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Best Budget
Leupold Rifleman Scope Rings
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Summary
For less than $30, you can get a quality pair of scope rings from a reputable name that will work perfectly on a budget gun.
Best Precision
Vortex Precision Matched Scope Rings
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Summary
The Vortex Precision Matched Scope Rings are serialized to one another to make sure they stay mated to one another for the best precision fit possible.
Best Quick Detach
ATN Quick Detach Scope Mount
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Summary
ATN’s Quick Detach Scope Mount offers a rugged and reliable QD system for less than $100.
Good scope rings are essential to a proper setup, and yet they often go overlooked. I’ve heard people say that you should spend twice as much on your rifle scope
as you do your rifle, but they say nothing about the scope rings. Your top-notch scope isn’t worth a cent if it isn’t mounted properly, and that requires quality scope rings.
If you don’t have the best scope rings that you can afford, you risk sacrificing performance and accuracy. This is because not all scope rings are created equal. Some of the low-quality offerings on the market don’t support the scope tube properly; they may not tighten down adequately; their heights may be slightly different; or they aren’t built to withstand the type of use you intend for your setup.
So, don’t just grab the first set you see on the shelf in the sporting goods store. For all of these reasons and more, it is essential that you give some thought about what the best scope rings will be for your purpose.
Best Overall: Zeiss Precision Rings
Best 30mm: Seekins Precision
Best Budget: Leupold Rifleman Scope Rings
Best Precision: Vortex Precision Matched Scope Rings
Best Quick Detach: ATN Quick Detach Scope Mount
Best for Long-Range Shooting: Burris XTR Signature Rings
Best for the Money: Talley Fixed Scope Ring System
Best for Heavy Recoil: Nightforce X-Treme Duty
How We Picked the Best Scope Rings
I have a number of scoped rifles in my collection, and none of them utilize the same kind of scope rings. This is because I truly believe that there is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to mounting a scope. Some of my personal guns have scopes that are mounted with fairly inexpensive scope rings, while others are mounted in rings that cost considerably more than the average .22 rifle. When it comes down to picking the right ones for a particular setup, I evaluate scope rings using the following criteria:
Build Quality: Are these scope rings built well? Will they stand up to the type of use and/or abuse that I’m going to subject them to?
Purpose: How will I be using these scope rings? Are they going on a no-frills budget build, or a high-end long-range setup?
Cost: Are these scope rings a good value for the price? Are they providing enough benefits/features to justify what I’m going to spend on them? That is to say, can I save a few bucks on the scope rings based on their build quality and my intended purpose, or do I need to go all out?
The Best Scope Rings: Reviews and Recommendations
Best Overall: Zeiss Precision Rings
Best Overall
Specs
Material: Stainless steel and aluminum
Ring Diameter: .850” – 1.5”
Ring Height: Low – Extra, extra high
Weight: 4.41 Ounces
Pros
Extremely well machined
Built in recoil lug helps
Anti-cant bubble built into the ring
Cons
Very expensive
For anyone who insists on the best of the best, it’s hard to go wrong with Zeiss. Their ultralight 1913 Mil-std rings come in at a trim 4.41 ounces. Yet they are also exceedingly strong thanks to a steel and aluminum construction. Zeiss makes these things in a nice range of heights and diameters to cover all the bases when it comes to optics. Although rings like these are probably best suited for higher end scopes. These rings have a $200+ price tag which may put them out of the budget for some shooters.
However, there’s a bevy of nice features here for those willing to splurge. Zeiss is also one of the few manufacturers to offer an extra, and extra, extra high mount option for more unique mounting scenarios. Zeiss also includes an anti-cant bubble level standard for even more precise shooting.
Best 30mm: Seekins Precision
Best 30mm
Specs
Material: Aluminum
Ring Diameter: 30mm
Ring Height: Low – Extra high, AR height
Weight: 4.1 Ounces
Pros
Lightweight
Excellent machining
Made in the USA
Cons
Price
With so many scopes have a 30mm tube diameter, stores are saturated with 30mm ring offerings. However, it’s hard to beat something that’s been designed, and precision machined right here in the United States. Seekins rings require little, if any, lapping beforehand. There’s a lot of great surface area here to grip the scope tube without scratching it. The screws are also big and beefy. It’s highly unlikely you’ll ever have issues with them coming loose.
Seekins builds all their products here in the USA. And because they’re designed primarily for precision rifles and optics, it’s not too surprising these rings have a $150 price tag. However, another big benefit to Seekins is the fact they have an unlimited lifetime warranty for all their accessories. And it’s transferable if you end up selling your rifle with optic attached. It’s hard to find companies that still back their products in this manner.
Best Budget: Leupold Rifleman Scope Rings
Best on a Budget
Specs
Material: Aluminum
Ring Diameter: 1”
Ring Height: Medium
Weight: 1.7 Ounces
Pros
Priced at $24.99 and $29.99
See-thru options available to still use iron sights
Lightweight
Cons
Leupold warns of overtightening due to aluminum construction
The Leupold aluminum Rifleman scope rings are an economical alternative to steel mounts, with the most expensive option coming in around $30. Swapping out steel for aluminum isn’t just a price benefit. Aluminum brings down the overall weight of the system. It’s not unique to the Rifleman rings, as several others on this list have some sort of aluminum construction, but it’s a possible benefit for young or new shooters carrying their own rifle. These scope rings also have a sturdy cross-bolt build, and they’ll fit any Rifleman or Weaver-style base.
If you do need a base to go along with the rings Leupold also has you covered. The Rifleman two-piece bases
are a perfect complement to the rings. Constructed of anodized aluminum with steel screws, they install easily on a variety of rifles and shotguns and offer lasting rigidity for reliable performance in tough environments. With a huge variety of mounting systems to pick from, in an equally large variety of heights and finishes, you’re sure to find the perfect match for your firearm and style of shooting.
Best Precision: Vortex Precision Matched Scope Rings
Best Precision
Specs
Material: Aluminum
Ring Diameter: 0.76” – 1.45”
Ring Height: Low
Weight: 2.3 – 7.2 Ounces
Pros
Backed by Vortex’s unmatched VIP lifetime warranty
Will work on Weaver or Picatinny mounts
Rings are serialized to one another to maintain perfect fit
Cons
Expensive
In the highest tier of Vortex’s three tiers of scope rings come their Precision Matched Scope Rings. Machined from certified 7075 T6 billet aluminum and held to an extremely tight tolerance of .0005 inches using a precision CNC mill, the price of these rings reflects what has gone into making them. After machining, these Vortex rings are then serialized to one another to ensure that they stay mated to one another for the best precision fit possible.
Designed with no corners to snag on clothing or brush, these rings are finished with a Type III hard coat anodize to cap off their build design and quality. These rings are made in the USA, and the icing on the cake is that they are backed by Vortex’s VIP lifetime warranty, a deal that is without equal in the industry.
Best Quick Detach: ATN Quick Detach Scope Mount
Best Quick Detach
Specs
Material: Aluminum
Ring Diameter: 30mm
Ring Height: Low
Weight: N/A
Pros
Priced at just $99
Designed for ATN’s X-Sight 4K Series, ThOR 4 Series or ThOR LT Series, but can work with other 30mm scope tubes, too
Priced under $100
Cons
Weighs almost half a pound
The ATN Quick Detach and Release Mount is a great addition to your system if you’re already using scopes from ATN themselves. Your X-Sight 4K, ThOR 4, or ThOR LT (which was featured as one of our best thermal scopes
) will slot right in for an all ATN system.
But ATN’s Quick Detach is really just an all-around great QD mount for other 30mm scopes. Made of a hardened aluminum alloy, this one-piece mount offers rugged and secure mounting, easy swapping, and rounded corners to prevent snagging or marring of gear. Of course, the best part of the ATN Quick Detach and Release Mount is that you can retain your zero when moving from one gun to the next. That is a huge time saver.
Best for Long-Range Shooting: Burris XTR Signature Rings
Best for Long-Range Shooting
Specs
Material: Aluminum
Ring Diameter: 34mm – 1”
Ring Height: Low, Medium, High
Weight: N/A
Pros
No need for expensive tapered bases or shimming for 1,000-yard shooting
Pol-Align inserts are nylon, so they won’t place stress on your scope tube
Fits all Picatinny and most Weaver rails
Cons
While available in 1”, 30mm, and 34mm sizes, not all heights are available for each one
The Burris XTR Signature Rings are a game-changer for long-range shooters. Even out to 1,000 yards
. Built of strong yet lightweight aluminum, these rings mount with self-centering dual steep clamps for a rock-solid grip to your gun’s Weaver or Picatinny rail.
By far, though, the best part of the XTR Signature rings are the Pos-Align inserts. Each ring set includes one set of the +/- 0 MOA concentric, one set each of the +/-5 MOA and +/-10 MOA, and two sets of the +/-20 MOA. With these inserts, it is possible to make 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or 40 MOA of cant adjustments in the scope mount. Picking the right combination of inserts lets you easily adjust for unusual ring/mount/barrel alignments or to provide additional elevation or windage adjustment if necessary.
Best for the Money: Talley Fixed Scope Ring System
Best for the Money
Specs
Material: Steel
Ring Diameter: 30mm – 1”
Ring Height: Low, Medium, High
Weight: N/A
Pros
Only two screws needed to provide solid lock up
All four different height options (low, medium, high, and extra high) are available in 1” or 30mm tube diameters
Choose from five different finishes to match your rifle: gloss, matte, satin, stainless steel, and color case hardened
Cons
Talley’s quick-detach levers are not available for vertical split rings
Only compatible with Talley bases
The Talley Fixed Scope Ring System uses a sleek profile non-detachable vertically split ring with larger screws and no moving parts. As you’d expect with no screws or moving parts, this makes for a scope ring system that is as rigid and rock solid as it looks. You can’t get much more solid with a two-piece mount. Choose from a variety of heights and tube diameters to mount just about any scope on any rifle.
Utilizing the same double recoil shoulder base as their detachable scope rings, these will also stand up to the most brutal of magnum cartridges. So, whether you’re putting these on a beautiful color case hardened lever-action rifle (with color case hardened rings to match, of course) or a lightweight hunting rifle, these rings will be up to the challenge.
Best for Heavy Recoil: Nightforce X-Treme Duty
Best for Heavy Recoil
Specs
Material: Aluminum
Ring Diameter: 30mm
Ring Height: Low – Extra, Extra High
Weight: 3.3 Ounces
Pros
Huge range of heights available
Extra screws add to strength
Surprisingly lightweight
Cons
Expensive
The Nightforce brand has an exceptional reputation for building ultralight scope rings that are built to take some serious abuse. They’re a great consideration for anyone who has a tactical rifle or backcountry rifle that sometimes get jolted around. And while these rings are capable of an exceptional amount of torque, they also will not scratch up your expensive optic either. The $200+ price tag is high, but Nightforce’s products are assembled by hand. You’re essentially paying for the exceptional construction here. They’re a good choice if you’re looking to buy American made.
Another reason these rings are exceptional for high recoil firearms is because they offer a six-screw option in these rings. For calibers like .45-70 Government or .338 Lapua Magnum, those bonus screws add a lot more rigidity to the setup, even when exposed to a ton of vibration and energy repeatedly.
What to Consider When Choosing a Scope Ring
While there’s a lot of personal choices you get to make, there are some things that you’ll have to take into consideration that may be out of your control. Knowing those details ahead of time will save you some frustration in your search. Obviously, the final decision is up to you, but here are some of the things you should think about and double-check before deciding on the best scope rings for you.
Scope Size
Not all scopes are the same size, and I’m not just talking about their overall length or the diameter of the objective. It might not always be as noticeable as those other size differences, but the circumference of the scope tube varies as well. You’ve got to make sure the rings you want are available for the size of your scope tube as not all products are available in every tube size.
Attachment Method
There are a variety of different ways to attach scope rings to your gun, but they’re not all the same. And generally, they aren’t interchangeable. Be sure you know if you’re going to be mounting to Picatinny rail, a Weaver mount
, dovetail slots, or directly into a drilled and tapped receiver.
Ring Height
Scope rings usually come in three sizes of low, medium, and high. The size of the objective lens on the scope does have some influence here. Mainly because it’s generally a good idea to keep the scope as low as possible on the firearm without it touching the barrel. However, you’ll want to pay close attention to your cheek weld and alignment while setting up. The alignment of your eyes down the scope should be natural. If it feels like you’re straining your head up or down to get that proper alignment, it’s likely the ring height needs to be adjusted to compensate.
Durability
Durability is an important factor of any scope ring setup. Especially if you’re shooting a rifle with a lot of recoil. While the type of metal and the quality of the machining plays a part, the quality of the screws is also vital. Many scope rings will only be as durable as their screw setup because those are the areas where the rings come together. If you’re shooting a harder recoil, it’s not a bad idea to go with rings that use six screws instead of four. The extra screws just add a little extra peace of mind when the rings are being subjected to extra stress.
Price
You might be tempted to spend more than you need to on a pair of scope rings. Obviously, if you’re putting together a high-end, long-range shooting rig, you’re going to want the best of the best scope rings that will cost some serious cash. However, if you’re just putting together a backyard plinker for your son or daughter’s first gun, then it might not be necessary to spend a huge amount of money to get a solid product that will do the job.
If you’re also looking for a firearm, we have plenty of advice for you. Check out our articles on the best rifles
, and lightweight hunting rifles
. And if you’re looking for a safe place to shoot, head over to the National Shooting Sports Foundation and use their range finder
.
Scope rings vary widely in price from as little as $20 to more than $200. Of course, spending 10x more on scope rings may not be necessary, depending on how you plan on using your scope and rifle combination. For example, you probably don’t need $200 scope rings on an entry-level .22 caliber rifle.
FAQs
Q: Does the height of scope rings matter?
Yes, the height of the scope rings most definitely matters. Not only is the height of scope rings important to ensure proper clearance between your scope’s bell and the barrel, but they also dictate the positioning of your cheek on the gun in order to properly see through the scope. If your rings are too high or low, it may be difficult to get a good cheek weld.
Q: Do scope rings affect accuracy?
Yes, scope rings can affect accuracy. If your rings are not properly tightened, then your scope will move around and not hold a consistent zero, thereby affecting your accuracy. Moreover, if your scope rings are not matched properly, are poorly aligned with one another, or are overtightened on your scope tube, then the overall alignment of your scope on your rifle will be off and your accuracy will suffer.
Q: What torque is required for scope rings?
This will vary depending on the manufacturer. Always check the recommended specs in the manufacturer’s instructions. A torque wrench is required to properly measure this. Most manufacturers recommend tightening from 15 to 18-inch pounds for a standard sized scope. Usually, 20-inch pounds is the limit. Larger, longer-range optics that are heavier might require more. Whatever you do, don’t over-tighten because that can damage your expensive optic.
Q: Is it necessary to lap a scope ring?
It depends on the type of scope and the level of precision desired. The good news is that machining has gotten much better in recent years. There are plenty of precision scopes that now have good tolerances while require no lapping at all. However, there are also still some rings that have rougher edges that need smoothed out. Inspect the inside of the rings carefully to make a judgement call on the need for lapping or not.
Best Scope Rings: Final Thoughts
Best Overall: Zeiss Precision Rings
Best 30mm: Seekins Precision
Best Budget: Leupold Rifleman Scope Rings
Best Precision: Vortex Precision Matched Scope Rings
Best Quick Detach: ATN Quick Detach Scope Mount
Best for Long-Range Shooting: Burris XTR Signature Rings
Best for the Money: Talley Fixed Scope Ring System
Best for Heavy Recoil: Nightforce X-Treme Duty
As I mentioned earlier, it doesn’t matter how great your rifle or scope are if the scope rings aren’t providing a solid connection between the two. You can put a $2,000 scope on a $5,000 rifle and still miss the broad side of a barn if your scope rings aren’t up to the challenge. Make sure that you give careful consideration to your rifle, your scope, and your intended purpose before parting with your hard-earned cash.
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For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
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