Do You Use Leupold Rings or Picatinny Rails and Quick Connect.

[Colt Kodiak]

As I'm building my 3-4 varmint rifles, I have this choice and I'm wondering what the experts do these days. I have Warne and Bobro SWFA Quick Release rings for the picatinny rail but have to choose to install a rail on the gun or just use the Leupold mounts and rings. It seems the scope sits so high using the picatinny rails. ??

 

[Dusty Stevens]

For hunting id stick with the leupold. Its lighter and lower profile

 

[alf]

 

[Colt Kodiak]

Thanks, I see your response. I have a 35 power Leupold and would like to do the loading data and then switch to my hunting scopes after that.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

what brand stocks are those?

 

[msinc]

I have pretty much gone to all Leupold dual dovetail rings and bases on my hunting rifles. They don't cost too much, they don't move or work loose later and they don't protrude or sit high. I have owned/tried them all.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I've personally seen Leupold dovetail rings break apart out of their base on 3 different hunting rifles. I know a lot of people have good luck with them and that's great, but you'll never see one of my rifles wearing the dovetails. Now their Mark 4 picatinny rings are extremely tough and well made, but they are made out of steel so they are pretty heavy.

Warne rings are a pain in the butt to mount and level. The top screws obscure elevation turret markings too. I'll give you a set of 30mm Warne rings for free if you pay the shipping. Can't stand them.

I just use picatinny rails and a good set of rings. NightForce makes excellent lightweight picatinny rings. I also use imitation Mark 4 rings that are made out of aluminum that work very well.

For my big boomers with heavy recoil, I like one piece scope mounts like the NightForce Extreme Duty with titanium mounting clamp hardware. Spuhr makes an excellent one piece mount as well.

 

[fatelvis]

New
I've personally seen Leupold dovetail rings break apart out of their base on 3 different hunting rifles. I know a lot of people have good luck with them and that's great, but you'll never see one of my rifles wearing the dovetails. Now their Mark 4 picatinny rings are extremely tough and well made, but they are made out of steel so they are pretty heavy.

i’ve heard other people stating that they’ve seen the Leupold dovetails break. In my eyes, it would take an extremely heavy blow to break those. They also are made of steel. Just out of curiosity, where did the rings break? Was it at the junction between the ring and the dovetail? Or did the dovetails pull out of the base? I personally have used Leupold dual dovetail rings and bases for years. And a couple rifles, I have replaced the Leupold rings with the Burris dovetail rings with the insert. I also use Picatinny rings, but outside of war time conditions, see no real difference in strength.

 

[JBT47]

Pic rail base. Most of my actions now have integral rail.

 

[alf]

what brand stocks are those?

McMillan......

 

[Ledd Slinger]

i’ve heard other people stating that they’ve seen the Leupold dovetails break. In my eyes, it would take an extremely heavy blow to break those. They also are made of steel. Just out of curiosity, where did the rings break? Was it at the junction between the ring and the dovetail? Or did the dovetails pull out of the base? I personally have used Leupold dual dovetail rings and bases for years. And a couple rifles, I have replaced the Leupold rings with the Burris dovetail rings with the insert. I also use Picatinny rings, but outside of war time conditions, see no real difference in strength.

All instances were the bases failing. Two of the bases broke on top and/or sides where the thin metal holds the dovetail down and were ruined. 3rd egged out and would not hold solid. Also ruined. Nothing with overly excessive recoil. A 280 Ackley, 7mm Rem Mag and a 270 Winchester. All failed under normal recoil while shooting. Not dropped or otherwise damaged.