If the scope rings are not aligned correctly when the rings are torqued down it bends the tube. The recoil puts stress in all the wrong places on the optics causing things to fail. The cross hairs are perhaps the most fragile, but I have also seen cracked lenses and many mounting parts that come loose. the heavier recoiling gun the more likely an alignment problem will show up, unless it is way off, then just the tightening of the rings will do it.
It seems to me that the mounts/rings I see now are more likely to be aligned correctly than they used to be. I still lap conventional rings, but rarely have much to do any more. Unlike Ladobe I do like the rings with inserts, and use them when I can.
Another problem that can occur with poorly aligned rings is scope slippage. If there isn't much contact between rings and scope recoil will cause the scope to move. Lots of folks have brought me guns claiming their scope is broken, and I found it wouldn't hold poi because of loose, slipping scopes. Often they came with a brand new scope to be mounted, and were able to return it when we made their old one work.
I also frequently use Leupold bases and rings because of their superior performance. The Leupold brand rings are American made, and precise. I can't speak for the Rifleman brand.
