Dovetail or Rail?

[Yowsaboss]

New to the forum, I have a 455 Varmint on the way. Although I've searched extensively, I've been unable to find this simple question asked or addressed: Scope mounting, why do some choose dovetail mounted rings, and others mount a rail? Versatility? Appearance? The slightly greater height a rail provides, allowing you to use shorter rings? Are the dovetail mounted rings inherently more stable?

My inclination is to mount a DIP rail, if there's no serious downside.

I'll be mounting a Mueller 8-32x44 Target, if that makes any difference. The rifle will exclusively be a paper puncher.

[Blackwatch]

I like to keep things simple (less parts the better) and mounted Leupold scopes with BKL (medium) dovetails to my 455 varmints...keeps the scope low to the center of the bore and allows enough clearance for the bolt. (checkout BKL-257 High for your Mueller)
 
My sense, adding a DIP rail, could give you more height flexibility if you needed it for a scope with a large objective or if you had scope with mounts arleady intended for a rail.

[viking499]

I like using the dovetail. 

I would probably only use a rail if I was trying to gain elevation if I was shooting a long distance.

[Boris_LA]

The main advantage of RAIL is quickly Mount/Unmount/Change optics with retaining zero close to originally sighted. CZ Varmint doesn't have the iron sights so optics removal or changing is not a issue. It will have it mounted permanently or at least for a long time. With this in mind there is no benefit for rail over dovetail mounted scope. High dovetail rings will work perfectly.

[bluzman]

I used the DIP adapter on my 455 Trainer so that my scope would clear the rear tangent sight. OTOH, I went with 11mm dovetail rings to mount an identical scope on my .223 527 Carbine. Both set ups work well.