scope base

[pl270]

I just bought a prohunter 35 Whelen barrel for my encore and was wandering if the aluminum scope base will hold up to recoil or do I need to buy a steel one?

[Grumulkin]

I would STRONGLY recommend a steel one.

I use Warne steel bases with Warne QD rings which allows me to switch scopes easily between barrels.  That way, I don't need 25 or 30 scopes.

[pl270]

Thanks. Kindof what I was thinking.

[Ladobe]

Designed especially for the handcannons, JD Jones makes his T'SOB scope mounting systems out of aluminum instead of steel because he feels the lighter weight subjects the scope and mount to less recoil than steel does.   So I'd put trust in his expertise.

Personally, the only scope I ever destroyed was a Leupold 4X in Leupold steel mounts on a 30 Bower Alaskan 14".    I never had a problem with much heavier recoiling handcannons in T'SOB aluminum mounts (JDJ's), but also not with 6 screw based steel lapped mounts either for the JDJ and Super Bower heavy hitters on my Contenders, or for up to a 416 Rigby on the Encores.   My old school opinion is rings are lapped for any cartridge, and that equates to solid service from the mounts and scope if it is one of the proven models that will also take the recoil.

L.

[Grumulkin]

I tried a base similar to what pl270 was thinking of using in a 7mm Rem. Mag. and the recoil bent the metal where the ring slots are.

Whatever they're made of, SSK Industries' T"SOB bases are very good and would be more than adequate on a 35 Whelen; they're what I use on heavy recoiling handguns.  I don't switch scopes on heavy recoiling handguns but do on rifles, thus my preference for Warne QD rings and Warne bases on the latter.

Putting lighter weight rings on a scope is not going to subject the scope to less recoil, by the way.  If anything, the felt recoil with lighter rings and therefore a lighter gun will be more.  In any case, the difference in weight between steel and aluminum rings/bases compared to total gun weight isn't that much so any difference in felt recoil would be trivial.

I also have all the stuff to lap scope rings but have never done so. and I've probably mounted a minimum of 5 scopes a year for he last 5 years.  In my opinion, if you buy good rings made with precision, you should not need to lap them.

[Dezynco]

I use Leupold Dual Dovetail rings and bases on my heavy recoiling calibers.  The steel bases and rings may not be any better than a quality aluminum base and rings, but it makes ME fell better!

[pl270]

I do have a set of dovetails on a 270. They seem to work good. I already have a set of burris zee rings i was gonna use so I was thinking of just getting a scope base.

By Grumulkin
"I tried a base similar to what pl270 was thinking of using in a 7mm Rem. Mag. and the recoil bent the metal where the ring slots are."

Was wondering if that would be an issue or not.

[Ladobe]

Putting lighter weight rings on a scope is not going to subject the scope to less recoil, by the way.  If anything, the felt recoil with lighter rings and therefore a lighter gun will be more.  In any case, the difference in weight between steel and aluminum rings/bases compared to total gun weight isn't that much so any difference in felt recoil would be trivial.

So you think that you know more about it than JD does?   

[yooper77]

SSKIndustries.com 6 screw 3 ring T'SOB base is what I use on my 454 Casull barrel

Leupold steel dual dovetailed base and Leupold steel dual dovetailed medium bases is what I use on my long barrels.

Here is a pics of my 12" 454 Casull barrel and 24" 223 Remington , 24" 338-06 A-Square and 26" 209x50 Magnum barrels.

yooper77

[Grumulkin]

Putting lighter weight rings on a scope is not going to subject the scope to less recoil, by the way.  If anything, the felt recoil with lighter rings and therefore a lighter gun will be more.  In any case, the difference in weight between steel and aluminum rings/bases compared to total gun weight isn't that much so any difference in felt recoil would be trivial.

So you think that you know more about it than JD does?   

In this case, yes.

[yooper77]

I just bought a prohunter 35 Whelen barrel for my encore and was wandering if the aluminum scope base will hold up to recoil or do I need to buy a steel one?

I trust JD Jones at SSKIndustries.com and Leupold products without question. I also don't ever move scopes around, since they always have to be re-sighted in order to work properly.

Your 35 Whelen isn’t too punishing, but will depend on the weight of the scope with rings.

yooper77

[Ladobe]

Putting lighter weight rings on a scope is not going to subject the scope to less recoil, by the way.  If anything, the felt recoil with lighter rings and therefore a lighter gun will be more.  In any case, the difference in weight between steel and aluminum rings/bases compared to total gun weight isn't that much so any difference in felt recoil would be trivial.

So you think that you know more about it than JD does?   

In this case, yes.

It's been a lot of years since I talked to JD about exactly this, but if I remember the gist of it, his on going testing showed that the lighter rings transfer less recoil to the scope than steel does.    Can't remember if he said that was just a product of weight or give, but that they do soften the recoil to the scope.

JD Jones literally wrote the book on TC handcannons AND built a very successful business around them.   He has numerous awards for his invention and innovation doing so and remains the master when it comes to TC handguns.   Pretty impressive credentials in anyones book.

So it follows I have to ask... you did what to base your opposite opinion on that gives it credibility?