View Full Version : Brownells manufactured scope rings and bases
So I've been putting together a list of parts for my Rem 700 SPS Tactical, and part of that has been digging through Brownells a bunch.
I've found several parts such as rings and bases manufactured by the well known companies of course, but at the same time, i've found several parts that say they were "manufactured" by Brownells (re-badging another companys product with their name i'm guessing), that, when compared by picture and description, seem to be virtually the exact same thing as some of the well known manufacturers (such as Badger), just a bit less expensive.
I'm curious as to if anybody here knows or has experience with the quality of the Brownells labeled parts who might be able to tell me if it's worth it to buy the Brownells parts instead and reduce my costs a little bit without sacrificing quality.
Also, any idea who makes the parts for Brownells?
these?
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=23321/Product/PICATINNY-SCOPE-RINGS
at that price tag, go with
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=17361/Product/TSR-trade-TSR-W-RINGS
or
http://www.seekinsprecision.com/scope-ring.html
and while they might not look as nice, i never heard anyone complain about burris XTR's
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=burris+xtr+rings&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=11974742275&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1259183421102165682&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_7ghcuh2gdp_e
i'd be careful making that assumption. more likely they contracted with someone in china/taiwan to make a knockoff. maybe call them and ask where it's made and that would tell you most of what you need to know about the quality
Boxerglocker
08-27-12, 11:26
+1 for the TPS or Seekins rings... I like the TPS "TRS" and have the 30mm "lows" and 0 MOA bases on my own R700 SPS Tac .223.
Great rings very easy to align with their no torque wrench required install feature.
these?
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=23321/Product/PICATINNY-SCOPE-RINGS
Yes. These.
And also this:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=23786/Product/PICATINNY-SCOPE-BASE
Yes. These.
And also this:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=23786/Product/PICATINNY-SCOPE-BASE
cheaper... better...
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=weaver+tactical++20moa
cheaper... better...
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=weaver+tactical++20moa
Which one?
at that price tag, go with
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=17361/Product/TSR-trade-TSR-W-RINGS
And thanks for the re-direct to the TPS rings.
Quick question though: How much of a difference is there between picatinny bases and weaver bases? I wanted to use the steel rings, but it says they are designed to fit weaver bases whereas the aluminum rings are designed to fit picatinny bases.
Will I have an issue with weaver mount rings on a picatinny base?
And thanks for the re-direct to the TPS rings.
Quick question though: How much of a difference is there between picatinny bases and weaver bases? I wanted to use the steel rings, but it says they are designed to fit weaver bases whereas the aluminum rings are designed to fit picatinny bases.
Will I have an issue with weaver mount rings on a picatinny base?
weaver tactical 20moa
weaver tac = picatinny
EGW is about the same price, a few $$ more, but having used both, the weaver tac is better built
any ring you buy will fit the picatinny weaver...
AR15barrels
08-28-12, 18:48
Quick question though: How much of a difference is there between picatinny bases and weaver bases? I wanted to use the steel rings, but it says they are designed to fit weaver bases whereas the aluminum rings are designed to fit picatinny bases.
Will I have an issue with weaver mount rings on a picatinny base?
Picatinny bases have larger cuts for the larger recoil lug of a picatinny accessory.
The actual rails are so close to each other that either type of accessory would clamp on either type of rail.
Where you come into a problem is that weaver rails have a circular cross-cut and picatinny have a larger square cross cut.
You can put picatinny accessories on a picatinny rail.
You can put weaver accessories on a picatinny rail OR on a weaver rail.
You can NOT put picatinny accessories on a Weaver rail.
Thanks for the info, guys.
I really appreciate it!
at that price tag, go with
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=17361/Product/TSR-trade-TSR-W-RINGS
Read the reviews about these TSR rings coming with instructions for lapping. Are they not cut precise enough?
They look like a good value otherwise.
Boxerglocker
08-29-12, 09:41
Read the reviews about these TSR rings coming with instructions for lapping. Are they not cut precise enough?
They look like a good value otherwise.
No lapping required for TPS rings. One of the main reasons why I chose them for my stick other than budget.
http://www.tacticalprecision.com/TSR%20Scope%20Rings.htm
AR15barrels
08-29-12, 10:55
No lapping required for TPS rings.
The only way to say that lapping is not required is to lap them and see if they lap evenly.
It's NOT the machining of a ring that would make it require or not require lapping.
It is the straightness of the base and more importantly the action that the base is installed on.
Of course there is no way for a ring maker to control how straight the action is.
If the action is not straight, the base will conform to it when you tighten it down.
Then the base ends up crooked even though it may have been made perfectly straight to begin with.
This is the reason for bedding a base to an action.
You are letting the bedding material take up any of the gaps between a straight base and a crooked action...
Thank you both for the responses.
Boxerglocker
08-29-12, 12:45
The only way to say that lapping is not required is to lap them and see if they lap evenly.
It's NOT the machining of a ring that would make it require or not require lapping.
It is the straightness of the base and more importantly the action that the base is installed on.
Of course there is no way for a ring maker to control how straight the action is.
If the action is not straight, the base will conform to it when you tighten it down.
Then the base ends up crooked even though it may have been made perfectly straight to begin with.
This is the reason for bedding a base to an action.
You are letting the bedding material take up any of the gaps between a straight base and a crooked action...
I don't dispute you reason for stating why you would need to lap rings. Maybe I should have clarified "Given that if you have a quality base, installed straight" TPS rings do not require lapping as stated by the manufacturer.
The reality is that using quality bases and rings from TPS, Badger, LaRue, Seekings, etc.... this days as seen in numerous posts on Optics talk, Sniper hide, etc... Lapping is rarely required.
I guess I was was just lucky with my R700 action but my TPS base was so well fitted once bedded with Devcon it barely had a 0.005 inch skim. I measured the difference in angularity with a zero referenced digital protractor and there was no change with up to +/- 0.01 degrees tolerance in reading with the base both torqued before and after bedding.
AR15barrels
08-29-12, 14:12
Maybe I should have clarified "Given that if you have a quality base, installed straight" TPS rings do not require lapping as stated by the manufacturer.
Given that, no rings require lapping.
The REASON for lapping is that bases are rarely installed straight.
I have never needed to lap rings installed on my surgeon actions.
I verified the lack of need by lapping them.
The results of the lapping showed that I did not need to do it.
Now I don't lap rings installed on surgeon 591 actions anymore.
Boxerglocker
08-30-12, 11:19
Given that, no rings require lapping.
The REASON for lapping is that bases are rarely installed straight.
I have never needed to lap rings installed on my surgeon actions.
I verified the lack of need by lapping them.
The results of the lapping showed that I did not need to do it.
Now I don't lap rings installed on surgeon 591 actions anymore.
Are you saying bases are rarely straight or twisted? How often have you come across a twisted Larue, Seekins, Badger, NF or TPS base? Tilted on the action is one thing but having a twisted base is a lack of quality in your choice of bases. Yes at that point any rings will require lapping.
AR15barrels
08-30-12, 15:15
Un-bedded installed bases are often twisted.
The straightness off of the action is irrelevant as we generally don't install scopes on bases that are off the action.
trackmagic
09-04-12, 18:41
I started looking at rails for a new scope and I notice they are spec'd 0MOA or 20MOA. What does this mean anyways?
I started looking at rails for a new scope and I notice they are spec'd 0MOA or 20MOA. What does this mean anyways?
get the 20moa, better to have and not need and all that :)
what it means in the rail is on a slight angle to give you 20 more MOA of adjustment for long range use...
trackmagic
09-04-12, 19:08
get the 20moa, better to have and not need and all that :)
what it means in the rail is on a slight angle to give you 20 more MOA of adjustment for long range use...
Really? That is a cool concept. I guess the bullet only drops one direction.
AR15barrels
09-05-12, 18:03
I guess the bullet only drops one direction.
Yep, down.
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