I had Ruger rings on my 416 Rem Mag (NO. ONE) with one of the old Redfiel 2x7 Tracker scopes on it. I quess I had 1800 rounds through that gun without the scope ever moving. I have had that Redfield scope on about 25 rifles and still use it today on mt Bwoning A-Bolt 308. I trade a lot of guns but never part with a good scope. I have a World Class Tasco 4X scope that I have had on just as many guns. Those OLD Tasco world Class straight power scopes were tough as hell and way ahead of their time. I sold about a hundred of those in 6X while I had my gun shop. Never had a bad one come back.

I now have the same set up Rebel Hog uses I purchased from Brownells. I have been lapping rings for about seven years. Good luck.

They were. I still have one that I initially put on a 30-06 when I was 18 and couldn't afford any better. That was 21 years ago. It's currently on a little 22 magnum and still gives good service. Wish you could still get something that cheap that would last that long.

Back on topic lapping the rings is something I have never done either. Is it more advisable for heavier recoiling calibers or just a good idea for all scoped rifles?

I quess you could call it insurance. Its a step some choose to take. I have never found it necessary. Also if not done right you can do more harm than good. I am that type of person. To me if it works without messing with it then I will go that route. Like I said I have shot a lot of rounds through big rifles without ever having a Weaver ring or base fail to hold the scope.

James, when you put a 400 dollar plus scope on a rifle the last thing you want are RING MARKS on the tube. Its called taking care of your equipment not to mention reducing stress on the scope tube. I don't care whether the scope is 100 dollars or more i avoid ring marks.

Well I have to admit that it will be a cold day in "H" long before I spend 400 dollars on a scope. Most of my old scopes if they have marks on are barely visable. If I didn't take care of my scopes then I wouldn't have so many old scopes. Its fine if one wants to take this step but whats always worked for me will most likely continue to work so I don't bother with lapping unless I happen on to a set of rings that really needs it.

Look at the picture of the alignmen rods. Look at the points?
If the points do not align, that puts a Tweek on the tube of the
scope. It's not to keep from making marks on the scope or
the scope moving on the rings. Try putting a tube through two
holes that are off center and see what happens to the tube. You
might have to use a straight edge to tell, but it will be Tweeked.
It's like looking thru a bent barrel. We are talking about an Optical
tube here, not just any tube. If the alignment points are true on
the rods. You don't need to lapp the rings, but if they are'nt, go
ahead and tighten down the Tops and Tweek your scope as much
as you want. The alignment rods are to see how much the rings
are off, if they look good you're done.

Well, Oldelk in his defence if all he uses i mostly weaver then I see his point. I myself refuse to ever have weaver brands on my guns again. I have a set on a 30-30 right now, and just jerked off a set of see thrus on a 270.

He can't really lap a weaver and with the wide piece of metal, he probably doesn't get slips. But boy, if that ain't the ugliest tackiest thing you could put on a nice rifle. Not smooth, horrible bluing, rarely matches your gun or scope.

But its ok, James has a different mindset than I do and there's nothing wrong with that. I like to look at my rifles and have them perform as well as they look. Kinda like my ladies I crack myself up.

I personally have no use for Weaver rings and totally agree they are an abomination on a hunting rifle. Much better quality out there for a very similiar price and you don't have to worry about the scope rotating everytime you tighten the screws. But aside from the marks on the tube what some don't realize is that your actually stressing the tube. Now I once bought a set of EAW QD rings for a Swarovski scope I was mounting when I was young and stupid and boy did I scratchup that scope tube partly because the freaking mounting instructions were nonexistent . I grimace now even thinking about it.

OEH,
I learned that same lesson with a set of Ruger rings and a Zeiss scope. I have nightmares about what I did to that scope.