Lapping rings?

IAJack · June 1, 2000, 08:16 PM

Does anyone lap rings or glass bed/epoxy them or have any opinions or experience with it?
how big of difference does it make or how necessary is it?

thanks

George Stringer · June 1, 2000, 09:01 PM

IAJack, lapping your rings aligns the scope perfectly. I'll say all rings are machined/cast with slight imperfections in radius and straightness. Lapping them removes these flaws. George

Strayhorn · June 2, 2000, 08:33 AM

Honestly, I can't tell that much of a difference because I'm not that good of a shot!

However, Gale McMillian once wrote a very persuasive post to rec.guns about how lapping cures any imperfection in the rings' alignment with each other - i.e., the bottom rings are not always in a straight line. If a scope is seated in mis-aligned rings, the lenses are pulled off-center when the rings are tightened.

After reading this, I checked all my scope rings using the lapping kit from Sinclair International. I was surprised to find that every single pair of commericial rings was not true. The only rings that didn't need work were a pair of custom rings from MGW. Since then, I just lap rings as part of the normal process of building up a new rifle.

Regards,
Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC

June 1, 2000, 08:16 PM	#1
IAJack Member Join Date: September 13, 1999 Posts: 42	Does anyone lap rings or glass bed/epoxy them or have any opinions or experience with it? how big of difference does it make or how necessary is it? thanks

June 1, 2000, 09:01 PM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	IAJack, lapping your rings aligns the scope perfectly. I'll say all rings are machined/cast with slight imperfections in radius and straightness. Lapping them removes these flaws. George

June 2, 2000, 08:33 AM	#3
Strayhorn Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Location: Central NC Posts: 339	Honestly, I can't tell that much of a difference because I'm not that good of a shot! However, Gale McMillian once wrote a very persuasive post to rec.guns about how lapping cures any imperfection in the rings' alignment with each other - i.e., the bottom rings are not always in a straight line. If a scope is seated in mis-aligned rings, the lenses are pulled off-center when the rings are tightened. After reading this, I checked all my scope rings using the lapping kit from Sinclair International. I was surprised to find that every single pair of commericial rings was not true. The only rings that didn't need work were a pair of custom rings from MGW. Since then, I just lap rings as part of the normal process of building up a new rifle. Regards, Ken Strayhorn Hillsborough NC