• Talley Lightweight Alloy Scope Bases and Rings

    When I finally got my project gun together I needed a good quality well-built scope base and ring system, but there was a hitch, I needed the lightest thing possible, so weight was the biggest factor, so that my gun would weigh in at our goal of the 10.5 lbs weight limit. The slightest ounce would make or break this goal, I did not want something cheaply made, or lightly built. I need a tough mount that would allow the gun shoot repeatable and hold zero. I also needed a set up that the rings was very close together, due to the scope I wanted to use being so short. This is when I learned about the Talley lightweight scope mount system that they offer.

    Before this, I had never heard of the Talley Manufacturing Company, I found that Talley is a company that has been making scope bases and rings for over forty years, and has a reputation for a quality product. The lightweight scope mounts were introduced in 2004, and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, if the rings ever break they will replace them free at charge, they only want to hear the story on how they were broken. Talley states on their web site about lightweight scope mounts...

    “The one-piece construction of the Talley Lightweight Alloy Scope Mount is unique. The rigid design has no joint between the scope and the rifle. The Talley Lightweight unitized design eliminates the possibility of an "out of alignment" interface or "loose connection" between the ring and base of traditional two-piece designs Ultimately this provides more strength and durability than rival steel rings and bases but doing it with a lighter overall weight. By extruding the 7000 series alloy known for its durability and then precision CNC machining the mount to its final design we can provide you with the strongest, lightest mount system on the market.” (Talley, 2008)

    I contacted the Talley Manufacturing Company, and wanted to ask more questions, this is when I was connected to Gary Talley, the president of the company. I found Gary to be a very knowledgeable person, which took an interest in what my goals was to accomplish. I could tell that Gary was very confident in their product, and have researched their competition as well. One thing that impressed me was the price, at $41.95 plus shipping. I was further impressed with the amount of different applications that they offered, they had heights of low, medium, high, and extra high, with 1 inch and 30mm diameter mounts. In the Savage line up, they offer mounts for the pre Accu-trigger flat back receivers, and the newer round top receivers. The mounts come in black silver, and two different styles of camo, and they offer an extended option as well. Since they are a two-piece design they will work with both long and short actions. Gary was confident that their product was what I needed, and the next day I received a package priority mail on my doorstep, some of the fastest shipping I have seen.

    My first impression of the mounts was that the construction was very rigid and well built. I then pulled out my trusty scale to weigh them, checked the calibration, and then placed both rings on the scale. I could not believe my eyes when the scale registered a mere 2.519oz. with all the hardware. In disbelief I took the rings off and rechecked the calibration of the scale. It again checked out good, and when I weighed the rings a second time getting the same result.

    I was beside myself, “How could a product that looks so well made be so light?” I have weighed several other mounts and have not found anything this light so far. I then noticed that the bottoms of the bases that mount to the receiver, has a groove machined into them like other high priced mounts that I have purchased, so if bedding is used it has a place to make a good bond. I noticed that the caps were held on by four screws, not two like some other brands. I liked that all the screws used were torques bits, and an appropriate sized wrench is supplied. The company’s logo is nicely etched in the side of the mounts.

    I then mounted the rings on my rifle and was ready to put them to the test. The holes are precision drilled and the mounts lined up perfectly with the holes my receiver. The matte black coating is well done, similar to the coating found on AR15 rifles. I mounted my old trusty Japanese Tasco World Class Plus scope with a 50mm objective. The rifle has a Douglass XX barrel contoured to the standard Savage varmint profile, and found plenty of clearance to put the scope caps back on with the high rings. The mounts I got are the standard mounts not the extension mounts. I noticed that the rear ring is slightly extended over the loading port of the action, but this had no effect on loading with the mounts clearly out of the way of the loading port. I was impressed with the set of the rings; I have had problems with mounting this scope on Savage rifles due to the scope being so short, but that is not a problem with this set up. I cannot imagine a scope that would not be able to fit in this configuration.

    Out at the range I found the mounts to be rock steady, holding zero tightly, making a very repeatable set up. The first time I went to the range I forgot to bring my wind flags, but I said,” What the heck! I will shoot a couple of groups”, and I was impressed. I found that the rifle and rig was more accurate than the shooter is. Not wanting to waste barrel life shooting without flags, I thought I would just site it in and I shot two 5 shot groups at 100 yards. I found that the two groups measured in the high .2 area. My thoughts are the groups may have gotten smaller if changes in wind could have been noticed.

    Next time at the range, I shot in a 100-yard varmint for score match, even though I did not win the match, I did find that round after round the rifle was right on the money holding zero, now if I could fix the nut behind the stock we would have a winner.

    In conclusion, I feel that the Talley lightweight scope mount system is an excellent well-built value. I further state it is impossible to find a product like it at the price sold, or finding a lighter mount made on the market today. They are built in the United States of America, and are very fitting to an American made firearm, such as Savage. The design is well thought out, with no obstructions to the loading port, for speedy reloading. I have had several different mount set-ups on the guns, and for me I have found this to be the best so far.


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    Talley Manufacturing Inc.
    P.O.Box 369
    9183 Old Number Six Highway
    Santee, SC 29142
    Phone: 803-854-5700
    http://www.talleyrings.com