Which material is prefered in scope bases?

[Armedsask]

Just wondering what you precision shooters think is the preferred material to use in scope bases.

7075 Aluminum
Pros: Cheap, light, and easy to machine.
Cons: Softer than steel.

Stainless:
Pros: Corrosion resistant, hard.
Cons: Expensive to buy, expensive to machine, heavier than aluminum.

4140 Tool Steel
Pros: Very hard, will out last your gun, easy to parkerize.
Cons: Heavy, most expensive to machine, over kill (in my opinion).

Personally, from a cost, weight, and manufacturing perspective, I like aluminum. However, I don't shoot any large calibre, heavy recoil rifles. I'd hazard to say aluminum bases wouldn't stand up the punishment of heavy recoil rifles (.338, etc).

 

[wild1]

I voted at 4140, BUT I want it at the cost of 7075. I bet you knew that answer was coming.

 

[Levi Garrett]

some folks want steel to mount on alluminum bases, I see no problem with well made alluminum mounts on a light deer gun, a target gun where weight is not a factor, I like steel hardware.

 

[Armedsask]

Oh I knew that answer was coming.

I am well aware a steel base is preferred for the big guns. I guess what I should have asked was, "If some guy (not me) made some bases, would it be a waste of time making high end, precision aluminum bases".

 

[Duck_Hunter]

saw an aluminum base have the mounting holes elongated(base was properly tightened!) and the cross slots for the weaver rings get mushroomed. It was on a Thompson Center in 375 H&H with mark 4 rings.
*Edit* its never a waste making gun parts.

 

[bigbull]

Actually I voted for other because on my target riflles I like a light mount due to the low recoil levels and I prefer to put the weight in the barrel. For the high power rifles they have to be steel I don't care what type as long as they are steel and solid.
bb

 

[Obtunded]

Iron.

You want a base made out of Iron. The least amount of temperature warpage and solid as Demi Moore's implants.

 

[Armedsask]

Iron, really?

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

We make our rails out of 17-4 stainless, no rust problems then.
Toooo many problems with aluminum breaking, warping or causing disssimalar metal corrosion in my experience.

 

[Armedsask]

I never really planned to use aluminum for anything serious. Thought I'd throw it in there if, for some strange reason, people were screaming for aluminum bases.

I'll stick to a high carbon steel, such as 4140. It's work well for me in the past. Prototypes will be aluminum just for ease of machining and we have lots kicking around the shop.

 

[Ian Robertson]

You need to add "I don't know what the numbers mean??" choice for those that don't!

 

[firemachine69]

Oh I knew that answer was coming.

I am well aware a steel base is preferred for the big guns. I guess what I should have asked was, "If some guy (not me) made some bases, would it be a waste of time making high end, precision aluminum bases".

Not really. EGW is the KING of lightweight aluminum bases. Being that they have essentially NO competition, they make a killing off of it, too.