One or Two piece scope mounts

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squarles67

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Putting a new Leupold 6.5 x 20 x 50 LR scope on my Winchester Model 70 (made in '73 if it matters) in .270 Win. I'm going to use Leupold mounts and rings.

Should I use the one piece or the two piece mount? What are the pros and cons of each? Are the one piece much stronger? Only three screws in the one piece vs two screws in each one on the two piece.

The rifle has a one piece mount on it now that has been on there since I got it in the late '70s so it's not like I need the extra room afforded by the two piece.

Opinions?
 
No contest

A one piece mount negates the need to lap rings. Generally scope rings are pretty accurate but I've found that they mount to the rifle askew to some degree necessitating the lapping process and subsequently will fit only the rifle to which they are fitted. The only down side would be a little weight if it matters to you.
 
A one piece mount negates the need to lap rings.
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The last rings I lapped were for a one piece mount and they certainly were the better for it when I was done, IMO. I was installing a Bushnell Elite 4200 on my Savage 10 FCP HS-Precision.
 
With my Match/Tactical rifles, I use a one-piece picatinny rail. With my hunting rifle, I use two-piece weaver bases in conjunction with the Burris Signature Zee rings with the plastic alignment inserts. I am not a fan of the Leupold/Redfield one-piece base that uses dovetail rings.

Don
 
I am not a fan of the Leupold/Redfield one-piece base that uses dovetail rings.
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I'll second that.

The dovetail rings were made to compensate for rifles that had the mounting holes drilled incorrectly. Unless you have serious issues with this there are many much better mounting options.
 
The dovetail rings were made to compensate for rifles that had the mounting holes drilled incorrectly. Unless you have serious issues with this there are many much better mounting options.
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What are some of the better choices?
 
Unless you have an extremely high quality rifle the chances of two piece mounts lining up perfectly are very slim.
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Over the last 40 years I've mounted well over 100 scopes, almost all with 2 piece mounts, and have never ran into a problem.

What are some of the better choices?
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Basically anything that is not windage adjustable. As said earlier they are desinged to compensate for mounting holes that are not drilled correctly. This was a big issue when rifles were not drilled and tapped at the factory. Today it is very rare and if I got a rifle that was screwed up so bad I needed windage adjustable mounts to get it zeroed I'd sell the rifle before I'd mess with them.

They are heavy, complex, and hard to mount correctly. For all their weight they have very, very little metal holding the rings to the bases and are probably the weakest of all mounting systems. Still not a favorite of mine, but if you like the Leupold mounts consider the dual dovetail mounts. Stronger than windage adjustable and very clean looking.

The picatinny rails are probably the best, and would be my choice on a heavy target/tactical rifle. They are heavier and more expensive than I need or want on a hunting rifle. Anything that fits into a Weaver style cross slot is a good choice. I've never used them but the Burris rings suggested by USSR get great endorsements from those that use them. They are ugly as sin, but the old Weavers work as good as any.

I use either the Talley Lightweights or DNZ mounts on my hunting rifles. Although they are aluminum, they will be stronger than windage adjustable mounts because there is no separate base and ring. It is all one piece.
 
You guys are full of it. I have been installing two piece scope rings for 45 years and every rifle I did the installation on has shot very well. You just need to know what you are doing. chris3
 
rigidity is moot, its the ring alignment that one piece helps with.

If you want less weight, go two piece, then lap rings. I prefer to use Burris Signature Zee rings with two piece bases, as it corrects for any errors in alignment.
 
most guys looking for the ultimate in accuracy wont buy a 1 piece base. reason is that very few rifles are drilled precisely and most times when a 1 piece base is screwed down it puts torque on the action. Now no doubt were spliting hairs here as ive used both and had good luck with both. I also lap all my rings and have never seen where a one piece base made much differnce. Again you have to factor in machining tolarances. What i was told is if you use a one piece base screw down the back two screws tight and if the base isnt sitting perfectly flush at that time its going to put torque on the action when you tighten the front two.
 
I've used both too, and I've not a had a problem with either. Infact, I couldn't really tell a difference. I will say I don't like the windage adjustable dovetail bases either. I've only used one, but I didn't like it at all.

I've also used some Leupold rings, and while they are decent, I much much prefer the Burris Signature Zee rings.
 
Thanks for all the input guys. I like the Burris signature rings and will be using those but still haven't made up my mind completely on the base.

It currently has a Leupold scope I put on it in the early '90's, the Leupold rings and one piece windage adjustable base was on there when I got it (with an old Redfield Widefield mounted). It is a VERY accurate rifle and always has been (even with the old redfield) I'm just going to a more powerful scope.

I've since talked myself out of the 6.5 x 20 and will be going with the 4.5 x 14. The new one will have 30mm tube though and that meant new rings which got all this started.......
 
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I too favor a one-piece mount, if made well. Dednutz (DNZ Products) makes them for many rifles, but I'm not sure about yours. Excellent product.
 
A properly installed 1 piece rail, goes a long way in stress free scope mounting. And by properly installed, I mean bedded to the reciever. Anyone can torque down a 1 piece rail, and bend it all to hell if you dont check things!! You would be suprised at how far off a reciever can be;)
 
caaraa, you may well be correct as to "perfect", but I've mounted two-piece bases on dozens of rifles with never any problem whatsoever.

The only misaligned rifle I ever ran across was a 1952 Model 70 Supergrade, of all things. Startling! But a windage-adjustable base solved the problem.
 
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