Question about Weaver type scope bases

What is the purpose of the slots in Weaver type bases?

The reason I ask is because many red dot sights are designed so that one of the mounting screws must be positioned inside one of the slots. The limits where the sight can be mounted on the base.

The slot allows the presence of a transverse screw upon which the movable half of the clamp rides. It also prevents fore-and-aft movement of the ring on the mount.

^^What he said^^

Thanks for the quick reply.

It seems that traditional Weaver bases have just two slots, one near each end of the base. When mounting a shorter, red dot sight, this limits you to positioning the sight either to the front or back of the base. Perhaps the Picatinny base was created as an improvement to that design so that a shorter scope or sight can be mounted anywhere along the base.

Exactly.

Pic rails are all that I use for various reasons, one is the ability to adjust things as needed.

The versatility of the picatinny rail is pretty much the ultimate. My personal objection is aesthetics, but on an AR I couldn't possibly care less. The more rail, the better!

I agree. A Picatinny base looks like it was made for a tactical firearm, but awkward on a more conventional rifle or shotgun.

Again, thanks for all the replies.