Steel vs Aluminum Scope Bases

[DenverDave]

I am looking to upgrade to a 20 MOA 1 piece (pic rail) base on my Savage Model 10 Creedmoor long range rig. I have aluminum Seekins Precision rings.

My research has found that most high end bases are steel and significantly more expensive than their aluminum counterparts.

What is the advantage to having a steel base as apposed to an aluminum base?


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[MontClaire]

Caliber-recoil-weight. So for higher caliber you buy steel. Up to .308 you can use aluminum but it's better be a high quality for zero retention. 6.5 Creedmoore - use steel to be sure.

[DenverDave]

Caliber-recoil-weight. So for higher caliber you buy steel. Up to .308 you can use aluminum but it's better be a high quality for zero retention. 6.5 Creedmoore - use steel to be sure.

Thanks for your reply. These are the models I am thinking of:

The steel options I have found are:
1) Leupold Mark 4
2) TPS
3) Nightforce (a little over budget)

Aluminum options-
1) Seekins Precision
2) Nightforce STD


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[Carcassonne]

Caliber-recoil-weight. So for higher caliber you buy steel. Up to .308 you can use aluminum but it's better be a high quality for zero retention. 6.5 Creedmoore - use steel to be sure.

Why would steel rings be better for zero retention? Does if have to do with clamping strength, thermal expansion, or something else?




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[DenverDave]

Why would steel rings be better for zero retention? Does if have to do with clamping strength, thermal expansion, or something else?









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According to Rex it's about thermal expansion and not that steel is better just that one must be careful when mixing the two.
Steel base + Aluminum Rings =OK
Aluminum base + Steel Rings=no go.
Steel + Steel = ok
Aluminum + Aluminum = Ok


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[JMP]

It really won't make much difference. Steel is stronger, but it is heavier. So, if you need a small picatinny rail that just bridges your ejection port for a scope (as seems to be the case), it's small enough where you may as well use steel.

[FourT6and2]

Up to .308 you can use aluminum but it's better be a high quality for zero retention. 6.5 Creedmoore - use steel to be sure.

Wait, what? In what world is a .308 smaller than a 6.5 Creedmoor?

[Horrendo Revolver]

I've mounted quite a few steel rings(Warne) on aluminum picatinny bases(EGW) and have never had any issues. Hardest recoiling cartridge has been 7mm Rem Mag.