I have used Leupold Standard rings and bases for years with no problems. Before that I'd had trouble with cheaper rings a couple times.

My scope use has only been informal target shooting and hunting but I'm gonna start shooting several precision competitions. Currently building a Savage .223 with Nikon Buckmaster 4.5x-14x that I'm going to start shooting Benchrest and reduced F-Class. Planning a Savage .260 with either a Sightron SII Big Sky or Leupold MK4 for the same use, with the goal of competing in Practical Precision competition.

The sniper boards push the heavy expensive Picatinny-rail setups as being mandatory but I just don't see it. Any experienced opinions on this subject?