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ring lapping worth it?

5mmgunguy5mmgunguy Member Posts: 3,092 ✭✭
edited November 2007 in Ask the Experts
Is it worth the cost to buy a ring lapping tool to lap your rings?
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Comments

  • TWalkerTWalker Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have never felt the need to lap my rings. However, if I ever buy a $1,200.00 scope I might change my mind. Presently, I have over 40 rifles with scopes mounted and none were lapped. I'm sure it is a good thing to do, I'm simply too lazy and cheap.
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  • B17-P51B17-P51 Member Posts: 2,268 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I do not lap but I do take some 220 paper and gently sand the inside of the rings, while together, using only the tip of my finger. Takes about 30 seconds per ring. You would be surprised at the little high spots that you find and this also roughens the inside for a better hold. 250+ scopes and not one complaint yet.
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wonder if misalignment or out of round of the average set of rings is close enough for lapping to correct the condition.
    A double ended helical reamer sounds like a better idea.
    Losing the finish of the ring bores isn't a desirable thing.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I lapp mine. If any impingement of the scope tube takes place,..it can affect the internal workings of the erector tube. The tool is cheap, it takes only minutes, and it is an insurance policy. When selling an expensive scope, or buying one, there should be no ring marks in it.
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  • givettegivette Member Posts: 10,886 ✭
    edited November -1
    JustC: givette here. Do you have a preference in scope lapping equipment? Thanks, Joe

    PS..if the operation requires lapping compound, please post your preference, also. Joe

    EDIT: JustC..thanks for the heads-up. Joe
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you use Burris Signature rings you will never have scope alignment issues. Ring lapping is not required.
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  • jtmarine0831jtmarine0831 Member Posts: 908 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by B17-P51
    I do not lap but I do take some 220 paper and gently sand the inside of the rings, while together, using only the tip of my finger. Takes about 30 seconds per ring. You would be surprised at the little high spots that you find and this also roughens the inside for a better hold. 250+ scopes and not one complaint yet.


    The purpose of lapping rings isn't really to get rid of high spots it is to put the two rings as close to each other on a single plane as possible. Lapping and using a tool to align rings is to minimize the stress points on a scope tube. The more opposing stress points between two rings can adversely change due to environmental factors and cause shift in the scope and zero. For what most people use scopes for, lapping is not nessacery, but to get a weapon system as accurate as possible you want everything as perfect as can be! But the sandpaper to rough the surface is still a good idea.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    givette,..I use the Sinclair Tools and the provided ring lapping compound (which can reordered seperately). I also use the ring lapping compound for smoothing out a factory bore.
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  • mrbrucemrbruce Member Posts: 3,374
    edited November -1
    I like bpost's idea ..... seems like less fooling around, and they do seem to work very well[:D]
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  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    5mmgunguy,

    The vast majority of average scope rings are not concentric top to bottom let alone to each other let alone smooth on the inside. This includes even the standard Leupold and Burris rings with the exception of the Burris Signature rings that use the inserts and the Leupold Quick Detachable rings.

    The outside of most actions are not true or even round. Scope bases should be aligned and trued before they are attached to the action for the mounting of the scope. Sometimes this requires shimming the bases or maybe even machining the bases to insure the fact that the rings will be aligned correctly. Lapping rings is a separate process from this.

    Lapping scope rings is a process used to make the inside top and bottom of each ring and both sets of rings concentric to each other and smooth. It is also responsible for removing the ridges on the inside of the rings that create 'ring marks' so prevalent on scopes when the rifle has been fired and the scope is removed form the rings. If you never remove the scope from the rings, you'll never see this or your customers won't be aware of it. Lapping also makes the inside of the rings round so they don't crush the tube as you tighten the rings.

    Both of these processes will get your scope much closer to the center of it's range when you bore site, leaving you the maximum amount of correction for tuning and shooting under other than normal circumstances.

    Best.
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