Low Rings vs. Med Rings

[nmkid]

I am trying to decide if I can use low rings on my new rifle.
The scope is 4.5x27x50 and will sit on top of a 20 MOA Picatinny rail. The barrel will not be a heavy barrel. I know this is a generalized question and best answered with all equipment in front of you. But, I'm still waiting on the barreled action. There is no rush for this rifle but, I still want to have everything I need when the barreled action is ready. Kind of partial to Warne rings. The medium comes in at .990 height. Can't seem to find an ad showing the height of their low ring.

 

[Knotwild]

I can't make this kind of decision without the rifle being present, but I have unsuccessfully tried in the past. I used to be in the camp that believed the scope should be as close to the bore as possible. I thing this works best when trying to make a quick shot with the gun shouldered quickly using a lower power on the scope. But in recent years, I found that the shape of my head, the fact that I wear glasses, and that most of my shooting for real accuracy is done off bags made me appreciate higher rings. It had gotten to the point that I was having to contort my head sideways to get low enough to use the eye box that most higher power scopes have. This caused me lots of frustration and prevented me from being behind the rifle properly.

Since you are using a 20 moa picatinny rail you also have to consider the objective being closer to the barrel due to the downward slope of the rail. I recently put a Sightron 4-20 x 50 STac on a 1416 Anshutz varmint barrel with a 20 moa rail and the objective is so close to the barrel that a Butler Creek cap won't fit between the scope and the barrel. But it would fit with Talley rings and no rail.

After all saying all that, this is what I personally would do if it was important that the rings be there when the rifle arrives - order one set of medium and one set of high.

 

[CharlieNC]

Does your stock have a cheek rest that you want to utilize shooting? Or do you want cheek clearance/no contact? The entire package and shooting style must be considered.

 

[nmkid]

We

I can't make this kind of decision without the rifle being present, but I have unsuccessfully tried in the past. I used to be in the camp that believed the scope should be as close to the bore as possible. I thing this works best when trying to make a quick shot with the gun shouldered quickly using a lower power on the scope. But in recent years, I found that the shape of my head, the fact that I wear glasses, and that most of my shooting for real accuracy is done off bags made me appreciate higher rings. It had gotten to the point that I was having to contort my head sideways to get low enough to use the eye box that most higher power scopes have. This caused me lots of frustration and prevented me from being behind the rifle properly.

Since you are using a 20 moa picatinny rail you also have to consider the objective being closer to the barrel due to the downward slope of the rail. I recently put a Sightron 4-20 x 50 STac on a 1416 Anshutz varmint barrel with a 20 moa rail and the objective is so close to the barrel that a Butler Creek cap won't fit between the scope and the barrel. But it would fit with Talley rings and no rail.

After all saying all that, this is what I personally would do if it was important that the rings be there when the rifle arrives - order one set of medium and one set of high.

Well, I just ordered both low and medium rings. That should end this problem. The rings I ordered are on sale so I should be able to get my money back on the set I don't use.

 

[std7mag]

Low, medium, high, your not going to know untill you have the built rifle in hand.
You also don't mention who's base your going with.
1" or 30mm tube?
Objective size?

Soooo many variables out there!

I run EGW 20 MOA bases on most of my rifles. The base itself is kinda tall, allowing me to use low rings with almost any scope through 50mm objective.

The one caveat is the steel Warne rings. They are the lowest of the ones i've tried.
If sticking with Warne, (again, depending upon a lot of variables) you may end up with the medium height.

 

[Bill Norris]

I think you will find the mediums will work best but the low may work. It's almost impossible with some applications to be sure until you have it all in front of you.