ntsqd
Well-Known Member
My Talley lightweights very much needed to be lapped.
Nothing in the universe is perfect, nothing. Don't care who made it/them. How far from perfect you can accept is where to draw the line.
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Do you always lap your scope rings?
- Thread starter Bigeclipse
- Start date
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Nothing in the universe is perfect, nothing. Don't care who made it/them. How far from perfect you can accept is where to draw the line.
barrelnut50
Member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2014
- Messages
- 10
I always lap the rings, use RingTrue tape and use blue loctite on the screws.
https://www.highpoweroptics.com/ringtrue™-tape-three-scopes-p-24944.html
Using this process, I never have problems with scopes slipping on magnum or 50BMG rifles. I don't have ring marks on any of my scope tubes.
Almost always the lapping process shows that even expensive rings were out of alignment. Once I realized that lapping was essential anyways, I stopped paying >$120/pair for rings.
https://www.highpoweroptics.com/ringtrue™-tape-three-scopes-p-24944.html
Using this process, I never have problems with scopes slipping on magnum or 50BMG rifles. I don't have ring marks on any of my scope tubes.
Almost always the lapping process shows that even expensive rings were out of alignment. Once I realized that lapping was essential anyways, I stopped paying >$120/pair for rings.
Hand Skills
Well-Known Member
How do you know this to be true?
High quality rings are built to very tight tolerances. Is the problem with the rings (send them back) or the reciever...?
In my experience, rings may APPEAR to need lapping due to misalignment. The BEST way to deal with this is sort out the bases. This may involve indexing and enlarging the mounting holes in the receiver, and/or shimming/bedding the bases.
Lapping is a quick fix. It addresses a SYMPTOM, but it does not fix the root problem. It may cause other problems also... I think it's laughable how many 'experts' act AGAINST a manufacturer's instructions and lap because they know better...
Lapping is a fools errand, and a great way to ruin a perfectly good set of rings.
You are correct, it as an innovative and effective solution that addresses compounding imperfections.
How are the rings ruined? I've lapped several and they are still working great, years afterward, haven't lost alignment despite extensive shooting, hunting, abusing, and you can't tell by looking at them. Ok, so a little material was taken away on the interior of the ring, that will never be seen. I guess I better yank all those rings off and throw them in the trash since they are "ruined".
Small imperfections in the barrel fitment, the receiver itself, holes for the bases, the bases themselves, etc. All those can add up. So the choice is try to identify and correct all of those, potentially very small problems, to save your precious rings from being "ruined". Or just lap and all those other things are correct for in one step. As mentioned above, if major errors are detected then they should be corrected.
Warbird2006
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2012
- Messages
- 412
I installed Warnes Mountain Tech rings on Warnes bases. The scope was way off to the right. I through the bases out, ordered Warne Maxima base, lapped the rings and its perfect. For those who said they dont need to lap rings, I'd recommend to get Wheeler Scope Ring Alignment Tool. Its worth the money.
barrelnut50
Member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2014
- Messages
- 10
Agreed - in principle. However, sorting out the source of the problem is usually much more effort than simply lapping the rings. Even a minor misalignment will usually result in ring marks on the scope tube. If at the start of the lapping process I can see that the rings are way out of alignment, then I stop and track down the problem in the base. Otherwise, I lap the problems away.
These instructions were written by the marketing department. If the manufacturer admitted that lapping is often required to get perfect ring alignment, people would buy elsewhere.
To be honest, the manufacturer's instructions should say something like, "Lapping is not required AS LONG AS the base is new AND void of machining burrs AND perfectly straight AND mounted stress-free using proper bedding procedures on the receiver."
I would like to try this stuff someday. I have also used black electrical tape the same way with good results too.
muleystalker
Well-Known Member
Yes it can hurt, I have seen many a ring ruined buy lapping done wrong and too much lapping.
memtb
Well-Known Member
Well....I didn't mean with a "rat-tail" file. 
I guess I probably made a stipulation or two! memtb
I guess I probably made a stipulation or two! memtb
I don't know if you remember Bruce Ventura but he owns HighPowerOptics.com and he speaks highly of his tape/method. I was going to use try it but since I already use Burris sig lines with inserts, I did not find the need for it. I might try them on a non-Burris just to help protect the scope tube from any marks.
