Lap your Rings
 

How many of you guys mount your own scopes align and lap your steel rings?

I have been doing it with the Wheeler kit for a year or so now when I use Leupold STD rings. I think it works. I have had one Vari X III 4.5-14 on and off three different times for one reason or another and there's not a mark on them. And that was shot thru a 300RUM. Before, it would slide sometimes on the 300RUM.

I am not sure how much lapping to do however. I usually follow the directions and lap until I have no grind left from the compound. Wipe off and start over. I do this 3 times. I am mounting a real nice gloss scope right now on a 7mm-8. And want to make sure I don't mar it up since I trade and sale so often. So am in the process of lapping.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

You did it again. You got my attention and I’m curious, so what is it to lap your rings?:eek:

RE: Lap your Rings
 

trailer, rings are all not true in dimension. Some rings have to be lapped
(honed) so when you tighten the rings it won't tweek the scope.
Brownells sells the kit for this purpose. Ring alignment tool.
I sometimes use Jewelers Rouge

http://www.brownells.com

RE: Lap your Rings
 

I have a kit from Wheeler that comes with 600grit lapping compound. It comes with alignment 1" pieces that helps you to align dovetail rings. Then you can start lapping. You put the compound on a 1" (or 30mm) steel rod and mount like you would a scope. You then work the rod back and forth to remove/hone the inside of the rings. Now they should be more or less more round than before. It removes and burrs from the inside of the rings also and gives a more positive contact for the rings to scope.

I like it cause I hate scope rings with inserts. I can never keep them zero'd on hard recoiling guns. So I like leupold steel rings. But they sometimes leave ring marks on your scopes. And I trade and sale alot and don't like that.

They claim also it keeps the scope more aligned so its not "torqued" which they say can cause POI changes, scope damage, etc.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

I lap Leupold Rings and Ruger rings. Ruger rings IMHO are some of the worst aligned rings made and have to be lapped. I have not had a single scope using Ruger Rings on a Number 1 or 77 that did not get scope marks on it not a one. They are easy to lap though and no problems after that procedure. I usually lap 75% of the surface more or less before I place the scope in the rings. I also cold blue the inside surfaces that were lapped especially Leupolds otherwise they will rust.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

OEH, I bought the Gunsmith ring alignment tool and honing kit
from Brownells.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

After you lap the rings do you put some kind of finish or oil to protect the raw steel from rust before mounting the scope?

RE: Lap your Rings
 

good idea OEH. Never thought of that. But I never took the ones I lapped into the wilds.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

trailer, you can do as OEH mentioned or apply a thin coat
of Motion Lotion (vasaline) on them.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

What do you think the percentage of hunters do lap there rings. Until now I have never heard of this procedure. I was always very careful in lining up the rings but never thought there could have been another step. Learned something new today.:D

RE: Lap your Rings
 

Trailer, here are the ones I have. The sleeve is tightened on the
rings and the rods are machined fit and will guilde in and out to
match the points. This shows perfect alignment, notice the points.
$59.97

RE: Lap your Rings
 

Here's the lapping rod. The one I have is 1".
Or you can order 30mm.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

RH you got the cadillac of ring alingment tools ..that is a sweet setup

RE: Lap your Rings
 

Just close your ears trailer, its another obsession we are sick with. I could take stick dancing to a new level of involvment. Its called OCD.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

Rebel, Allot more to lap the rings then I thought. That comment on the motion lotion is a good one. Learned something else again.:D

RE: Lap your Rings
 

OEH,the stock # is 080-918-000

RE: Lap your Rings
 

Holy cow rebel thats the deluxe model of lapping sticks. Mine is not quite that fancy.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

Yep! that's why I said use Jewlers Rouge. This rod will really hone them fast.
You want to lapp them not grind the hell out of them.
I use a 200 grit and finish them with the rouge.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

Da@n, just when I thought BC had the latest and greatest(because he's single) and now Rebel Hog pops up with this new fangled lapping rod setup. You just never know

RE: Lap your Rings
 

OEH, I have around $100 invested and after you do 4 or 5 sets of rings
it just sits there on the bench. My buddies get more out of it than I do.
I do it for them when ask. Some guys change rings like peanuts.
AH man, these rings are no good I need some new ones. I have friends
that cannot keep a rifle for more than one season. It's always an excuse
about the rifle, same with scopes and rings. Same with ammo. They
all come here to show me why they have to sell or trade.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

It is really only necessary to lap the bottom half of the rings. The top will "find" the full contact point on the scope, unless it is really out of square. If you lap the bottom half of the ring to the "full contact" point, make sure the two halves of the ring aren't touching each other before the required torque is reached. If so, you will have to machine a little off of the "foot" of the ring. And don't use Vaseline on the inside of the ring - you will be inviting slippage on hard recoiling guns. The stuff to use is the rosin sold in Brownell's - apply it sparingly with a Q-tip on the inside of the bottom ring. Good luck. Roskoe

RE: Lap your Rings
 

What does it hurt to do the top? I find some small burrs on the top. I don't like ring marks.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

You know last night I was reading one of those dreaded gun magazines and the guy said to lap while the top rings were attached and the lapping rod was able to move back and forth. I have always lapped the bottoms only. This has been an educational post

RE: Lap your Rings
 

I have never lapped any of my rings. After about 100 rifles I have only used any rings or bases beside the Weaver style 3 or 4 times and never had a reason to lap them. I hate those twist in style rings. Pain in the But. JMO. The only scope that ever moved on me was on a Contender handgun in 35 Remington. On that one I forgot to tighten them after turning the scope a tad at the range.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

You know, I scare myself sometimes. Why did I figured ole James B would post almost this exact thing. I was waiting for it.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

James have you never got ring marks? Surprises me if you didn't. About 90% of the used scopes I buy have them.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

IF you cap the tops on it will guide the rod to lap even on the bottoms.
And at the same time if the tops need some it will also lapp them.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

I don't bother - I'm convinced the manfucturing tolerances on quality rings today is good enough that I don't have to lap them in.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

I hate to be predictable.;) Yes I have had some ring marks on some of my scopes but as long as it doesn't damage the function of the scope, it doesn't bother me. I have never purchased a used scope and I seldom if ever trade a gun with the scope on it. I have had most of my scopes for many years and the wear and tear is ok with me. I also don't care for pretty wood stocks just give me any old synthetic stock and I am happy. I do like pretty wood stocks, I just replace them and put them away to stay that way. If I trade a gun then I keep the synthetic and put the wood back on.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

Well, thats where we are different James B. But thats cool, if we were all the same, it wouldn't be fun.

I had to lap my 300RUM gun rings. I had them slip too many times.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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?

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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:D. 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.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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:D I crack myself up.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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.

RE: Lap your Rings
 

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.