Ring Lapping
- Thread starter Hardwater
- Start date
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
No ring marks, and a better lineup, scope will not have any torque on the main tube. Its a good thing , and you would not know if it was done or not, 
from the outside.
from the outside.
In the pics above, you can see how the scope tube would be forced to bend and put angled pressure on the bases. Lapping involves installing the lower halfs and running a steel bar with grit on it back and forth in them. This makes the surfaces between the front and rear straight.
When using the rig that is available at Brownell's, you run the grit bar through both the top and bottom rings, mounted on the intended rifle. I'm doing it on all new scope mounts now.
But it might just be one of those things that, because you cant see it, are you really sure it does any good? Well, as they say, it can't do any harm.
But it might just be one of those things that, because you cant see it, are you really sure it does any good? Well, as they say, it can't do any harm.
J
JoeP's old business account
Guest
Have it done. The money they charge will be returned in resale of the scope since it should have no marks and it should be unbent.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Only down side is that if you ever want to use the rings on another rifle or just take the rings off this action, the odds of the rings fitting again are low. To maintain alignment of the rings after lapping, pretty much makes this a permanent mod (rings shouldn't be removed from the action but scope can be).
Rings should be lapped little to none because it will change the diameter of the 'hole'. This can allow the ring halves to bottom out before clamping the scope tightly. Milling just a bit off the bottom of the mounting flange to regain clamping force doesn't really work either as the hole is now oval.
You can tell, I am not a big fan of ring lapping. I swap my scopes and rings between too many different rifles for lapping to work.
If the smith has them, get the Optilock rings. Much better solution. Will cost a few bucks more but in the long run, cheaper. The inserts will adjust for any misalignment between the rings so there are no ring marks on the tube. The best way to install a scope.
Also, the rings can be removed and reinstalled as many times as you want without fear of loosing gripping power.
Same concept has been carried on and improved by Burris through their Signature rings w/inserts.
Jerry
Rings should be lapped little to none because it will change the diameter of the 'hole'. This can allow the ring halves to bottom out before clamping the scope tightly. Milling just a bit off the bottom of the mounting flange to regain clamping force doesn't really work either as the hole is now oval.
You can tell, I am not a big fan of ring lapping. I swap my scopes and rings between too many different rifles for lapping to work.
If the smith has them, get the Optilock rings. Much better solution. Will cost a few bucks more but in the long run, cheaper. The inserts will adjust for any misalignment between the rings so there are no ring marks on the tube. The best way to install a scope.
Also, the rings can be removed and reinstalled as many times as you want without fear of loosing gripping power.
Same concept has been carried on and improved by Burris through their Signature rings w/inserts.
Jerry
Signature Zee
From what I've heard, the best solution for mounting a scope (that is to stay on the gun) is the Burris Signature Zee Ring system - at any price.
They have a plastic insert that takes care of the aligning, and these inserts can even be had in different sizes to better align the scope to the expected elevation - so you're using the centre of your optics. They shouldn't damage the scope, and, as a bonus, they appear to be quite inexpensive also.
I'm new on the scene and getting into 300-1000yd competition shooting.
The only significant feature they do not have is quick detach, however:
If you know of any drawback to these rings or if you know of another type you'd consider as having any advantage over this system, let me know your experience. I'd love to hear if you had any issues with slippage with these rings (I'll be shooting 6.5mm 139 grains at nearing 3000fps with a 30"bbl).
Thanks in advance,
B
My opinion, target shooting with no-excuses equipment, allows you to score yourself and grow at how mindful you are. Why does this matter? I have come to accept that happiness is not a quality brought about by a change in outer circumstances.
From what I've heard, the best solution for mounting a scope (that is to stay on the gun) is the Burris Signature Zee Ring system - at any price.
They have a plastic insert that takes care of the aligning, and these inserts can even be had in different sizes to better align the scope to the expected elevation - so you're using the centre of your optics. They shouldn't damage the scope, and, as a bonus, they appear to be quite inexpensive also.
I'm new on the scene and getting into 300-1000yd competition shooting.
The only significant feature they do not have is quick detach, however:
- I intend this to be my only rifle (and the scope I'm getting will be its only scope),
- I have a large heavy-duty rifle case so the scope stays on,and
- QD adds another thing to potentially go inaccurate.
If you know of any drawback to these rings or if you know of another type you'd consider as having any advantage over this system, let me know your experience. I'd love to hear if you had any issues with slippage with these rings (I'll be shooting 6.5mm 139 grains at nearing 3000fps with a 30"bbl).
Thanks in advance,
B
My opinion, target shooting with no-excuses equipment, allows you to score yourself and grow at how mindful you are. Why does this matter? I have come to accept that happiness is not a quality brought about by a change in outer circumstances.
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If the rings being used are Sako manufacture then they will be Optiloc and they have a similar plastic liner system to the Burris Signature. If this is the case then they would not need lapping as only the steel portion of the ring that touches the scope body requires lapping...and with the liner system this is not the case. I have had some minor problems with the signature system not holding under extreme circumstances when mounted by someone else...I don't think they degreased the liners and rings properly...other than that there is no problem.
