High End Vs Budget Scope Mounts

[bootneckbob]

Thought I'd jump in on this one too. I use Leupold Quick Release mounts, have done for years but before that I used Sportsmatch and before that probably some cheap tat because I knew no better.
Once you start paying £1000+ for your rifle then the same for the scope why on earth ruin that with cheap poorly made mounts which will probably end up marking the rifle and scope?

I think a lot of this disscussion is also without context. Cheap rifle, cheap scope plinking at 25-30 yards at your local air gun club cheap mounts would be appropriate. Expensive rifle, expensive scope, competition shooting at varible ranges from 10-55yds and travelling to those competitons by car the costs are now soaring up so to put on cheap mounts with all that potential for knocks and it's not worth the risk.

As I said I use the Leupold mounts because I shoot multiple disciplines with a single rifle. So I'll shoot HFT with one scope, whip it off put on the FT scope, re fill and I'm good to go again. No POA issues. They are fitted to weaver rails which makes the alighnment almost bombproof. It's also for removal for fitting in cabinets, cleaning and general transport. For me that more than makes up for the initial cost.

I remember having to shim a scope once but not since I bought decent mounts.

[LESS THAN FORTUITOUS KENNETH]

I've asked this question many times. I always get a fairly even spread of answers, both arguments having their merits. So lets try looking at it this way: A few select firms bring out a new pellet. It's made to excruciating levels of quality and uniformity. It doesn't really give a marked difference over pellets currently on offer though. It does however cost three times as much as current offerings. Do you pay three times as much to "guarantee" you are getting the best possible?

[robs5230]

I've asked this question many times. I always get a fairly even spread of answers, both arguments having their merits. So lets try looking at it this way: A few select firms bring out a new pellet. It's made to excruciating levels of quality and uniformity. It doesn't really give a marked difference over pellets currently on offer though. It does however cost three times as much as current offerings. Do you pay three times as much to "guarantee" you are getting the best possible?

Pellets will not act the same in all rifles.
Quality mounts do.

I hardly think the cost of BKL mounts is prohibitive considering most will adorn a rifle with optics costing hundreds yet sit them in cheap mounts. Why would you ?

[LESS THAN FORTUITOUS KENNETH]

Pellets will not act the same in all rifles.
Quality mounts do.

I hardly think the cost of BKL mounts is prohibitive considering most will adorn a rifle with optics costing hundreds yet sit them in cheap mounts. Why would you ?

I fully understand and appreciate what you are saying rob. Boot on other foot though: Pay more than strictly necessary, why would you? Just saying like.

[robs5230]

I fully understand and appreciate what you are saying rob. Boot on other foot though: Pay more than strictly necessary, why would you? Just saying like.

Well thats it you see I dont. I regard the purchase of BKL or Sportsmatch mounts an absolute necessity.
The Leupold rings that Bootneck Bob mentioned are a luxury to me.

[I. J.]

30+ posts about quality mounts and not one mention of Apel.

I wont touch BKL mounts again after a bad set. In theory the legs should pull together evenly. In practice?

[MartynB]

30+ posts about quality mounts and not one mention of Apel. ldgrin

I was wondering when you were going to pip in

[bootneckbob]

I fully understand and appreciate what you are saying rob. Boot on other foot though: Pay more than strictly necessary, why would you? Just saying like.

Ken, what rifle and scope do you use and how much did they cost?

[LESS THAN FORTUITOUS KENNETH]

Ken, what rifle and scope do you use and how much did they cost?

Lots of rifles, lots of scopes. Cost what they cost. Some cost a fair bit, some didn't. I do know where you are coming from bob. You can't compare a rifle or a scope to a scope mount though.

[robs5230]

Lots of rifles, lots of scopes. Cost what they cost. Some cost a fair bit, some didn't. I do know where you are coming from bob. You can't compare a rifle or a scope to a scope mount though.

I think what bob may be getting at is that folk spend hundreds on rifles, sometimes similar on scopes and jib at the cost of spending 40 quid on a decent set of mounts.
On some of my rifles, the mounts cost more than the scopes.

[rabbitslayer]

Lots of rifles, lots of scopes. Cost what they cost. Some cost a fair bit, some didn't. I do know where you are coming from bob. You can't compare a rifle or a scope to a scope mount though.

Exactly.

[angrybear]

I've asked this question many times. I always get a fairly even spread of answers, both arguments having their merits. So lets try looking at it this way: A few select firms bring out a new pellet. It's made to excruciating levels of quality and uniformity. It doesn't really give a marked difference over pellets currently on offer though. It does however cost three times as much as current offerings. Do you pay three times as much to "guarantee" you are getting the best possible?

Well surely by this argument we may as well just buy the cheapest nastiest spitfire, marksman or Chinese no-name pellets on the market

But we don't do we ? we buy known good quality pellets from H&N, JSB etc which cost 3 or 4 times as much ,

That is a direct comparison to buying BKL, Sportsmatch or Hawke Match Mounts, None of which are "top end" by a long way (no soft alloy mount is "top end" ) they are however "better" & of known good quality.

[rabbitslayer]

Well surely by this argument we may as well just buy the cheapest nastiest spitfire, marksman or Chinese no-name pellets on the market

But we don't do we ? we buy known good quality pellets from H&N, JSB etc which cost 3 or 4 times as much ,

That is a direct comparison to buying BKL, Sportsmatch or Hawke Match Mounts, None of which are "top end" by a long way (no soft alloy mount is "top end" ) they are however "better" & of known good quality.

Yes you're right. We buy whatever pellets perform the best in a given barrel. BUT... if 'cheap and nasty' Spitfire gave you the same group size as JSB's, would you not be tempted to make a SPITFIRE purchase?

[robs5230]

Yes you're right. We buy whatever pellets perform the best in a given barrel. BUT... if 'cheap and nasty' Spitfire gave you the same group size as JSB's, would you not be tempted to make a SPITFIRE purchase?

You've asked the questions and got mixed answers.
Your choice to make now.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I'm off down the shed to throw some more cheap mounts in the bin.

[Phil Russell]

Very interesting thread with many types of answer. Personally I have never been part of the 'I must spend a lot of money on a particular item because I spent a lot on another item' brigade. I spend what I need to get a good answer. If I have a rifle that performs very well with a particular set of mounts and a particular scope; as witnessed by no apparent change of zero etc over time, then I leave it well alone. Would I want to change the mounts to a more expensive set for a perceived improvement? No. If I thought the mounts were a weak link I would think of changing them, starting with trying other sets I have, including sets from the cheaper end of the range and culminating in what, to me, are the more expensive end of the range e.g. Sportsmatch. Would I spend much more on supposedly more expensive makes? No. But if it was clear I needed, for example, an adjustable mount for a particular rifle (and don't tell me it never happens) then I would buy one. In the same vein, would I buy the really el-cheapo mounts that cost a couple of quid from 'that site', then no, I would not as I have seen some on s/h rifles I have bought and found them lacking in some area.
In conclusion; if it works well, I see no reason to change. Money does not always buy a product that works better then a cheaper product.
But if you want to buy the best that money can buy ... I have no problems with that either as I am fully aware that 'pride in ownership' comes into the equation.
Cheers, Phil