When does 20+MOA base become useful?

[RNE228]

I have an older Rem 700V BDL short action 308. One of the the windage screws on my Leupold 1-piece base came loose and was misplaced.

At what point would a 15 or 20MOA mount be useful?

Previously, used it for target shooting at 100-300 yards at Sac Valley, and for Wyoming antelope. Had a nice handload of Federal Match cases, 4064, and Sierra 165gr Gameking BTHP that worked really well.

I was thinking about getting on the longer steel range, and maybe load up some 168 SMK's. Sac Valley has the longer 1000 yard range; that would be fun to try eventually.

Looking at Midway, Brownells etc, there's a variety of Picatinny bases as well as the Leupold one piece 15MOA base.

I also need to look at scopes; no real budget right now, but the Tasco 10-40x50 that on there is not very good...

[Citadelgrad87]

Depending on what scope you settle on, it becomes useful the moment you run out of elevation in that scope trying to reach a target.

[Divernhunter]

1st contact Leupold and they will probably replace the screw for free. They replaced screws and parts on my friends for free after he screwed it up. Lord do not know how he could have that badly but he did.

Next get a quality scope for it. Since you say you hunt then get a Leupold.

[MongooseV8]

Scope base cant depends of the scope, the rifle, the target distances, and the exact bullet/velocity used. For a normal 308 load in an average rifle with an average scope you wont need a 20moa scope base to hit the steel rams at 500 meters.

Shooting the paper at 1k yards you will almost certainly need some scope base cant.

[sigstroker]

You can extend your range by using more long-legged bullets. Also by getting a scope with a usable holdover reticle. If you didn't have a 20 moa base you could probably still reach 1k yards.

[LynnJr]

A sloped base with 15-20 moa is generally always useful and on a 308 it is almost a must have.
A typical 308 needs 44 moa to get to 1K. If everything is perfect on the gun your scope would need 90 moa with a zero cant base to make the shot without using any hold over.
In the same rifle but with a 20 moa base your scope only needs to have 70 moa of elevation to reach 1K without hold over.

The only time a canted base with only 15-20 moa is an issue is on a scope with extremely little elevation travel and a receiver alignment or barrel issue. In a case like that the base may or may not allow a 100 yard zero and that is a rarity.

[russ69]

It's always helpful to keep your scope as close to the mechanical zero as possible.