The solid 6 screw tactical rings Burris sent me were rusted in the package. The second set they sent were just as bad, virtually no coating on them. I just went ahead and had them cerakoted along with a rifle I was building at the time. They look good now
I inspected the Burris Signatures, PEPR,Tactical, etc. The signatures were the best of the lot. That said being Chinese they are apt to have QC problems, and I was able to identify a surface issue on one random set of rings I pulled off the shelf. I could also see an issue with a PEPR mount I pulled off the shelf: very porous alloy on the mounting surface. (whether or not this would cause a problem is unknown) Burris newest AR Signature PEPR mount look like they are machined better: but the proof will be in the pudding. I think it's important to inspect the mounts/rings prior to attempting to install. Like I said any optic mount could be bad. It's less likely you will see a higher end product fail QC as it will likely be inspected hands on with a degree of more time and care. I am a huge fan of Burris. They are offering a great set of rings and mounts at a very good cost, and they have great support. You can't expect a Chinese made product these days to stand up to something that costs much more to manufacture. If you are taking the thrifty route, I recommend you ensure the rings are true before clamping onto an expensive optic. I know many love the Burris mounts: but some will slip through QC and cause issues: I believe in your case you just lucked out.. I called Burris and was disappointed they did not offer a higher end mount, and I believe the new AR Signature is an attempt to bridge the gap. I recommend LaRue's mounts if you are running a Burris XTRII like I am. I also like their new scope which is even better, but my XTRII seems to be shooting 1/2 MOA for me so I'm happy for now. I still can't get a load to verify tracking, so I'm going to have to use a laser. I hope I don't have to return the scope, I really do, but some with XTRII's are having issues out of the box. Burris warranty is excellent considering, and I have no doubt they will make it right if your rings or your scope has issues.