Do you lap your scope rings?

[Russ16]

Putting new scopes on a coupe rifle and trying to decide if I should lap the scope rings. I've done it both ways and I haven't really seen a difference. So crowdsourcing a little to here to see if it is worth the time. Do you lap your scope rings?

 

[Gemsbok45]

No need!

 

[Pilgrim]

Nope. I'm not a good enough shot for that to ever make a difference.

 

[Dirtdart]

I put use a lapping bar to check and for ring alignment. If there is any mis alignment I want to correct it as to not have "torque" on the scope tube.

 

[mdwest]

depends on the gun...

on my hunting rifles? no... I use high quality, precision made rings, and the distances Im shooting and the ammo Im using, the difference that lapping might make would be immaterial..

on my precision, long distance guns? yes.. but thats a completely different ball game..

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have one-piece bases on both rifles. Lapping is not necessary with that style base if rings are both same brand/type.

 

[wesheltonj]

No.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

Never lapped rings, never been any problems, 1” or 30mil.

 

[skydiver386]

Depends on the quality of the rings and bases, and the recoil generated by the specific firearm. Almost every one piece base system seems to be very well aligned, but some need a lot of material removed before I'd consider torquing it to spec.

Anything above .375 I think should at least have the alignment checked by clamping a lapping bar and lapping lightly. If no bright spots appear, stop and consider it good.

This is one area where price seems to buy quality.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’ve never lapped, but can see its merit in correcting out of line rings.

 

[baxterb]

No. Most of my bases are custom for the rifle and with Talleys they are good to go. i did have a guy try to correct his horrid work by lapping Talleys once and did nothing more than ruin the rings and send me to a guy who knew what he was doing. Anyone want to buy a set of ruined Talleys?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

No never lapped rings. Like others said, no need with good quality rings.
Long range precision rifles is another ball game.

 

[Rule 303]

I lap rings, not for alignment but to remove rough/high spots that can mark the scope. The better quality rings don't seem to need lapping.

 

[samson7x]

No. High quality rings don’t require it.

 

[skydiver386]

The two instances that I can clearly recall that the scope rings needed lapping were a Weaver type base and ring system on a 45-70 T/C Contender pistol, and a P-14 that had been drilled and tapped a little out of alignment.

The Contender sometimes uses 3 or even 4 rings to keep the scope in place on a hard kicker. Don't think the 45-70 is a hard kicking round? Try it in a 3 pound pistol! Anyway, most of the time all 4 rings would never line up the way you'd think they should, and a lapping session was usually needed.

The problem with a misaligned drill and tap job is best taken care of by redrilling and retapping to a larger screw size, but depending on the firearm and mounting system, this may not be possible. I have seen SLIGHT misalignment problems that could be made right with careful lapping, and the internal adjustment of the scope would take care of the rest. Again, not the best solution, but probably a better answer than one amateur after another drilling holes in a receiver because he has a drill press.

 

[Tucketed]

Never, Talley and Warne never an issue

 

[steve white]

I lapped some 30 mm low Leupold rings and had the scope slide under recoil. Leupold sent me another set with instruction NOT to lap them, as they had experienced scopes sliding.

 

[Russ16]

I lapped some 30 mm low Leupold rings and had the scope slide under recoil. Leupold sent me another set with instruction NOT to lap them, as they had experienced scopes sliding.

This is something I’ve always wondered about. Especially on harder kicking rifles. Lapping has to enlarge the diameter a bit and I could see it reducing the hold on the scope.

Thanks for all the responses. I’ll hold off on lapping these.

 

[gbflyer]

I lap the lower rings every time. It takes only a few minutes. I look for about 75% clean up. You can buy the best, most uniform rings in the world, they are still subject to what they are attached to. I have several “boutique”actions that are on the money, I can’t recall ever owning a production action that was.

This is one of those things us rifle cranks like to argue about. Kinda like barrel break in. At the end of the day, it’s your expensive scope you’re possibly bending, so do what you feel is best.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My one-piece bases are semi-rail. Any Weaver style claw ring will attach. The bases are machined from one straight piece of metal. Really pretty much impossible that rings of same make will not line up perfectly. Same rings front and back sit on a single continuous piece of metal. How could they not be in perfect alignment? Maybe not "classic" looking but it works flawlessly.