Rifle Scopes Advantages of rail/rings vs 1 piece base?

[James87adams]

I've got a 700 308 with a leupold 3-9x40 in a low 1 piece scope base. It's a tad low for my cheek weld, and I'm trying to decide between getting the same base in a medium height or getting a rail and rings.

For accuracy, I would expect the 1 piece base to be better, instead of two points of movement (ring to rail, rail to receiver) the one piece only has one.

Price wise, the one piece is a few bucks less than buying a rail and rings.

It seems like everyone who is serious about shooting runs a quality rail and good rings. The only rifles I see with the one piece base are hunting rifles.

What am I missing?

 

[Mbaysinger89]

A good rail and good rings lock up as hard as a good one peice mount IMO. A cheap rail and rings, or one peice isnt worth buying, ie: $6 Weaver bases and $14 hardware store rings.

There are benefits to both depending on what you want or need. Just dont skimp on mounts.

 

[wade2big]

Either or. There is not a right or wrong as long as it fits the shooter and mounted correctly.

 

[James87adams]

The mount I've got right now is a DNZ, I think it was $75 or so. It seems pretty well made. I avoid anything weaver, ncstar, aimsport, or aimed at budget lines.

 

[Mbaysinger89]

A pic rail, is a modular one peice base, where things can be moved around without having to adjust your rings.

 

[James87adams]

My other rifle has a NF rail and rings though. And the point of failure of other rifle systems has always been me, the shooter.

 

[Doctorwho1138]

Either would be great IMO. Just buy quality whatever you get.

 

[Rob01]

I've got a 700 308 with a leupold 3-9x40 in a low 1 piece scope base. It's a tad low for my cheek weld, and I'm trying to decide between getting the same base in a medium height or getting a rail and rings.

For accuracy, I would expect the 1 piece base to be better, instead of two points of movement (ring to rail, rail to receiver) the one piece only has one.

Price wise, the one piece is a few bucks less than buying a rail and rings.

It seems like everyone who is serious about shooting runs a quality rail and good rings. The only rifles I see with the one piece base are hunting rifles.

What am I missing?

You are making a lot of assumptions OP in that two rings and a base will allow more movement. They don't when installed properly. Tons of very accurate rifles out there with rings. They also allow for more versatility in setting eye relief where a one piece set up sticks you with only so much adjustment. Also if you planned to move the scope to another rifle you have that versatility with rings and a base.

I have had both and would never go back to a one piece set up but for a simple hunting rig I am sure it would suit you fine especially if you already have one and just need more height.

 

[James87adams]

All thing being equal, adding one additional surface will increase the possibility of something moving. If you have two contact surfaces that you are attempting to fix, vs three, that increases the possibility. That's not an assumption, its physics. You are adding in one more possible point of failure into the system.

I understand that if everything is done correctly, that possibility should be basically zero.

Adjustment wise, I guess my face is average, I have never needed to shift my optics to anywhere near the limits on any mount.

In all honesty, I will probably change to a rail, if only because there are more options for ring choices.

 

[Rob01]

It's an assumption in a hypothetical. Can there be an issue? Yeah. Will there be. Nope. Even you agree if you are leaving a one piece for a rail and rings. Only thing you add is the ring to base and when properly torqued with quality gear they stay together. Both have ring caps and screws holding them to the action.

 

[Darryle]

Nightforce Ultralite Rings and Murphy Precision rails.

I like being able to swap the scope between rifles, using my data reference and dial to that rifles zero and verify.

 

[BS Shooter]

A good one piece is nice because there is no need to check alignment. I have several sitting on the shelf though that after changing a scope out don’t always fit on another rifle scope combo so there they sit. If you go rail and rings there is a lot more flexibility if you like moving stuff around as stated above or change your mind on your scope choice. Just my $.02 though....