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Bed or Lap Scope Rings?

I have done both. In recent years, in applications where I can, I have opted for the Burris rings with the inserts, but for situations where I cannot use them, I always lap. In my experience you really cannot know what kind of contact you are getting until you have put a dozen or so cycles of an abrasive charged lap into the installed rings. I am not talking about cheap rings either, but top quality. I love it when fellows who have never lapped post about lapping, when they literally do not know what they are talking about, except the part where they say they never lap. Speedy once told me that he laps to 50% contact and then beds. The set that I bedded were Ruger rings and they were quite hard. The lapping was going very slow, and they needed a lot of correction, so I decided that that would be a good time to bed, The resultant fit was perfection. If you are talking about some old deer rifle, and you do not care if you mark up the scope tube, then fine, but I am never in that situation. I get the most satisfaction from doing my hobby to the best of my ability, and it really bothers me to accidentally mar a piece of my equipment.
 
I have done both. In recent years, in applications where I can, I have opted for the Burris rings with the inserts, but for situations where I cannot use them, I always lap. In my experience you really cannot know what kind of contact you are getting until you have put a dozen or so cycles of an abrasive charged lap into the installed rings. I am not talking about cheap rings either, but top quality. I love it when fellows who have never lapped post about lapping, when they literally do not know what they are talking about, except the part where they say they never lap. Speedy once told me that he laps to 50% contact and then beds. The set that I bedded were Ruger rings and they were quite hard. The lapping was going very slow, and they needed a lot of correction, so I decided that that would be a good time to bed, The resultant fit was perfection. If you are talking about some old deer rifle, and you do not care if you mark up the scope tube, then fine, but I am never in that situation. I get the most satisfaction from doing my hobby to the best of my ability, and it really bothers me to accidentally mar a piece of my equipment.
I just purchased a scope ( Vienna, Austria ... big $'s for me) and I want to treat it properly. New to this bench rest stuff (getting rifle on the 25th). Would not like any marks on the scope IF I ever sell it.
So ..... who beds rings ? As in where can I send it ?
 
I just purchased a scope ( Vienna, Austria ... big $'s for me) and I want to treat it properly. New to this bench rest stuff (getting rifle on the 25th). Would not like any marks on the scope IF I ever sell it.
So ..... who beds rings ? As in where can I send it ?
Proper bedding of the rings requires the rings to be mounted on the rifle. I'd suggest checking the fit with a lapping bar to start. -Al
 
Neither. I use the Burris Signature Zee 30mm Rings with inserts.

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One tip though -- with the inserts, if you move your scope along the barrel axis, you may need to re-confirm your zero. With one rifle I moved the scope about 1.5" forward at home, and my zero went off 18" or so at 600 yards.
 
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Neither. I use the Burris Signature Zee 30mm Rings with inserts.

View attachment 1458534


One tip though -- with the inserts, if you move your scope along the barrel axis, you may need to re-confirm your zero. With one rifle I moved the scope about 1.5" forward at home, and my zero went off 18" or so at 600 yards.
Do they leave any marks on the scope ?

Forum Boss: No. The inserts are polymer. There should be no marks at all. All my scopes look like new.
 
Do they leave any marks on the scope ?

Forum Boss: No. The inserts are polymer. There should be no marks at all. All my scopes look like new.
They also grip very well without excessive pressure. I have them on my .338 LM and there has been no shift over more than 500 rounds (full power with 285-300 gn bullets). An added benefit is that offset bushings can be used to align the scope as you choose.
 
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If your base ends up bending a slight amount, because of the shape of the action, or you are using two bases instead of a one piece, the quality of the rings will have nothing to do with their alignment. Have you lapped many rings?

True. Fortunately I've not had that issue with my hunting rifles that use 2 separate mounting bases, and hope I never do.
Fingers crossed.
 

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