My brother swears by DNZ and I was going to go that route but then a very good fiend of mine who is from AK and due to a "community living situation" was the "designated hunter" and has killed literally thousands of deer shared something with me.

Every rifle he has ever owned with a receiver that was open on the top would eventually brake a one piece scope base. He had a theory that using a 2 piece base and adding the ability to flex ever so slightly kept them from breaking.

I have Leopold Dual dovetail basis on my 338 Win Mag but they are steel. Steel bases and rings are heavy and I just paid a lot of money for a 6.5 LB rifle. And am trying to follow the manufacture recommendation and not add unneeded weight.

BTW Everything you said is what keeps running through my head....