Lapping scope rings

[Mr. Patis]

Is it a good idea to lap your scope rings? Is there much benefits to it?

[ar15barrels]

Depends on how straight your scope base is.
If your scope base is flat/straight and your rings are good, there is rarely any benefit to lapping.
Many scope bases are not flat once installed.
Crooked scope bases certainly cause the rings to be crooked to each other and setups like that need lapping to correct the problem.

[Horrendo Revolver]

I don't think vertically split rings benefit much from lapping.

[Mr. Patis]

How can you tell if you need to lap

[Divernhunter]

^^^Start lapping and find out just how bad or good they are. That really is the only way. I did not lap rings for years. Once I did for my Nightforce scopes I now lap all rings when I mount a scope.

[Garandimal]

I just line the inside of the rings with 3M Vinyl electrical tape, about 150 deg. both top and bottom. and trim the excess with a razor blade.

Set the caps snug, let it sit for a day, and the vinyl will actually flow/extrude.

Then torque them snug again.




GR

[jeremyro]

^^^Start lapping and find out just how bad or good they are. That really is the only way. I did not lap rings for years. Once I did for my Nightforce scopes I now lap all rings when I mount a scope.

This is good advice. I have had some that were very true when I set them up, I have had some that took a bit of work to get 70-80% contact. As stated nicer rings and bases usually are good to go.

I like to do it both for any negligible accuracy increase and mostly so there are not pressure points on the scope when it is mounted.

[ar15barrels]

How can you tell if you need to lap

A scope will generally "float" in a properly aligned set of rings and "grab" in an improperly aligned set.

[LynnJr]

Everyone advocates lapping rings.
Does anyone here know how much runout they have in there scope?
You have just opened up the inside dimensions of your scope rings.
If you are going to go through the trouble of lapping the rings I would bed them as well

[jdben92883]

Warne specifically says their rings should never be lapped.

[CircleCircle]

Warne specifically says their rings should never be lapped.

I was under the impression Nightforce also stated as such.

[XVIga_Rob]

Good topic and good timing as well. I just bought a new rifle & scope. Going to be picking up a set of Leupold bases & rings next week. I want to do my own scope mounts from now on. My last "free set-up" was not a good experience.
Leupold states that their rings do not need to be lapped. As far as I can tell from the pic's & video on their site, it looks like the inside of the rings have ridges. I do not see how you would get 70~80% contact without lapping. Also, if you lap the rings, could you end up with a rust issue?

[desert dog]

Warne specifically says their rings should never be lapped.

Their vertical rings "float" the tube into the rings, so may not need lapping.