Lewis50,
It goes like this...

The receiver was surface ground to be square to the world so to speak...then the bases from Talley are cut down as low as is practical or one can just make a set of bases..then these bases are hand fitted to the surface ground receiver..The the top of the bases are milled to spec..Now there can be no stress of the bases caused by the receiver of the rifle, the bases or rings...The result is a perfect return to zero by a set of Talley QD rings that close up like a vault door...The same application applies to the great Claw Mounts of yesteryear, they are excellent set ups...This applies to all QD rings and bases..

For a dangerous game rifle, wherein the QDs are actually used day in and day out this is a must IMO...

Those that think any mass produced QD mount is an exact return to zero time and time again over a period of time are liveing in la la land, it just ain't so, but a set of Talleys will come closer than anything else I have tried, otherwise I wouldn't be using them..There is an outfit that I visited at SCI Reno that makes a QD affair with a bar that runs from ring to ring and on fitted bases that is akin to the claw mounts and it looks like an excellent set up and he guarentees return to exact zero or money back..I lost the brochure unfortunatly... I did want to try them but they cost more than a set of fitted Talleys, at about $275.

As to finish, I prefer Talleys finish, the others displayed here and bragged on loud and clear, remind me of Chrome on a car bumper, or Licorce candy, much too shiney for my taste, so that is just individual taste..To me its all about "fit" and most of mine get bead blasted and blued or rust blued anyway. I did like the pictured color case hardened Talleys, that is a nice touch...