How to determine proper ring height

Measure the outside diameter of your scope's objective, then divide by that by two.

  Super Sniper 10x42 has an O.D. of 50mm.  50/2=25mm (.98")

This will be the dimension above which the ring and bases combined will need to raise the scope's centerline to clear a barrel that is the same diameter as the action..

Once you have that key dimension, all you need to do is select a base and ring combination that equals that dimension plus 3mm-5mm to accommodate lens covers.

  25mm+3mm=28mm (1.10")

Figure out how thick the base is.  IE: Badger Ordnance Remington 700 base is 7mm thick. 

  28mm-7mm=21mm (.82")

Now you need rings which will take up the rest of the dimension.  This is where you need to pay attention because this is where most of the confusion and inconsistencies come from.  Manufacturer's ring heights are not uniform from brand to brand, IE: Burris' low is not the same as Leupold's low.  Ignore their descriptions and go by the actual measurement of the ring.  The actual measurement of "ring height" is determined two different ways.  Some measure from the top of the base (where the ring contacts it) to the centerline of the ring (Fig. A).  Others measure from the top of the base to where the ring first contacts the scope (Fig. B).  If the brand you are considering measures their ring height like Fig. B, you will need to add 12.7mm for one inch scope and 15mm for 30mm scopes to get to the centerline of the ring which is also the center line of the scope.

 

 

Badger Ordnance provides both measurements.  For the example Super Sniper on a Remington 700 we need a ring with a height of .82".  Badger Ordnance stock number 30680 measures .823" so these are the ring we would select.

 

http://www.swfa.com/c-55-badger-ordnance-mounts.aspx

http://www.badgerordnance.com/index.php

http://www.convertunits.com/from/inches/to/mm

Edited by Chris Farris

 

 Hello Chris

 

                  Looking over your explanation and calculations for ring height was totally understandable until the last few lines involving ( fig b). Of course (fig b) is the system Warne uses and hopefully the manufacture of my next set of mounts.

 1) Using the above example could you please show me calculations for the ring height if they use fig b for their measuring system?

 2) If the scope is low powered and the scope OD of the objective is the same as the ring diameter, is ring height usually just dependent on stock design?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, the way I understand it--if you are looking at a manufacturer who uses [Fig. B] as "their measurement", you would simply use the SAME formula but you would have to simply ADD (Fig. B) plus HALF the ID of the ring to get the desired NUMBER (that would put you at the centerline.)  Correct?

No, I guess not.         

I have found that my 50 mm objectives fit with med rings on all of my bolt actions without rear sight ramps (1' and 30 mm tubes).  Those with sight ramps get the high rings as I like to keep iron sights on the barrel if it comes with them.  The only low rings I have are for my shotgun cantilever barrel.

Great to be a new member of the Forum.  If I walked into my local gun store here in Bama and could actually purchase mil grade mounts I would.  My question is can someone here with the rifle I am putting together can someone here tell me the package I need when I go to the swfa order page and have me set up with experience and wisdom in the package of parts I want?   I have a Rem 700 SPS .308 26' Varmint .802 OD muzzle  mounted in a H and S pro- varminter stock.  I want to mount a SS10x-42mm as Low as possible on a one piece picatinny base and use tactical rings.  I will also be using Butler Creek lense covers.  And also plan to install the Kenton Industries BDC knobs on said scope.  Can someone give me some experience with that as to how well this will work compared to a Zeiss Rapid-Z 600 reticle.  I have a 6-20x-50 on my 22-250 and the whole thing with ranging and checking the "Drop Card" correct power ring for distance thing can be overwhelming in a "hurry up he's bookin it outta hear" hunting situation.  Do the BDC turrets work well givin the rest of the package is in good condition?  I am not concerned @ load specific issues with the knobs because this rifle will be a Deer and Hog intermediate use only.  I like to think I am a sniper and probably will look like a fool at the hunting cabin with my Desert Camo Sniper Scope rig.  Just looking for a durable rig and with the war and all going on kinda feel like a kid wanting to be a sniper.  Thanks.

Get a TPS 20 MOA base.  Then get the SWFA SS 30mm low rings, or TPS 30mm low rings.

Rings for a DPMS LR 308 with a vortex 6-24 x50     need some help in determining which rings to use 

I used a EGW 20Moa tapered one piece base with the swfa SS30mm low rings recommended above .  I wound up mounting a Zeiss Conquest 6-20x50mm on my Remington VL 22-250 with the low rings and EGW base with @ 1/4 inch of barrel clearance. 

FuddyDudd wrote: I used a EGW 20Moa tapered one piece base with the swfa SS30mm low rings recommended above .  I wound up mounting a Zeiss Conquest 6-20x50mm on my Remington VL 22-250 with the low rings and EGW base with @ 1/4 inch of barrel clearance.

Thats true RONK!  I have a set of the swfa SS30mm high rings that I changed  to on a back order for medium rings.  Looking at the height of a 56mm on the same base and rings with the tapered varmint barrel, .820 OD,  I would imagine, at least, with the EGW base I could mount a 72mm........ummmm my oh my but what large eyes I would have to see things in the moonlight with then!! Hooked on Zeiss.

I have a DPMS LR .308b. I am looking at putting a 56mm Trijicon on top of it. Any one know what would be the shortest possible rings for this rig.

I also have a DPMS 308 it takes extra High rings to get a 50 mm Can off of the forearm hand guard 

.308 Boo wrote: I have a DPMS LR .308b. I am looking at putting a 56mm Trijicon on top of it. Any one know what would be the shortest possible rings for this rig.

Chris, can you add to your initial post, if all measure ments on SWFA are one or the other, or if they aren't which manufacturers use which measurement?

Thank You

Can anyone please confirm my numbers? I am new to guns and still researching, shopping,etc.

I have a Savage 116 w/accutrigger that I'd like to mount with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40. According to Zeiss the OD of the obj lens is 46mm, and scope caps are 2mm thick. So, 46/2 + 2 = 25mm. I am considering the Weaver bases and rings. Matte finish Weaver bases for my rifle are model 46m or s46 for grand slam steel version. Both, according to Weaver measure .222" or approx 5.639mm high. So 25mm - 5.639mm = 19.361mm or .762". Now the Weaver catalog provides all measurements in inches and also only provides saddle height. So I can add the half inch to the Weaver measurement or subtract it from my calculation to find the right rings. .762" - .5" = .262" saddle height. The correct rings from the Weaver catalog would be the medium Grand Slam Dovetail rings with a saddle height of .270" or the high detachable top mount aluminum rings with saddle height of .332".

What I would prefer is to opt for the less expensive aluminum bases/rings but with a medium height ring. According to the formula they would not fit, but after looking at my rifle I'm not so sure. The barrel slopes down as you get to the muzzle and I'm wondering if it's enough to allow clearance with the lower rings.

Can anyone share any personal experiences they have had with my setup or maybe something similar?

Can anyone that owns a conquest 3-9x40 confirm that the lens covers are 2mm thick?

Any other base/ring brand suggestions are also welcome.

Mchef, i can confirm or deny because i honestly don't know.  Best advise i can tell you to do is call SWFA and talk to them, they have a lot of experience in mounting things like this as well as a sea of information.

Just to make sure I did this math right.

I have a Remington 700 Police .308, I want to put a Nikon scope on. I have Seekins 1 inch .75 LOW rings on the way.

O.D. of scope= 44mm

44mm/2= 22mm or .86 inches

Add 3 mm for scope covers = 25 mm or .98 inches

Now, the base I am using is a Seekins base. It says: "For scope height calculations on a Remington use .44” (11.1 mm) for rear height or .29” (7.36mm) for front height"

So, I will take the lower number to make sure I have plenty of room.

25 mm - 7.3 mm = 17.7 mm or .69 inches.

The 1 inch Seekins rings are a height of .75 inches. So I assume they should work with this set up.

Btw: Seekins measures their scope rings like Figure A:



So I do not need to add the additional MM's.

  Talley makes a very good set of rings for your situation.I have a pair of  SS10x HD's,one on a Rem 700 police in .223 & the other on a Rem 5r milspec....a perfect match.

hey i need some help also. i called swfa after i bought a kahles helia c 56mm scope to order some new rings. i have always wanted some rings with 6 lugs so i needed a new base also. they recommended the egw base and the burris xtreme xhigh rings (1" high).

i had to cancel the base and order it direct from egw because i am a freaking lefty and they had to make me one for my 300 weatherby accumark. i ran across this post after the order and thought i might have rings that were to tall. i got a return number from them.

the o.d. of my scope is 62mm the base is like 7 or 10mm, i will have to check again tonight. it seems pretty close to spec baised on your calculations. i just set the rings on the base, and they seem way to high. i have not taken the rings appart, b/c i need to return them. i almost think medium rings will fit. any suggestions ?

Test fit them, as long as you dont sinch them down you should still be able to return them.  You may want to verify with SWFA first but they normally know what combo to use.

SVT_Tactical wrote: Test fit them, as long as you dont sinch them down you should still be able to return them.  You may want to verify with SWFA first but they normally know what combo to use.

I have a 50MM objective scope, 30MM tube that I want to mount on my TC Omega.  Already have a weaver style base on it.  Looking at either the Millet vert split rings, Talley rings or Burris Zee rings.  I would like to mount it as low as possible, but I am guessing that I will need the high rings.  I have a 40MM objective scope with 1" tube now with Med rings and have about 1/8" clearance with the barrel.  Any suggestions on rings?

Vortex 6-24x50, 1'' tube.  thinking about SWFA High rings, listed at 1.09'' (shown as B in your diagram).  So i would have to add an additional 12.7mm for centerline, correct?