Bedding & Lapping has Commenced

[Mike in Oregon]

Today I started bedding and lapping. I know I'm fully capable, just never have. I will slowly and methodically work through this in the mornings before work this week.

So far, what couple of bases I have put a straight edge on shows no light coming through. I'll call it beginners luck!

I will take pictures as I move along and post. Below is my 10/22 that I chose to be first tomorrow the lapping will start.

 

[D-4297]

As a retired Die-maker ; I have a small suggestion about this process . There is such a thing as "Over-doing It", meaning you can over-lap beyond parallel , enlarging the "holes" to much and lose the ability to clamp . Good luck with your endeavor .

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Absolutely. Good looking out!

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

In the past I have lapped to 50-60% visible lapping bar contact of ring surface.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

In all honesty, in all the years I've been behind a rifle and setting up scopes for them, I've only had to lap one set of rings, the old Buehler rings, bridge mount on a pre-64 Winchester.

I've used the Sinclair scope ring setup tool since 1999 and have found it to be the perfect tool for this task. Scope ring manufacturing has come a long way in terms of being parallel that about eliminates the need for lapping. At present, I don't have one rifle/scope combination that required lapping. Most times it's just a bit of burnishing with a piece of CRS I keep on hand just for this purpose.

But do as you will if you're just looking for a gunroom project. None of the targets or varmints engaged with any of my rifles has complained, nor has a scope.

 

[jds holler]

I think it should also be said that you can often tell by the way the scope or lapping bar fits and glides in the rings, that no further lapping is required.
I'm a big believer in "good enough is good enough". jd

 

[JFrank]

Just my observation but I see the smallest margin of error and the most important area in scope mounting as the base to rail relationship.
The tiniest misalignment makes a considerable difference on the target.

Jim

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Just my observation but I see the smallest margin of error and the most important area in scope mounting as the base to rail relationship.
The tiniest misalignment makes a considerable difference on the target.

Jim

No lapping has been done yet. Just pictures.

 

[JFrank]

No lapping has been done yet. Just pictures.

I wasn’t referring to your photo’s, rather sharing an observation from personal experience.
I can delete my post if you wish .

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I wasn’t referring to your photo’s, rather sharing an observation from personal experience.
I can delete my post if you wish .

No, don't delete it, as it brings up an important aspect of ring lapping.
I've found that a bit of burnishing vs lapping is all that's usually needed.....usually.
A short length of CRS round stock does the job nicely. I keep a piece of 1" and 30mm on hand just for that purpose.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I wasn’t referring to your photo’s, rather sharing an observation from personal experience.
I can delete my post if you wish .

No, no, just misunderstood Jim.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Yesterday I got done bedding, lapping and mounting all scopes.

After starting completely over, and putting a straight edge on all bases, all were good. I actually found that odd. Perhaps it's because I use quality bases and rings. IDK?

Each rifle I would mount the rings, getting the spacing right for eye relief, then torque the ring base to spec, slide the alignment bars in and tighten down. Every time they were so very close. But with me being a perfectionist, I finally tuned by lapping. The first lapping took some time, as I kept dbl checking my work making sure I didn't go to far. Didn't take much and they were totally aligned. Each one became easier and faster.

By the time I was done, I felt pretty good. Huge accomplishment yesterday!

 

[jds holler]

I think that modern NC Machining practice has a lot to do with it.
It may be that cheap rifles these days are drilled and milled more accurately than high end rifles in the old days. More consistent with each other and the aftermarket parts manufactured for them.

I've ordered cheap crap aluminum rings and bases for 22's and air rifles. the aluminum is sometimes soft and cheesy, but the machine work is -- very accurate and consistent. jd

 

[AlNyhus]

If you're going to bed after lapping, the ring I.D. needs to be large enough that the bedding isn't paper thin.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[bobcat93]

What fun!..i remember teaching my self every step of the process, once i had the set up everything was getting bedding jobs
Rifles, forearms, scope bases, rings
Ive tried all sorts of stuff i seen in books just to see and understand what is happening.
Am i making thing better or destroying them.
I think in order to really understand you do the work and the bedding compound will tell you what you did. Or what was out to begin with
I was all over the (Stress Free concept) once i bent my mind to that way of thinking. I had never heard of that before i got into accuracy.
Then things got complicated and confusing real fast.
I still just have a dead look in my eyes when you guys are rattling off a conversation in hundred thousandth this and that ..i dont even know where the dot goes with out a caliper in my hand
Hahaha
Learning how to properly work on rifles and develop the feeling in your fingers
Is a very satisfying endeavor
Much like running your fingers through a woman's hair.
It can be real smooth and sexy..or you could totally ruin everything..

 

[Mike in Oregon]

Exactly.

Everything has changed from back in the day. I try to eliminate as much human error as possible. By doing so, that gives me a better peace of mind when it comes to load development, then getting into the field. I had good accuracy back in the day with my factory rifles. Once I started reloading, it got even better. I'm hoping for 2's and 3's, with an occasional 1.