Lapping scope rings

[chacho]

Anyone bothering to do this?

Just watching on youtube. Make sense in theory I guess but wondering if there is really and practical benefit to it.

The majority of people aren't doing it I guess and people aren't having problems so...

I dunno, thoughts? Any benefit to doing this really?

[SendIt]

Personally I think it's one of the OCD practices of shooting.

It's nice to have a perfectly flush ring for your scope, but I'm shooting fine without it so...

[Norton]

If your rings were bad enough that you needed to lap them to get the scope to sit decently, I'd be taking them back for a different pair of rings...

[von_klitzing]

Cost of new rings vs. cost of lapping equipment and labor hours.... New rings it is

[Humir]

Personally I think it's one of the OCD practices of shooting.

+1

No gain to be had IMO.

[chacho]

Those were sort of my thoughts as well but I was on the fence for doing it as you know... Something to learn, something to do...

The lapping equipment ain't cheap though

[Old Fart]

It's clear looking at all my past scopes that none were mounted perfect.

They all held zero though.

[1290]

I'll put my hand up, but I wouldnt exactly call it OCD, unless you repeat after each shoot.....

Expense? a length of 1inch round from the local steel supply, (I recall it is a particular alloy for machining not mild) I think it was $20, maybe less.....

A bit of compound....

Yes, new mount are 'new' but they are not perfect, casting/forging marks and ridges, out of centre bits...

Leupold rings set(s) (QRW) that don't quite align top and bottom, near enough is not good enough! (will go elsewhere next time)

[chacho]

Buying the bits you need direct would be better 1290, you're right.

I found a 'lapping kit' to do it but this was $80.

The price is obviously hiked up as it's pitched as a tool kit. More stuff than you need though really I suppose.

[Monty]

I'm with 1290. I've done it, only ever once for a rifle/ring set then marked them front and rear.

A length if 1" and 30mm S/S round with a 12mm hole tapped in the centre for a handle cost me $0

Course and fine valve lapping compound from supercheap auto.

Mount the scope and triple check ring position then remove the scope and lap the rings. I was amazed how poor the contact with the scope was at first, it took quite a bit more lapping than I'd expected to get a >50% clean up on the surface where the scope sits. If you can borrow the gear I'd suggest its worth the time to at least check your setup

These were sports match rings on an anschutz actioned weatherby mkxxii

Chronos

lapping scope rings

lapping_scope_rings.jpg (36.44 KiB) Viewed 5311 times

[Warrigul]

Anyone bothering to do this?

Just watching on youtube. Make sense in theory I guess but wondering if there is really and practical benefit to it.

The majority of people aren't doing it I guess and people aren't having problems so...

I dunno, thoughts? Any benefit to doing this really?

It is very seldom that rings line up perfectly, usually either the rail, mounting screw holes or even the dovetails in the receiver are a fraction out. Lapping removes this. Is it OCD? Well I don't bother unless there is a big issue or it is a target rifle.

One plus when you lap the rings is you get more surface contact area which an be of benefit with the harder recoiling calibres.

I am ultra lazy and if there were no benefit I wouldn't do it, I haven't bothered with my cheap scoped .22's or my .223.

Just my humble opinion.

[Apollo]

Using $3-4,000 March Scopes I would not even consider not lapping or at least checking the allignment of even the most expensive rings before tightening down my scope. The lapping / allignment kit comes supplied on loan with these scopes.

The likes of Sako Optilocks do not require lapping as they have their protective self allignment sleeves.

As Warrigul pointed out, unless the rifle action is a very high grade custom then there is no guarantee the mounting area, dovetail or rail mounting area is true as the quality in production is not there. Same applies with scope rings, some are manufactured to extremely high tollerances made from the same piece of material in high quality machines but is the Rifle true.

How many times have you seen a scope for sale with the comment "slight ring marks" .... There should be None...!!!! That means the scope has been subjected to mounting stress, possible distorted scope tube.

There are many ways to lap scope rings cheaply and effectively. Some good Gun Shops will even do it for you if asked or lend you the equipment to do it yourself if they are worth their salt.

Is it OCD, no .... Had to look that up with Google. If I'm paying good money for a scope I want it to stay good. Then also I agree, I don't want it to move either.

Maybe I'm different but my .22LR has a not so cheap Zeiss mounted. My .223R has a very high end Leupold (VX-7 European Schott Glass). The rest I doubt if I have a scope valued at under $1,000 so I like my optics.

[chacho]

Thanks for the photo Chronos.

That is more material taken off than I would have expected.

[chacho]

How many times have you seen a scope for sale with the comment "slight ring marks" .... There should be None...!

Fair point. Thanks Apollo.

[SendIt]

How many times have you seen a scope for sale with the comment "slight ring marks" .... There should be None...!!!! That means the scope has been subjected to mounting stress, possible distorted scope tube.

If there is an imprint I in the scope I agree with you.

I reckon that's largely from putting securing the rings rock solid the the action then putting the scope on and clamping the rings down as is.

IMO if you set the rings firm but with a little give, seat the scope, and get everything to settle together before tightening it up. The worst to expect is a little blemished paint. No harm has come of that in my experience.