS and with a torque wrench. Still the scope has shifted at least .250'' forward
 
I use steel rings on steel bases on heavy tactical rifles.

I selected and aluminum or titanium rings on aluminum bases for my long range hunting rifles. Seems like a perfect match to me?

If the aluminum has a weakness it lies with the steel screws and the mating aluminum threads...I think a ham handed doof like myself could cross thread and murder the aluminum threads quicker than I can make my wife mad (pretty quick). :D

I don't think any of this matters for chit.
Pick what you want and go for it.
 
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