Steel or aluminum scope base/rail for new build?

[Exocet]

Just got back a Rem 700, Shilen LV weight barrel, H&S "Police" stocked rifle from the gunsmith. 6X45mm cal.

I'm looking at the Brownell's steel or aluminum one piece weaver/picattiny rail or something similar.

Steel is strong, advertises "stiffen's the action" but costs nearly twice as much as the aluminum one.

Any benefit to steel vs. aluminum?

Suggestions/advice appreciated.

 

[Lapua40X]

IMO, if the action needs a scope rail to stiffen it, the action needs to be dumped at the recycling station.
The grades of aluminum used in scope mounts if pretty tough. I don't personally see any benefit of paying the extra amount of hard earned cash for steel when aluminum will do the job. All of mine are aluminum - never had an issue.

 

[gaboon]

Shooting a factory action IMO a steel one piece is the way to go.
Especialy shooting max loads it couldn't hurt.

 

[Immike]

I use Davidson aluminum bases with kelby rings and I am happy. I take my scope off the rifle any time I want with no zero changes.

 

[M-61]

IMO, if the action needs a scope rail to stiffen it, the action needs to be dumped at the recycling station.
The grades of aluminum used in scope mounts if pretty tough. I don't personally see any benefit of paying the extra amount of hard earned cash for steel when aluminum will do the job. All of mine are aluminum - never had an issue.

+1

 

[gotcha]

I go with aluminum one piece also. Have had very good luck w/ EGW one-piece 7075 aluminum picatinny & Burris signature Z rings. Find them @ Optics Planet.

 

[fredhorace77]

IMO, if the action needs a scope rail to stiffen it, the action needs to be dumped at the recycling station.
The grades of aluminum used in scope mounts if pretty tough. I don't personally see any benefit of paying the extra amount of hard earned cash for steel when aluminum will do the job. All of mine are aluminum - never had an issue.

+2

 

[Exocet]

The rifle is only a 6X45mm caliber, so I don't think there's going to be a lot of stress from "heavy or max loads."

I'll probably be mounting a 36X Sightron scope. I was thinking that the Burris rings are the way to go on a rail set up like this.

Also, are there any ill effects from using steel rings on the aluminum bases? Heretofore, I've only used steel Leupold rings on standard steel Leupold bases.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

My first rail on my 700la was and is a steel one piece but I put an aluminum one on my second 700SA and the next rifle is going to be steel 2 piece. My reasoning is that one piece rail makes it slightly more difficult to reach in and feed my rifle single shot. And the weight of a steel 1 piece is noticeable before mounting to the rifle and figure I don't need the extra weight.

 

[dkhunt14]

I wouldn't think there would be much difference in strength between an aluminum and steel one piece base. Once the screws are in it would be like a bridge. For the action to bend the screws would have to give or the base stretch. 6061 aluminum is pretty tough stuff and half the weight of steel.

 

[Lapua40X]

... are there any ill effects from using steel rings on the aluminum bases? Heretofore, I've only used steel Leupold rings on standard steel Leupold bases.

Steel and aluminum are different metals so galvanic corrosion can occur, but it requires a third element such as an electrical charge or an acid environment combined with moisture. It's unlikely that your rifle would be exposed to an environment that would generate galvanic corrosion. Just keep it dry, don't sprinkle it with salt and relax.

 

[Robert]

The rifle is only a 6X45mm caliber, so I don't think there's going to be a lot of stress from "heavy or max loads."

I'll probably be mounting a 36X Sightron scope. I was thinking that the Burris rings are the way to go on a rail set up like this.

Also, are there any ill effects from using steel rings on the aluminum bases? Heretofore, I've only used steel Leupold rings on standard steel Leupold bases.

+3

It all depennds of the "aluminium' alloy usedL 7075 has mechanical characteristics as free-machining steel.
6061 us about 2/3 of the 7075.
Anodised Al is surface hardened (much over mild steel) and prevent galvanic corrosion (Al oxyde is a natural insulator).

R.G.C

 

[MrMajestic]

The expansion coefficient of steel is 6.5ppm and Aluminum is 13 ppm. Think about the stress when the temperature changes from those when you mounted them. JMHO

 

[Exocet]

A lot of good points here. I'm thinking steel is the way to go.

Buy once, cry once.

Thanks.

 

[Lapua40X]

The expansion coefficient of steel is 6.5ppm and Aluminum is 13 ppm. Think about the stress when the temperature changes from those when you mounted them. JMHO

That's a good point. But actually, the "6.5" coefficient relates to some types of iron. Steel, depending on type, is more likely to be in the 8 - 9 range. If my math is correct, that's about .0025 for aluminum against .0015 for steel over the length of a typical one piece scope base given a 40 degree temperature change which is typical over the period of a day in most areas of the country. (I rounded off where I could - if my math isn't correct feel free to correct it). How great an effect that would have when the base is screwed down to the action is something I don't have the equipment to measure. Thanks the the head sup MrMajestic. Always good to learn something new.

 

[John from MN]

The expansion coefficient point is interesting, but what about the scope itself? It's certainly part of the equation. I'm not aware of anyone making scopes with steel tubes.

 

[MrMajestic]

The expansion coefficient point is interesting, but what about the scope itself? It's certainly part of the equation. I'm not aware of anyone making scopes with steel tubes.

I understand your concerns. Not much we can do about that but buy an old Weaver steel tube! ;D Perhaps the old Lyman's were steel also????? I do use the Burris Signature Zee rings in some type of attempt to isolate the tube. ???

 

[racesnake]

Some of the european scopes have steel tubes.

 

[flatlander]

Some good points raised here in this thread, and I won't dispute them. But based on results I've had with several LR rifles using aluminum bases over the past 10yrs or so, I'm thinking that the actual difference (if there really is any) between steel or aluminum bases is so minor that you can essentially forget about it.

 

[Exocet]

Just throwing this out there.

6061 aluminum base - $39.99

7075 aluminum base - $69.99

4140 steel base - $79.99