How to optimally attach the rifle scope with rings

[Bonk]

I’m with @mdwest. I stopped buying overpriced rings years ago because I could never discern any benefit. $50 rings seemed to work as well as $200 rings. I torque to specs using a sequencing similar to torquing lug nuts.

I do lap the rings even though these days I’m convinced it’s probably not necessary. Modern manufacturing has pretty much eliminated any meaningful production errors. The main reason I lap is because I have the kit so I might as well use it.

 

[KEC]

The owner/head gunsmith I worked for 35 yrs ago used rosin between the rings and scope tube on the heavy recoiling rifles and slug guns, seemed to work great.

 

[SStomcat]

I was chatting with the head gunsmith at Gordy’s—a Purdey-trained guy—, and he mentioned something interesting about scope ring lapping. According to him, with modern optics, the tolerances are so tight that there’s virtually no variation along the tube. Lapping, in his view, can actually do more harm than good because it removes metal the rings need for proper torque and grip.
He even pulled out a brand-new Swaro Z8 and a micrometer to make the point. The tube measured a dead-on 30 mm for the full length.