Scope mounting kits - worth it?

[vospertw]

All,

I've mounted a few scopes in the past and they seem to turn out ok and I'd never even heard of lapping rings, or using alignment bars, etc. Not to say that I didn't check for gross misalignment, but just to make sure the scope seemed to sit well in the rings with no obvious binding. I watched a Leupold video online yesterday and although he did use alignment bars, the instructor did say you could get by without them by laying the scope in the rings and checking that it could move relatively freely which would indicate adequate alignment. He also didn't use a level of any kind; simply put the rifle in a vice and stepped back a bit and visually aligned the vertical reticle with the centerline of the rifle butt.

Now, not saying that using a kit isn't a good way to go to ensure everything is aligned well - and I had been leaning towards pickinvg one up - but I'm wondering if it might be a bit of overkill for $100 - particularly for a hunting rifle that will only see a few range sessions a year... And hopefully not too many shots in the field.

What do you think? Something like a Wheeler or Weaver kit worth it? Or are there particular components of the kit that work well individually?

[BSlacker]

If the rifle has a one piece base and you use quality rings I don't think you are missing much if anything. With two piece bases and the cheap rings you will want to check out the alignment before you put the scope on it.

[vospertw]

Thanks. I have other rifles that I'd probably look at again as well. The rifle that sparked this is a Ruger American which comes pre-drilled/tapped with two-piece Weaver bases. I am going to use a Redfiled scope and had planned to use Leupold PRW rings per their guidance.

[Hamstur]

Agree with BSlacker ... and also answers the recurring question that comes up of whether top quality rings (e.g., BO, Seekins, NF, Spuhr, Near, etc) are worth the money.

The only mounting accessory I own to mount scopes are 2 small aluminum line levels I picked up Home Depot for $4 to check forward and sideways alignment.

[jtv3062]

I don't think lapping rings necessary as long as you use quality components. No matter what base i use I will always bed the base. Of the 5 Remingtons I own none of the bases sit perfect on the receiver. All but one the rear bridge has a gap the other the front bridge had the gap.

[OpticsPlanet]

I have had really good luck with the base/ring combos from DNZ. The rings and base being a single piece, they can't be misaligned. They claim that no lapping is necessary, and I have seen no evidence to the contrary.

Plus, I like to think that some person in North Carolina has a job because I buy their products. I know it doesn't quite work that way, just sayin'...

Mark H.

[vospertw]

Thanks for the input. I guess I'm also trying to get some ideas about how far to take this based on the intended use. I ride motorcycles too, and a good example is rear shock absorbers. Some folks will buy the premium brand with maximum adjustability because it is the best - which it is. But 95% percent of riders would be just as well served by a lower end shock because they will never push the machine to the limit (like racers) where having all of that capability makes a difference. I was looking back at some of the rifle reviews on the American, and these guys are pulling a Redfield or Leupold out of their assortment, mounting some Weaver rings or whatever they have available, and shooting 1"-1.5" groups out of the box. Not that a pair of Seekins rings is going to set me back too far, but the $70 price difference would buy 3 boxes of ammo with enough left over for lunch. That's several years worth of shooting for a hunting rifle. And under 300 yards, it's not leaving much to be desired. And obviously those guys aren't bedding mounts or lapping rings on test guns.

Not arguing that those aren't better methods for getting maximum performance out of your rifle/optics combination, just trying to get a grip on the bang for the buck given the intended use of the rifle. I'm obsessive enough to want to do it all anyway, but thought it's a fair question.

[hoss_hk]

I've got the Wheeler kit. I think the torque wrench and alignment bars are useful. Worth the price? Maybe. Probably worth it if you plan on mounting multiple scopes or a high end setup.

[Hamstur]

It sort of veers into another quandary ... if a shooter were hesitant to spend $100 for top quality rings, would that shooter be willing to spend $40 for basic rings and $100 for tools designed to fix these new rings?

IMHO comparing scope base/rings vs motorcycle shocks is unbalanced because while 95% of riders won't need the capability of premium shocks, the recoil from every round fired challenges the capability of scope bases/rings.

You are right though regarding "intended use" ... $100 rings may be excessive for a $500 hunting rig that will see no more than 10 rounds a year, but it's a drop in the bucket for a $5000 competition rig that sees 50-100 rounds weekly.

[hoss_hk]

At least with the kit you can check alignment of the rings/mounts and tighten ring bolts to proper spec. It should help reduce wear on the scope tube due to misgalignment and overtightening. I agree in the long run, you will spend more on optics, ammo and gas before a $100 kit breaks the bank.

[Jel]

I bought the Wheeler Level Level kit for $20 and I think it's worth it. However you could get away with the little mini levels from your local hardware store.

[vospertw]

Thanks folks. Hamstur, you are right - not an apples to apples comparison but similar with regard to "intended use". But you see that everywhere - people drive SUVs that never go offroad, etc. And you make a good point about $100 for rings vs. $100 for a mounting kit - though a mounting kit lasts through multiple set-ups whereas you have to pop for rings for each rifle unless you are swapping optics back and forth.

Hoss - I started looking at breaking up the kit a bit and the difference in price between some of the pieces vs. full kit gets to be pretty small - even looking at the torque wrench by itself. And my brother hunts as does my dad, so probably could get some decent use out of a kit within the family.

[mnguyen84]

i have the 1" and 30mm wheeler kit. It is useless, and I would be more than happy to sell it to you mine. The only time you would use to kit is when you buy cheap mounts/rings from retards like the Millet company, then you will need the kit to compensate for their stupidity. Otherwise, you will never ever need the kit.

As mentioned above, DNZ make great mount/rings, but they can be pricey. Weaver tactical rings are cheaper, and I've had good luck with them. I've also had great luck with the oem rings that come with Tikka rifles, which everyone seems to hate.

[vospertw]

Out of curiosity, how are Leupold rings?

[Hamstur]

FWIW my buddy who shoots 338LM competitively says Warne and Leupold are the only two non-premium brands he will use.