Are there any scope mounting issues with mounting aluminum to steel?
No. They will not rust. Warne steel scope rings can be used on aluminum bases and our aluminum rings can be used with our steel bases.
Warne has been specializing in mounting solutions for over 30 years, right here in the USA! In those 30 years, we have never had a reported failure of scope mounts due to their dissimilar materials. Rest assured, if you were ever to experience a failure with a Warne mount, our products are backed with our Lifetime Warranty.
Sometimes, we may overthink these ideas, but usually, that is because we want the best for our firearms, and if you are shopping for Warne scope mounts, you are looking for the best. Before I started using Warne, I experienced scope ring failure with a cheap set of foreign-made rings, which cost me a few dollars and a trophy buck, so I understand your concerns.
There has been a misconception floating around that you cannot use aluminum with steel when it comes to mounting scope rings on bases. For bare aluminum contacting bare steel in corrosive environments (i.e., salt water), there is some validity to this concern. However, scope rings and bases are not bare metal, and most hunting is not done in corrosive environments. You can use steel rings with aluminum bases and vice versa unless you are submerging them in salt water. So, as long as you do not lose your guns in a boating accident, you will be okay.
Can electrolysis or galvanic corrosion between aluminum and steel affect my scope rings and bases?
No, in 99.9% of hunting environments.
First, electrolysis should never occur on your rifle and mounts because it would need to be in salt water and have an introduced electrical current. Galvanic corrosion occurs between an anode (one of the metals), a cathode (the second metal), and an electrolyte (water, especially salt water). It causes a natural electrical current that will eat away at the anode. The concern regarding Galvanic Corrosion between raw aluminum and other raw metals, such as stainless steel, is very minimal in non-marine environments. In the context of rifle use, the likelihood of electrolysis affecting scope rings and bases is nonexistent unless the firearm is consistently exposed to saltwater spray. Notably, Warne addresses this potential issue by isolating the dissimilar metals with coatings. Our aluminum rings (such as our Mountain Tech rings) are coated in a hard anodize, our steel rings (such as our Maxima rings) are powder coated, and our stainless-steel hardware is coated in black oxide. Creating an isolating barrier between the metals helps eliminate the chance of Galvanic Corrosion.
Can thermal expansion or contraction damage my mounts or loosen the grip on the scope?
No, in 100% hunting environments.
Both steel and aluminum experience thermal expansion and contraction; however, in an extreme temperature range of hunting conditions, say –40° to 120° F, it causes negligible thermal expansion or contraction. Torque your bases and mounts to specification, and thermal expansion and contraction will not cause any issues on your most extreme hunts.
Can thermal expansion or contraction of a steel screw in an aluminum ring cause an issue?
No, in 100% of hunting environments.
As stated in the answer above, the overall impact of thermal expansion or contraction on metals is negligible in the temperature range of hunting. No significant thermal expansion or contraction issues will arise between steel screws and aluminum rings.
Warne has you covered whether you choose steel or aluminum scope rings and bases.
Warne makes scope rings and bases here in the US based on your choice of steel or aluminum. Our Maxima Vertical and Maxima Horizontal line of scope rings are made of all steel construction and are the toughest in the industry. Our Premium Scope Rings in the Mountain Tech series will give you the same kind of hold as our Maximas at a fraction of the weight, with elegance in design to complement your rifle. We also offer our aluminum Vapor series of rings that are US-made, engineered, and machined to keep you on target better than other rings in their class but bare bones designed to make them affordable.
Peace of Mind with Warne’s Lifetime Warranty
You can be totally confident in your Warne scope mounts and depend on them to last a lifetime and beyond. We back that with a lifetime warranty.
