Scope Ring Lapping

[MarinePMI]

I tend tend to run Spuhr, RRS or other high end, uni-mounts. So lapping is a thing of the past. High end uni-mounts need no lapping, and a person is more likely to cause harm than good, trying to do so.

Even the high end rings (ARC M-10's for example), used with a well made picatinny base, need no lapping these days.

As an aside, the ARC M-10's are indeed topdog for rings these days. One single screw, no canted reticle when tightening, solid contact with the scope tube, with no ring damage. Best thing since sliced bread these days... Makes mounting a scope, a short, simple and easy process.

M10 Scope Rings

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Last two Swarovskis I bought in (DS and X5) were both wearing Tier 1 rings
properly torqued

Both had ring marks, one to the extent that the mark could be felt with a fingernail running over it.

Now either:
A) the spec of the tube or ring diameter was out
B) the rings had been over torqued at some point
C) the rail or picatinny fixing were not true

personally I don't feel that rings should have enough free travel to present an overtorque situation

crank shaft bearing caps don't have a gap between the journals when torqued up
Neither should scope rings

make them properly

 

[MarinePMI]

Last two Swarovskis I bought in (DS and X5) were both wearing Tier 1 rings
properly torqued

Both had ring marks, one to the extent that the mark could be felt with a fingernail running over it.

Now either:
A) the spec of the tube or ring diameter was out
B) the rings had been over torqued at some point
C) the rail or picatinny fixing were not true

personally I don't feel that rings should have enough free travel to present an overtorque situation

crank shaft bearing caps don't have a gap between the journals when torqued up
Neither should scope rings

make them properly

I hear what you're saying, but think that in this day and age, not having a torque wrench or torque limiter for a precision rifle is a bit of being penny wise and pound foolish. (Especially at the prices you guys pay in the UK).

Shooting Kits

 

[User00040]

Last two Swarovskis I bought in (DS and X5) were both wearing Tier 1 rings
properly torqued

Both had ring marks, one to the extent that the mark could be felt with a fingernail running over it.

 

[User00040]

I hear what you're saying, but think that in this day and age, not having a torque wrench or torque limiter for a precision rifle is a bit of being penny wise and pound foolish.

Shooting Kits

I'm aghast that you use those glorified bike tools

Wera torque pistol for ring base screws and Wiha electricians torque screwdriver for the cap screws, comes marked in proper units (Nm) too

 

[MarinePMI]

I'm aghast that you use those glorified bike tools

Wera torque pistol for ring base screws and Wiha electricians torque screwdriver for the cap screws, comes marked in proper units (Nm) too

LOL! Indeed; glorified bike tools. But they work.

I get what ER is saying, but until you can 3D metal print rings, the machining costs alone to produce rings (and screws) that would give an accurate and consistent in/lb rating would be so cost prohibitive, that the company making said rings would likely go out of business. It would seem (cost wise) a solution in search of a problem. Would it be nice? Absolutely. Would it practical? Not in today's manufacturing world (even with 5 axis CNC machining), since the length of the screws (or the length to cap head) would have to very precise, along with the thread engagement of the screws themselves. There's a lot of stacked tolerances when it comes to hole and screw fitment at an in/lb rating.

A Wiha torque wrench or something similar, seems a much more practical approach to keep costs down.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Allow me to inform you I’m fully in conetrol of my rings and the torque thereof.

K

 

[Tim.243]

I'm aghast that you use those glorified bike tools

Wera torque pistol for ring base screws and Wiha electricians torque screwdriver for the cap screws, comes marked in proper units (Nm) too

I have Snap-on-Tools what tool is does caberslah have....Halfords ?

 

[Klenchblaize]

I have Snap-on-Tools what tool is does caberslah have....Halfords ?

I always found Snap-On way too BRITOOL when struck with a lump hammer but each to his own.

K

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

LOL! Indeed; glorified bike tools. But they work.

I get what ER is saying, but until you can 3D metal print rings, the machining costs alone to produce rings (and screws) that would give an accurate and consistent in/lb rating would be so cost prohibitive, that the company making said rings would likely go out of business. It would seem (cost wise) a solution in search of a problem. Would it be nice? Absolutely. Would it practical? Not in today's manufacturing world (even with 5 axis CNC machining), since the length of the screws (or the length to cap head) would have to very precise, along with the thread engagement of the screws themselves. There's a lot of stacked tolerances when it comes to hole and screw fitment at an in/lb rating.

A Wiha torque wrench or something similar, seems a much more practical approach to keep costs down.

Overthinking
Line bore the rings when clamped closed to a specific size

If they are not already line bored they should be

Or use rings with delrin inserts

 

[MarinePMI]

Overthinking
Line bore the rings when clamped closed to a specific size

If they are not already line bored they should be

Or use rings with delrin inserts

I'm fairly certain the holes are already line bored. Hence my comment that the screws themselves would still present a problem.

As to delrin; abrasion fatigue would be the main issue with that. It would be fine if the rings were only mounted once. But if they are loosened and tightened many times, the delrin will wear out, and the screw engagement will shift....changing the in/lbs rating preset by depth. <shrug> There's a reason rings aren't made this way.

 

[enfieldspares]

I always found Snap-On way too BRITOOL when struck with a lump hammer but each to his own.

K

Well you can FACOM both!

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

@MarinePMI - would something like this work - Torque Limiting Knob Screws GN3663 - ?

 

[Klenchblaize]

Well you can FACOM both!

I’ll raise you a KING DICK!

K

 

[MarinePMI]

@MarinePMI - would something like this work - Torque Limiting Knob Screws GN3663 - ?

Assuming the rings were cut to accept them and their large heads, sure, I see no reason they couldn't be used.

Do you know how much those cost? I'm honestly curious.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Assuming the rings were cut to accept them and their large heads, sure, I see no reason they couldn't be used.

Do you know how much those cost? I'm honestly curious.

Depends on the spec you go for but for one I spec’d with ~30in/lbs of torque it was £50/$65ea.

 

[griff]

The quality of the rings is not as important as the rail to action fit. most rails are machined to a close tolerance its the actions that usually to blame hence the need to lap, irrelevant of the quality of the rings.

I’ll raise you a KING DICK!

K

Your a Stahlwihle

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I'm fairly certain the holes are already line bored. Hence my comment that the screws themselves would still present a problem.

As to delrin; abrasion fatigue would be the main issue with that. It would be fine if the rings were only mounted once. But if they are loosened and tightened many times, the delrin will wear out, and the screw engagement will shift....changing the in/lbs rating preset by depth. <shrug> There's a reason rings aren't made this way.

They are
Sako optilock
Burris Signature Z etc

 

[MarinePMI]

They are
Sako optilock
Burris Signature Z etc

Delrin inserts for the rings, yes. Not for the screw holes (which is what I thought you were referring to).

Regardless, the delrin inserts are still just correcting for rings that may not be aligned. But if that's good enough for someone, then I guess a torque setting is just casting pearls before swine.

 

[MarinePMI]

The quality of the rings is not as important as the rail to action fit. most rails are machined to a close tolerance its the actions that usually to blame hence the need to lap, irrelevant of the quality of the rings.

Your a Stahlwihle

In the past that was sometimes true (Remington was notorious for crap rail mount holes being off and out of spec).

But in this day and age, when actions are held to such tight tolerances that allow pre-fit chambered barrels to be installed...it's not the actions.