Titanium Rail Bases, Pros and Cons

Michael Eichele · #8 01-10-2010, 05:08 PM

I am looking to learn something here.

I recently had a delima on regards to scope bases. I too was looking to save weight and went to a two peice base which ended up causing ALOT of accuracy and consistency issues from stress. Out of dire neccessity I bought a NF steel one peice base and bedded it to my action for scope/action stress relief. I needed a solution quick as I had a very important hunt less than 1 week away and couldnt worry about weight. The change worked and accuracy and consistency returned.

Now that the hunt is over I was concidering getting an AL base to save weight. My concern is that I have heard from more than one source that Al and steel react differently in differing tempratures. Is there any truth to this? Is AL on steel as reliable and consistent as steel on steel??

Chas1 · #9 01-10-2010, 06:07 PM

I don't think you'll get any chemical reaction between the steel and aluminum. As far as their differences in how quickly each heats up or cools down ie one quicker than the other...I'm not metalogist but I'm thinking steel is more dense so may heat and cool slower than aluminum but I can't imagine a scenario where this would effect accuracy or platform integrity.

geargrinder · #10 01-11-2010, 01:16 PM

Aluminum and steel have different rates of thermal expansion.

That means that as the tempurature changes, steel and aluminum will expand at different rates.

jmden · #11 01-11-2010, 02:26 PM

You know, Broz, you could just pick up a BAT HRPIC and then you wouldn't have this dilemma!

Don't say I didn't tell you so!

Broz · #12 01-11-2010, 03:01 PM

That is a good point with the expansion rates. I guess it could cause a problem using an aluminum base to a steel receiver in extreme cold or hot conditions. Especially when epoxy bedded at 70 degrees then taken to hunt in -24 below.

I am leaning toward trying the titanium, but inquiring about a recoil lug or do like Ken Ferrel does on some of his and add an angled set screw for an adjustable lug.

jmden, It was quite a process deciding on n action. After all the calls, some returned some not