Bed or Lap Scope Rings?

[TTE]

Anyone bed their scope rings to the scope ?
or is lapping the rings a better option.
Thanks

 

[Bill Norris]

Never bed and never lap.

 

[Bronsin]

I have reamed rings and lapped them, and I'm bedding a set right now, so yes. Bedding is the better option IME.

 

[AlNyhus]

I lap the rings then bed the scope tube. -Al

 

[BoydAllen]

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.

 

[buckeye68]

Neither, I shoot extra large dose of powder and never had an issue.

 

[TTE]

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 ?

 

[AlNyhus]

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

 

[Forum Boss]

Neither. I use the Burris Signature Zee 30mm Rings with inserts.

Burris Signature Zee Rings — Great Value, Great Performance « Daily Bulletin

More and more folks are using Burris Signature Rings these days. These unique rings feature polymer inserts. That allows you to pre-load some elevation in your scope set-up, or you can center-up the windage. Additionally, the polymer inserts hold your scope securely without leaving marks on the...

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

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.

 

[TTE]

Neither. I use the Burris Signature Zee 30mm Rings with inserts.

View attachment 1458534

Burris Signature Zee Rings — Great Value, Great Performance « Daily Bulletin

More and more folks are using Burris Signature Rings these days. These unique rings feature polymer inserts. That allows you to pre-load some elevation in your scope set-up, or you can center-up the windage. Additionally, the polymer inserts hold your scope securely without leaving marks on the...

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

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.

 

[ronemus]

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.

 

[AWS]

Bed the bases to the action, lap the rings.

 

[Zero333]

A quality set of rings don't need bedding or lapping. Only some cheep hunting rings would benefit.

 

[Bronsin]

A quality set of rings don't need bedding or lapping. Only some cheep hunting rings would benefit.

If only it were that simple...........

 

[BoydAllen]

A quality set of rings don't need bedding or lapping. Only some cheep hunting rings would benefit.

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?

 

[Zero333]

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.

 

[L.Sherm]

Push on one end of a rail on a factory action especially and see if it rases the other end, ill bet on just about every factory one it does atleast the ones I've done it do.
On a factory action I always bed the rail then the rings

 

[STOMP442]

As mentioned above. The Burris signature rings are the only way to go. No need to bed or lap and never have to worry about ring marks. These are very versatile and quality rings.

 

[BoydAllen]

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.

Have you put a lap in any of your rings?

 

[Zero333]

Have you put a lap in any of your rings?

Many years ago.