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Lapping Rings

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kennygss View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kennygss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Lapping Rings
    Posted: April/22/2011 at 09:59
I have never lapped a scope ring, and never really had an issue having not ( to my knowledge) Is there a criteria that would dictate " yeah, these need to be lapped' or not, sort of a go, no go rule for lapping?
 
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Rancid Coolaid View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2011 at 10:06
1.  If you place the scope tube in the installed lower rings halves and it does not move freely (meaning, it binds in the rings) lapping is a good idea.

2. However, lapping voids many ring warranties.  

Well-made rings, correctly installed on a well-made base (or bases) should not require lapping.
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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2011 at 10:29
It will also depend upon the receiver of the gun.  Sometimes the receiver where the base attaches may not be square, so when you tighten down the base(s) it flexes.  Then when you attach the rings to the base(s) it puts them on a different plane from each other.  But lapping will not really fix that problem it is just a bandaid and can cause more problems.  It can make your rings to large so the scope will slip easier, and it will make the rings rough so they will scratch up your scope tube.  And as Rancid said voids the warranty on many rings. 

I have had guns where everything lines up perfectly, others where I have had to bed the base with epoxy to get things lined up square. 

Kokopelli accurizing kits http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/acckit.htm

Wheeler http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=816462

They both have bars that will allow you to see if everything is square or not.  I always use my Kokopelli kits when installing a scope, it gives me good piece of mind knowing everything is square and mounted properly.   
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RifleDude View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2011 at 10:36
Originally posted by Rancid Coolaid Rancid Coolaid wrote:

Well-made rings, correctly installed on a well-made base (or bases) should not require lapping.
 
Not necessarily true.  This is a common misconception.  Quite often, ring misalignment has nothing to do with the mounts at all.
 
Well made rings certainly help matters, but the rings can be dead-on perfect dimensionally and lapping may still be required.  Even the best made rings still have to mount to a receiver that may or may not have perfectly aligned mounting screw holes.  Even if the mounting holes are in perfect alignment, there still could be a tolerance stackup between the bottom of the mounts and the top surfaces of the receiver.  In other words, both the mounts and the receiver are made to within a certain dimensional tolerance range for acceptance.  If one is made to the upper end of the tolerance zone and the other at the low end, there is a slight imperfect fit.  Although the mating will still work, that condition still creates slight misalignment in the rings.  With receivers like the Rem 700 that have a step down between the front ring and the bridge, there can also be variations in the height from front to back that will also affect ring alignment. 
 
All manufactured goods are made to design tolerances, and it is impossible to make anything dimensionally perfect with no unit to unit variation.  If tolerances were not designed into the product, parts interchangeability would not be possible, and the cost of the item would be prohibitively expensive.
 
Using a 1 piece base helps with mount alignment, but if the top surfaces of the receiver aren't perfectly straight or the step down height from front to back varies enough, the base can flex a small amount when the screws are tightened down.  The result is some ring misalignment. 
 
It is very difficult to get perfect alignment with 2 piece bases regardless of ring quality because there is some amount of clearance between the screws and the screw holes (there has to be for function) that will result in angular misalignment between bases front to back.  One base could be mounted slightly clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the other along the radiused receiver.  This is why the self-aligning inserts used in some rings is a good idea.
Ted


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stickbow46 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote stickbow46 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2011 at 12:11
I agree 100% with Ted very good info.I did have a problem with one of my Rem700 Police in .223 using a set of Badger rings & their rail.Lapping got the job done,but I will tell you this,Get a good Lapping kit,don't cut corners.
 
I had a Wheeler set up for years,I've used it 4 X's for myself & 2 x's for friends,always broke my Butt with it.Then I came across Robert Hart set up,all I can say is WOW what a pleasure to use.I have more controll as the bar is about 15" long vs 8" for the wheeler'I'm not bashing the Wheeler stuff as it does work very well but with alot more energy needed to get the job done!
 
Take your time,go slow & use plenty of lubrication.Check alignment every 7-8 strokes at first,then about every 3-4 or you can ruin a good pair of expensive rings.
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