How to avoid ring marks? Please advice.

mockba77

mockba77

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Hi, all. I'm wondering what you guys do to protect the scope against the ring marks. Even with a proper torque and high-quality rings, there are some ring marks sometimes. Do you know how to avoid them completely? I know lapping is one option. Burris rings with plastic inserts is another. Some say they put paper/electrical tape/hockey tape/rubber glue ...

Please, share your thoughts and experience. Thank you.
 
mockba77 said:
Hi, all. I'm wondering what you guys do to protect the scope against the ring marks. Even with a proper torque and high-quality rings, there are some ring marks sometimes. Do you know how to avoid them completely? I know lapping is one option. Burris rings with plastic inserts is another. Some say they put paper/electrical tape/hockey tape/rubber glue ...

Please, share your thoughts and experience. Thank you.
Click to expand...

havent used paper -- hockey/electrical tape is too thick ... rubber glue seems to work ok and I have used it but I dont know what the long term effect on the tube finish is

I like the Burris insert rings and use them wherever I can; also use the Sako 'optiloc' with their inserts and both minimize marks ... as does being careful not to over torque the ring screws ... ie use the provided Allen Key the way the instructions specify.
 
You use quality rings with inserts or you lap the bottom of quality rings that are installed on the action. Forget about placing tape/shims inside a ring... that procedure decreases the inside diameter of the ring and can dent the scope tube.
 
guntech said:
You use quality rings with inserts or you lap the bottom of quality rings that are installed on the action. Forget about placing tape/shims inside a ring... that procedure decreases the inside diameter of the ring and can dent the scope tube.
Click to expand...

Can close this thread now. No other responses required.
 
NVShooter, I will decide myself when this thread can be closed. Ok?

AP and Dennis, thank you for the feedback and recommendations. I used a thin paper and an electrical tape myself with no issues (for a Nightforce scope+NF rings). Didn't damage the tube at all. Though, I would like to find a better way. Dennis, may I ask your opinion about rings vs. one piece mounts? Is the latter any better in this regard (for example, NF rings vs. Spuhr mount). Thank you.
 
mockba77 said:
NVShooter, I will decide myself when this thread can be closed. Ok?
Click to expand...
Easy there big fella...I can't cause anyone's threads to be closed. My comment was in deference to Dennis' post. He nailed it and his experience carries a lit of weight. Well, in fact, you answered your own question.
 
mockba77 said:
Hi, all. I'm wondering what you guys do to protect the scope against the ring marks. Even with a proper torque and high-quality rings, there are some ring marks sometimes. Do you know how to avoid them completely? I know lapping is one option. Burris rings with plastic inserts is another. Some say they put paper/electrical tape/hockey tape/rubber glue ...

Please, share your thoughts and experience. Thank you.
Click to expand...

It starts with the receiver and how true it is... then how true the bolt holes for the base are... then how true the base is once mounted to the receiver.

THEN it matters on the rings.

The burris sig rings with inserts skips all the major problems with the ACTION... and why I highly recommend their use and use them on all my competition and precision rifles

I do not like lapping rings as it doesn't always solve the problem before the rings are too large... and this is a one shot deal which pretty much makes expensive rings a premenant fixture on the rifle.

So the question really is... how well is my action put together.

Jerry
 
Hi Jerry. Thank you for your response. I didn't quite understand how receiver, bolt holes, and base affect the ring marks? All mentioned may affect the accuracy. But why ring marks?
 
mockba77 said:
As for the rings, signature rings is not an option for me because my scope has a 34mm tube. Burris has XTR signature rings in 34mm but they only come in two sizes: 1" and 1.5". Not an option for me either.
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Too bad as they are superb rings.

You can of course adjust the thickness of the base to get the ring/scope combo lower. But I think most will find a 1" set a very nice fit especially when prone or with the typical A5 type stock

The 1.5" are ideal for any AR/chassis type set up so again, fits much of the "in fashion" stock options.

But you get the idea. If the rings are out of alignment to require severe lapping, look at the receiver first.... its the whole leg bone is connected to the...

Jerry
 
I had Nightforce 6 screw rings torqued to spec, top rings left marks on a $4000 scope, swapped it out for a $4600 piece of glass into the same rings and torqued it down before I noticed the ugly marks, now I don't even want to look under them. Also not to mention a couple more sets of their 4 screw sets also holding new ATACR's, glad it's only cosmetic but sure hurts resale value, so desided to keep it and just build another gun instead of selling the scope LOL.
 
mockba77 said:
Hi Jerry. Thank you for your response. I didn't quite understand how receiver, bolt holes, and base affect the ring marks? All mentioned may affect the accuracy. But why ring marks?
Click to expand...

If the base screw holes are not in perfect alignment, when you torque the rail, it will twist or bend. This results in the rings not being in alignment, meaning when you put in a scope, it is going through the rings at an angle. That causes the edge of the rings to scratch the scope, and can bend or twist the actual scope body too.
 
MrSharp, I feel your pain too. Same story with me. Nightforce and ATRS rings that I had both left marks. Now I bought a new $$$ scope and want to avoid the ring marks in the future. So far the majority of CGNers prefer XTR signature rings. As I wrote earlier I used electrical tape with Leupold rings and had zero marks. It's a bit tricky to get it done properly but doable. I also saw rings that came with pre-cut paper inserts. I don't remember the brand though. I'm wondering if anyone tried to apply Plastidip or vinyl cement to the rings?
 
Alpheus said:
If the base screw holes are not in perfect alignment, when you torque the rail, it will twist or bend. This results in the rings not being in alignment, meaning when you put in a scope, it is going through the rings at an angle. That causes the edge of the rings to scratch the scope, and can bend or twist the actual scope body too.
Click to expand...

Thanks Alpheus for the explanation. It makes sense. Does it mean that a one piece mount is better than two separate rings?
 
Maybe. But if the receiver is off, tightening the screws might tweak the base - and then the rings will be out of line.
Burris Signature rings are an effective solution, with the added advantage that windage and elevation can be built in. The scope lies in "neutral" without any bending forces applied, and the inserts will not mar the finish.
 
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