Well Ranch 13,
I certainly do appreciate your input. I've read a lot of your posts and no doubt you are a man who has had some experience in this field, and your opinions about the Leatherwood Malcome mounts are pretty consistant with other knowledgable posters on this subject. Since I've already got the stuff on the way, I'll see what I get. I did get the upgraded "Precission" mount at a cost of an additional $175. only because after speaking with Jerry at Powder Inc. he said it was better than the standard mount even with the "Fine" elevation adjustment kit. I have to admit though that Jerry didn't seem to have a lot of enthusiasm in his voice when he said it was better. I did confirm with the company I bought this stuff from that I can return it for a refund if I want. Since the shipping was free, I'd only be out the cost of return shipping and the hassle of having to do that. One thing I also got was the sliding mount set up since I thought allowing the scope to slide on recoil might minimize some of the impact and potential dammage to the dovetails. Since I will be mostly using this setup for shooting at ranges probably not exceeding 500 yards, maybe my requirements won't be so demanding and I will be satisfied with it. I don't plan on adjusting for every couple of shots, but I do want to hit what I aim at. So we will see. I'll give it a try, unless it just looks so bad that I won't even bother installing these mounts. All that being said, I wouldn't be all that surprized if I ended up keeping the scope, returning all the other stuff, and buying the mounts guys like you are recomending. I'll just make sure I keep everything in returnable condition so there is no problem with that.
One thing I am really having a hard time understanding though. The consensis is pretty consistant that the scope itself is really a pretty good piece of equipment, so why has a company with a good reputation like Leatherwood matching up this good scope with substandard mounts? I mean, say what you want about Chinese products, but the fact is that they are capable of manufacturing some pretty good precission machined items. And usually at a very competative price. I mean, I just got a $20. micrometer from them with a rated accuracy of .0001" and I bet if I checked it I would find it lives up to that claim. So the Chinese have the capability as long as the customer demands the quality. My point is that if Leatherwood had one of their QC people go over there with a sample of a mount that was a well made precission piece, the Chinese could produce it. They would have to charge a little more for it, and Leatherwood would have to go to the trouble of sourcing the manufacturers who could deliver. But it could be done. So the question is why isn't Leatherwood going to the trouble of assuring that this otherwise good scope is sold with mounts that will be up to their customers expectations. And just so you know, I have been to both Hong Kong and Taiwan as a buyer of products for a company that I had in the 1980's, and I have experienced this situation first hand. You go over, meet with manufacturers, tour their facilities, show them what you want. If you meet the right manufacturer, you can easily have prototypes of your product available within a week. And as long as they know you aren't just kicking tires, they will deliver. The quality is just a matter of negotiation and price, but they can do it. So really, it's Leatherwood who needs to step up to the plate and demand the products that their customers want. I honestly don't know why they haven't done it yet. Maybe some other American company should go over there and do what Leatherwood won't. If I was in the position to do it at this point of my life, I guarantee you I could get it done. I could have good usable mounts for these scopes over here in quantity within a few months. And this is an ideal product from an importers perspective. Small, light, and inexpensive to ship by air. Have 'em air freighted over here a few hundred at a time. Keep your initial quantities small so you can inspect each and every piece, and make it clear that they will be getting returns of anything not to spec. I would love to do it, and it would be very easily done. OK, I'm done. I'll tell you what happens when I get my Leatherwood stuff. Thanks again!