I've never had a problem so wtf is yours? You are doing something wrong.....
I don't think we are improperly installing our rings/bases, but maybe. I'm not gonna pretend I know it all or just because I haven't seen something, it doesn't happen.
No formal gun smithing education here. I just read all I can on subjects of interest and try to use the right tools for a given job. I have alignment/lapping rods and torque screws per specs. Still possible that I have done it wrong? Sure is. I've never seen or had any other ring/base combo actually break though. And that's happened twice with the LWs now. Does that mean the other will never fail, because I've never personally seen it or had it happen? Of course not...
The OP asked about steel rings/bases, I shared my opinions and experiences with the different options and mentioned the LWs because they had been previously. Everybody has different needs, requirements, experiences and expectations. Nothing personal. If you like Talley LWs and they work for you... Good, I'm happy for you! Keep using them... They work for lots of guys and that's great! But for us and how our rifles get hunted, we prefer other options now.
Cheers!
Originally Posted by Llama_Bob
I've seen more well-shot game lost with TSXs than any other premium bullet.
How about a Near Scope mount...I havent used but personally but have been tempted to try a few times
That's a picture of my rifle and the mount I's choose without question for a durable go anywhere anytime rifle.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely and in one well preserved piece, but rather to skid across the line sideways, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil and shouting "GERONIMO" at the top of your lungs!!!!"
So, Talleys live long lives on box stock Rem 700 receivers the world over, but "break" on "fully trued" Winchester and Remingtons...OK.
They work great on my box stock Winchester model 70's as well. That guy needs to change smiths and buy better rifles (just for starters)....Just sayin..
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
There are a lot of ring/base combinations out there that are pretty much bulletproof and will last a lifetime. The simplest and best looking to me is the leupold dual dovetail, put them on properly and lap the bottom half and you'll never have to worry about them again. However, that could be said about several other systems also. Dual dovetails are readily available, look good, and reasonably priced, there's nothing not to like. As Mule Deer said the weak point on most mounts is the screws. If you really want it bombproof I think an investment in having a good gunsmith drill and tap to 8-40 is wise.
I've used the talley lightweights before and will again, they're nice rings, just a bit ugly. However, to say they're the strongest is probably stretching it a bit. I haven't had it happen, but there have been enough posters with pictures here of talley lightweights that have broken, all in the same place, to convince me that there is a weak point in them. Are they likely to break? No, they probably won't, but if you want bombproof then I don't think they're it. I doubt you could break a leupold dual dovetail without destroying the scope too. You might break the screws but it would take something pretty extraordinary to break the rings or bases themselves.
I like Leupold's Dual Dovetail mounts very much and have several sets. I bought my first set for a 340 that kept shearing the windage screw on the STD's close to 30 years ago now. My only complaint with them is that is you swap rifles and scopes a bit as I have been prone to do, the dovetails will wear out and become loose to the point the rings will move in them. Not a great thing, so I switched to PRW's which are strong nd easy to swap, but heavy. About 3 or 4 years ago I tried NEAR and have believe them to be excellent.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely and in one well preserved piece, but rather to skid across the line sideways, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil and shouting "GERONIMO" at the top of your lungs!!!!"
There are a lot of ring/base combinations out there that are pretty much bulletproof and will last a lifetime. The simplest and best looking to me is the leupold dual dovetail, put them on properly and lap the bottom half and you'll never have to worry about them again. However, that could be said about several other systems also. Dual dovetails are readily available, look good, and reasonably priced, there's nothing not to like. As Mule Deer said the weak point on most mounts is the screws. If you really want it bombproof I think an investment in having a good gunsmith drill and tap to 8-40 is wise.
I've used the talley lightweights before and will again, they're nice rings, just a bit ugly. However, to say they're the strongest is probably stretching it a bit. I haven't had it happen, but there have been enough posters with pictures here of talley lightweights that have broken, all in the same place, to convince me that there is a weak point in them. Are they likely to break? No, they probably won't, but if you want bombproof then I don't think they're it. I doubt you could break a leupold dual dovetail without destroying the scope too. You might break the screws but it would take something pretty extraordinary to break the rings or bases themselves.
I don't recall anyone saying they are the strongest. That would be ludacrous...
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
So, Talleys live long lives on box stock Rem 700 receivers the world over, but "break" on "fully trued" Winchester and Remingtons...OK.
They work great on my box stock Winchester model 70's as well. That guy needs to change smiths and buy better rifles (just for starters)....Just sayin..
Lots of things work great, until they don't... Just sayin'... I suspect what you expect from your gear and rifles and what I put mine through and expect are worlds apart. Mine spend a bunch of weeks out of a year banging around in a saddle scabbard, and as much or more time strapped to a pack.
Oh, the smith and rifles are just fine. They aren't Echols or Penrod rifles, but our smith is very well known and respected. He is a regular contributor here on 24HCF.
Nobody's saying your beloved Talley LWs are junk, they are a reasonable value, IMO. Just that they aren't the best thing going. Don't take it too personal boys!
Originally Posted by Llama_Bob
I've seen more well-shot game lost with TSXs than any other premium bullet.
I like Leupold's Dual Dovetail mounts very much and have several sets...... My only complaint with them is that is you swap rifles and scopes a bit as I have been prone to do, the dovetails will wear out and become loose to the point the rings will move in them...
You're not supposed to separate the rings and bases of dovetail setups once they've been mated, they're a one shot deal. Once they've been put together you leave them as one. So yea, if you turn them out several times they are going to loosen up, but that's not the way they're designed to be used.
I like Leupold's Dual Dovetail mounts very much and have several sets...... My only complaint with them is that is you swap rifles and scopes a bit as I have been prone to do, the dovetails will wear out and become loose to the point the rings will move in them...
You're not supposed to separate the rings and bases of dovetail setups once they've been mated, they're a one shot deal. Once they've been put together you leave them as one. So yea, if you turn them out several times they are going to loosen up, but that's not the way they're designed to be used.
Exactly my point.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely and in one well preserved piece, but rather to skid across the line sideways, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil and shouting "GERONIMO" at the top of your lungs!!!!"
Actually, the very strongest system is INTEGRAL bases that are one with the reciever and then good quality steel 4 screw rings. The only rifles that come that way as far as I know are CZ, Ruger and Sako/Tikka. My own serious use DGR is a much modified CZ with Warne QD steel rings.
IF one does not have the luxury of integral bases, I personally consider the Burris or Leopold Dual Dovetail steel bases and rings to be the strongest. Whether one NEEDS that level of strength is a matter of some debate, but I like them. I use this system on my other big and serious rife, a full on custom in my own wildcat 340 Tyrannosaur.
I was wondering if anyone was going to mention Ruger's system and the like.
For me that is the simple choice. For other rifles I'll take Leupold DD or Warne's
I do like the ruger rings, m77, no 1, couple 77/22 77/17's....
Any body notice the ring screws on the ruger are a bit weaker than others?. Like the leupold... Ruger ring screw torque recommendation 20 - 24... Leupold ring screw recommendation 28...
If the thread title, "The Best/Most durable lifetime steel scope rings", is taken without qualifiers, then the mounts made by David Lloyd for his rifles are without equal.
Lloyd built the mounts individually for each rifle he produced, mostly on M98s and Sakos, with the majority of rifles chambered for the .244 H&H, a cartridge he developed and sold to H&H. The mounts were so strong that they warped the action a bit.
Unfortunately, you have to buy a rifle to get a mount. (Bill Ruger and Roy Weatherby owned David Lloyd rifles.) Wikipedia has an entry for David Lloyd, riflemaker.
Below is a photo of a Lloyd rifle with a Lloyd mount: Steel! Very durable! Lifetime!
The image is from a rifle for sale in Scotland by precisionrifles.com. gunstar.co.uk usually has some David Lloyd rifle listed.
-did not notice this being mentioned but Coach says he torques his rings to spec. what spec.? many peopld overtighten rings and crush scope tubes/strip threads
![[Linked Image]](http://www.nearmfg.com/images/bighorn.jpg)
