Picatinny Rail Recommendations

[Lou Tenant]

Picatinny Rail Choice
Which brand rail do you use the most ? I've been happy with EGW.
The wife bought me a used atacr 5x25 f2 for Christmas which came with NF rings and level. I'm planning on putting this on my braked 300 win mag. I'm just not sure if they are sturdy enough for an optic this heavy.

Thanks

 

[rijndael]

I'd probably opt for a rail with a recoil lug/shoulder. I tend to favor Seekins bases, you can find them reasonably priced on Amazon.

 

[hillbill]

If you want the absolute Tank of rails get a Ken Farrell G-force
on a heavy kicker with a heavy scope you can't go wrong

 

[FatBoy]

default answer is always Badger Ordnance.

 

[thekriebles]

I have not had any issues using an EGW picatinny rail on a lightweight hunting rifle chambered in 300WSM.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

EGW is as good as any. Soild and machined true. Never had an issue with them. I've tried NF, Ken Farrell, and all the others. None of them are better than EGW, they just cost more. I only buy EGW rails now.

If you're dealing with really heavy recoil, you can have the rails pinned. You can also bed the rail to the action to ensure perfect contact. No rail makes 100% contact with the action no matter how much money you spend, just the same as scope rings. Only bedding allows for 100% contact for maximum holding strength.

 

[Scott Harris]

you want a rail with a recoil lug that fits into the ejection port. That eliminates EGW as a choice from what I've seen. Badger, NF, Seekins, others.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

you want a rail with a recoil lug that fits into the ejection port. That eliminates EGW as a choice from what I've seen. Badger, NF, Seekins, others.

Not a fan of the lug rails. The lug either doesn't make contact properly or needs to be filed down to fit. Bad contact means screws still take the force. Only way to really take the force off the screws is to pin the rail.

Though a braked 300 win mag won't need anything but a normal rail. Used normal rails on rifles that recoiled far worse than a 300 win mag 'without' a brake

 

[Zero333]

I been very happy with Weaver 20 moa rails. they have a recoil shoulder and fit perfectly.

 

[Scott Harris]

EGW is as good as any. Soild and machined true. Never had an issue with them. I've tried NF, Ken Farrell, and all the others. None of them are better than EGW, they just cost more. I only buy EGW rails now.

If you're dealing with really heavy recoil, you can have the rails pinned. You can also bed the rail to the action to ensure perfect contact. No rail makes 100% contact with the action no matter how much money you spend, just the same as scope rings. Only bedding allows for 100% contact for maximum holding strength.

agree with everything. but the point is to have a recoil lug to bed. Just like the rifle, the scope needs a recoil surface to absorb the stress. Better yet, get an integral rail...

 

[Ledd Slinger]

agree with everything. but the point is to have a recoil lug to bed. Then it works well.

I see. Yeah that would definitely help.

 

[nakneker]

I like the Nightforce lightweight rails. They aren’t expensive, I think they are around 55 bucks on eBay, nicely machined and easy to resell if you ever want to.

 

[JRS]

Seekins for a one piece base, Nightforce for a two piece base.

 

[mikea5232]

Ken Farrell g force, built to handle heavy scopes and heavy recoil.

 

[284winner]

I think every manufacturer mentioned plus Warne, Millett and Leupold are additionally as good as any. I believe Weaver makes the cheapest (least dependable) due to the soft aluminum they use. Zero333 must use on I've never seen. There original model pic rail is not a good quality aluminum for attaching tac rings too.

 

[hillbill]

The Farrell has a large adjustable set screw that contacts the receiver once the base is mounted, it takes all the forward shear stress off the base screws. I would agree with pinning a rail and bedding a rail, I bed every single one I put on a receiver no matter who makes it or the action.

Any of the bases without solid cross slots are prone to deformation by a really heavy kicker, I have see it myself with EGW bases, I no longer buy an aluminum base that does not have full width cross slots.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Also want to watch for the type of aluminum used for the base. 7075 alloy is much stronger than 6061.

A lot of companies use both types of aluminum in their products to give different price points for consumers. Just something to be aware of.

 

[dmoran]

Pinned rails are my favorite.
Which is easy to do or have done to actions and/or rails that are not already pinned.
I then use the more affordable rails (like EGW).
Donovan

 

[Trevor60]

Depending on application i prefer steel rails

Near Manufacturing
Murphy precision
I also prefer 8-40 screw setup over typical 6-48

All the best
Trevor

 

[Lou Tenant]

Thanks for all of the replies. I ordered a Seekins 20 moa rail. When it gets here, I'll bed it , and with any luck we'll have an early spring. This white stuff won't quit falling....

Thanks again