Determining ring height

powdergun

powdergun

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The scope I have to mount is a 30mm tube with a 56mm objective. What I want to avoid is ordering a set of rings that dont fit then have the hassle of returning and all that.

What is a good way to determine ring height ( low, med, high, extra high etc..)

Thanks
 
I had found actual ring heights listed on the Brownell's website - some makers list distance from top of base to bottom of scope tube; others list from top of base to centre of ring. And one brand's "High" may be different height than another brand's "High". If you have bases installed and scope in hand, I had read of technique to use modelling clay on top of the bases - squeeze down on the scope body so the clay forms "cradles". You don't mention rifle you are working with, but generally want the scope tube parallel with the bore line - that is also usually the line of the bottom of the receiver on flat bottom like Mauser or Win 70. Can also make up pairs of spacers - say 2" long - set at right angles on top of bases and check for clearance under front scope bell-to-barrel and for bolt clearance at eye piece. Add to or thin the spacers as needed to get what you need for clearance. Not certain that there is such a reference that lists for "X" brand scope on "Y" brand receiver with "R" profile barrel, use "Z" height rings - but I would gladly be corrected on that!! Long range shooters may use 20 MOA sloped bases - the rings stay the same - over a 5" spacing on the receiver, the 20MOA base is about .003" thinner at front than at rear.
 
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If you supplied information as to what rifle, how heavy the barrel is, and the scope, others may have already done it and could supply info.

Other than that - set your rifle up in a vise and hold your scope over the action with the tube parallel to the bolt and with sufficient barrel clearance... measure from the tube to the top of the bases... you should be able to figure it out from there.

Or possibly consult Leupold information. They do have some info on scope/rifle combinations.
 
You’ll need actual measurements. Everyone’s medium is different. On a standard rifle with a picatinny rail, I’ll get away with somebody’s medium or low most of the time. Rifle, Stock, rail height, your face, it all comes into play. I’ve often thought that modelling clay could work to hold the scope in place on a rifle to check for cheek weld and comfort.
I’ve always tried for as low as possible. While it works fine on bigger objectives, sometimes it is too low for comfort.
 
I use Legos and post its to build up shims that simulate the various ring heights I'm looking at. Especially easy to do on top of rails. Some basic math is needed as most ring heights is to center and you want the measurement too the bottom of the tube.
 
That scope ring calculator is a good start! It does not account for clearance for the bolt handle, however. I have had a Parker Hale rifle that adequately mounted a particular scope using the Parker Hale Low rings, but would not allow the bolt handle to pass beside the eye-piece - needed either to go with higher rings than needed for front objective clearance to barrel, or significant re-work of the bolt handle.
 
powdergun said:
Scope: 30 mm with 56 objective
Sendero contour barrel
Rem 700 action
20 moa base
Click to expand...

I mean no disrespect, but sometimes its hard for us to guess. Also, a longer scope will have the bell further out where the diameter of the barrel is samller, thus more clearance or it could sit lower. Were just guessing at this point, and that tends towards a higher setup than the minimum possible

Its almost easier for you to take your scope and rifle to a storefront and try out a few and then purchase what fits best. I didnt see a location but in Calgary there's is more than a few locations that would be helpful.

Personally I would get whatever medium or tall cheap or surplus rings you have, drop the scope in, adjust it front to back, measure the clearance to the barrel, then measure the ring height (do a simple subtraction for minimum), and then go shopping online for whatever brand preference you have. You can get something cheap and simple online or something off the EE.
 
Thanks for all the help. I will be getting some 1" med and that should work great. Now to decide which kind. But that is a whole other thread lol...
 
You will want to be careful regarding the terms - you will need a 30 mm diameter ring for your scope, not a 1" diameter ring, and from above posts that were referring to 1" and 1.25", they were referring to the height of the ring, not it's diameter. Some of us have spare "cheap" rings as left overs from previous projects and can try different heights to check what will work best, but no getting around that 30 mm diameter for your scope.
 
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