Steel vs Aluminum scope rings

[Grimstod]

My brother just asked me if steel scooe rings were better. I honestly have no idea. Never even considered this.
You guys got any preferances for one or the other? Pros and cons list maybe.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

neither, go titanium... I can't think of any cons, other than price, which admittedly, is not insignificant. Honestly, no one has ever demonstrated to me that aluminum > steel (or vice versa), other than with regards to weight savings on competition rifles. You hear lots of debate with regards to recoil tolerance, mass, etc... but I believe almost none of it. It's mostly a lot of bored rhetoric, IMO.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Who makes titanium rings?

 

[jonbearman]

Grimstod, go with the burris signature zee rings. They are fairly light and they have the plastic inserts that will protect the scope from damage. You can also get offset inserts if you need 20 moa or something like that. I hope all is well in PA!

 

[Grimstod]

Thanks Jon. All is great in PA, its bench rest heaven down here. Unfortunaly my brother already ordered the steel rings last night. Lol. Oh well.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Who makes titanium rings?

Cam Murphy over at Murphy Precision makes them. Others might as well, but I don't know them.

 

[Sniper338]

I use steel. My theory is steel tightens and adhears to other steel better (the receiver). Different property metals (aluminum) is softer.. just my theory...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Who makes titanium rings?

Cam Murphy over at Murphy Precision makes them. Others might as well, but I don't know them.

Ill have to check those out. Im a sucker for trinkets. Thanks!

 

[JRS]

neither, go titanium... I can't think of any cons, other than price, which admittedly, is not insignificant. Honestly, no one has ever demonstrated to me that aluminum > steel (or vice versa), other than with regards to weight savings on competition rifles. You hear lots of debate with regards to recoil tolerance, mass, etc... but I believe almost none of it. It's mostly a lot of bored rhetoric, IMO.

Why titanium Jay? The perception out there is that titanium is lighter than aluminum. IT ISN'T. As a raw material, titanium actually weighs more than aluminum, though both weigh considerably less than steel. Along with the cost of titanium, it is also harder to work than aluminum, resulting in even more cost.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

neither, go titanium... I can't think of any cons, other than price, which admittedly, is not insignificant. Honestly, no one has ever demonstrated to me that aluminum > steel (or vice versa), other than with regards to weight savings on competition rifles. You hear lots of debate with regards to recoil tolerance, mass, etc... but I believe almost none of it. It's mostly a lot of bored rhetoric, IMO.

Why titanium Jay? The perception out there is that titanium is lighter than aluminum. IT ISN'T. As a raw material, titanium actually weighs more than aluminum, though both weigh considerably less than steel. Along with the cost of titanium, it is also harder to work than aluminum, resulting in even more cost.

I could give you a bunch of B.S. about coefficient of thermal expansion, strength of material vs. steel or aluminum, and crap like that. But in the end... it's mostly that I like the way Murphy Precision rings look and I wanted the weight savings over steel. He doesn't do aluminum rings. I've been through a lot of different rings and I like the simple, clean design that Cam created.