Murphy precision stainless vs TPS black steel base. Is one machined wrong?

[bombadillo]

I received in the mail the TPS base first. I didn't really take much more than a glance and made sure it wasn't banged up or anything. I got it from midway. It is for a Remington 7005r and so I wanted to go stainless, and picked up a murphy precision. I just got the Murphy base today and it looks phenomenal. Quality is there, attention to detail is there with every corner perfectly radiused, perfect finish on the whole thing, very uniform, and not lacking in anything when you put a micrometer to it. Anyway, for the photos. I'll show you 2 photos of the Murphy Precision for reference, and 2 of the TPS and tell me if you think the TPS is machined wrong or if I'm just an idiot and don't know what I'm doing. I've also never worked on much for any remington 700's either so be gentle here guys. There is a machining piece in the TPS that looks like it should be a nicely smooth, and has a large slab of metal there. Tell me what you think.

Top of murphy

Bottom of Murphy base

Top of TPS base. (not quite the fit and finish compared to the murphy, but for the $78 bucks plus shipping I wasn't really expecting much more)

Bottom of TPS base. I'm worried about the top piece of the base as you look at the picture. It almost seems like a recoil lug or something but I don't understand what that would possibly go to. If it is defective, it is going back to midway and I'll be buying a pelican case instead

Thanks guys, and let me know what you think.

 

[Biggerhammer50]

You are correct in your assumption that it is a recoil lug. They put it there to help from shearing the mount screws from the recoil of your rifle. No defect.

"ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ"

 

[bombadillo]

So where does that recoil lug settle into when mounting it on the action? Front of the ejection port, or otherwise? I can't get my twisted little head wrapped around where it should go.

 

[billyburl2]

That is a recoil lug. It "catches" the forward opening of the action to help arrest recoil transfer to the base and scope. Some manufactures actually charge extra for that feature...

 

[bombadillo]

And as much as I like the TPS, the Murphy Precision base is just a piece of art in comparison. Both functional, and GORGEOUS. It truly exudes quality when you feel it, unlike other pieces of machinery like EGW, and now TPS. They lack in the aesthetics department, but we shall see how they function.

 

[264highlandhunter]

I can say from experience that not only is the quilty of a Murphy precision base incredible, their customer service is absolutely incredible. He took care of me big time!

 

[pupdawg]

I agree. Big +1 for Cameron Murphy at Murphy Precision. He did a custom scope base for my Defiance/AX AiCS build and it fit great. I wanted it about the same plane as the AX AICS top rail and we were able to get it VERY close with just "rough" measurements over the phone. He's good to go.

 

[oldfatguy]

Yes Murphy bases are much better finished and their CS is top drawer. But no recoil lug. Fine for low recoiling calibers and lighter scopes. Maybe not so good on a 300 WSM and PM II 5-25 X 56.

OFG

 

[Willys46]

That recoil lug can become important...last match I shot the base screwed sheared off like others stated could happen. It has been switched to one with a recoil lug and tapped out to #8 screws.