Burris signature rings

[rino]

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a set of 30mm burris signature rings to mount a new scope on a Sportco Omark 44 in 308 cal.

I chose these rings because I liked the concept of the plastic inserts to align, protect and adjust the scope. IT SOUNDED REAL GOOD.
So off to the range I go. First shot was about 8" low. No problems; armed with the latest and greatest of scope mounting systems with offset inserts and all, I set about the SIMPLE task of adjusting the scope. Over two hours later and having re-mounted the scope five times whilst questioning my intelligence, I decided to leave. Everything seemed to work in reverse to logic and I could not improve on the first attempt. 8" at 50m is a lot and using the scope adjustments to correct 16 moa of misalignment isnt a good idea.

The next day at home I tried with a bore sighter and when things started going astray again I got a set of calippers and started checking the insert.

This is what I found.

3 rings marked at zero measuring .100" +-.001"
1 ring marked + 10 measuring .110"
2 rings marked + 10 measuring .090" +- .001"
2 rings marked - 10 measuring .090" +- .001"

Thanks Burris! Great Idea but a little QA would help.
Took the rings back and refused an exchange.
I purchased a set of Leupolds qds instead. The perfect rings, they are split below the centreline so that the opening on the top ring is smaller than the diameter. Especilly designed to scratch your new scope on the first installation., But Thats another story )

I suggest that if you buy Burris rings you measure the insert before you pay.

 

[Shootndig]

Rino-
Sorry to hear about your experience w/ Burris Sig rings. I've used them a lot, and have to say that I've been happy with the results,aside from the rings sometimes being too heavy for competition guns). One thing about the offset inserts...they are paired and need to stay paired, since the center hole is offset to the ring hole. Also if you put a -10 in the front on top and a -10 in the rear on top, all you have done is raised the scope slightly, parallel to the bore. The POI will be virtually unchanged. The offsets need to be placed differently,tho not necessarily opposite) to "tip" the scope relative to the bore.
I usally fire the first few shots at 25 yds. 50 is too close to mid trajectory and adjustments made at 50 seem to be way off at 100.
Also on the Leupy,and similar)rings...put a piece of paper around the scope tube and slip the ring over the paper, then slide the paper out from under the ring. Just my .02...it works for me.

 

[fdshuster]

rino: Burris,like a lot of others have recently had some quality control problems, created by their outside suppliers, I'm told. Suggest you contact their customer service, explain the problem, and they will probably send a replacement set, and tell you to keep the ones you bought. My experiences with them have been above reproach.

 

[rino]

Thanks for the advice. I am aware that they are to be paired.
The problem is when the markings do not reflect the actual size of the inserts and when you get only 3 zeros in a set it makes pairing them a little more difficult. I had 2 rings marked +10 which where actually -10 and never realised until I measured them. About the Leupold rings, I am using a bit of coke can instead of paper.

 

[foxhunter223]

rino,
I also purchased a set of Burris Signature rings believing they would be a great for my Sako S491. First up I don't know what angle they think the Sako dovetails are but they sure are nothing like Burris think, the font base had to be driven on with a copper hammer and the rear one was so loose it was impossible to get it to sit right. I also could not get enough height adjustment either so returned them for a credit at my LGS.
Pete

 

[rino]

Hi Pete,

It begs the question wether your inserts where properly labelled!
I have used original sako rings for 30 years and they are hard to beat.
Cheers

 

[fdshuster]

foxhunter223: yes, I also question the use of the Burris rings, directly,?) mounted on the Sako receiver dovetails? For my Sako Vixens, L-46, I bought the adapter bases that convert the Sako dovetail receiver mounts to the Weaver base, then used the Burris Signature Zee rings. Placed a small piece of hard plastic in the bottom of each locking screw hole, so as to not mark the checkering, scope is instantly removable, keeping the adjustment, by removing the 2 cross-bolts, and height was correct using the medium height with Leupold 40mm front objective diameter scopes. Everything turned out well. rino: Yes, the original Sako rings are very high quality, some of the best I've ever seen, but I needed the off-set inserts to keep my scope adjustments close to center, and the non marking nylon rings are a nice bonus. I always hand lapped my "old" rings & many times would still have ring marks on those very $$$$ scopes.

 

[foxhunter223]

rino, I did not find out about the incorrect labelling of the inserts till after I had returned the mounts. Should have reseached more on this forum I suppose. I have since mentioned it to the LGS but I don't think he believed me when I told him.

fdshuster, now that was a good idea. Wished I had thought of that as I was quite keen to use the plastic insert to protect my new Weavedr Grand Slam. What I did was to use the existing mounts I had and wrapped a layer of gas tape around the body of the scope to protect it. I have done this with other scopes in the past and it has work well. No ring marks on the scope at all.

Pete

 

[fdshuster]

foxhunter223: Like your idea of the gas line tape around the scope tube: I'll try that with my next "standard" scope ring installation. Just before removed a 4-12x Leupold VX1 from a B-Square mount, on a AR Flatop). Rings had been carefully hand lapped before mounting the new Leupold, and when removing, it did have faint rings marks. But, with the "matte" finish, now my favorite, never buy the gloss anymore ), was able to eliminate them with a light application of "Breakfree". The newer matte finish seems more durable than the old gloss finish.

 

[rino]

From all the replies I have received I have lerned two things!
I am glad I tried the Burris rings because that caused me to join this forum. Its great to exchange info with you guys.
Secondly, it reinforces the original reason for purchasing these rings; they are a really good idea. The only thing is that next time i will carry a caliper and I will measure them before I pay for them.

 

[foxhunter223]

fdshuster, Like you I now prefer the matt finish on scopes, but on a couple of my old Sako's that have gloss finish actions a gloss scope does look sweet.

rino, mate aint hind sight a wonderful thing. Although I think next time I would spend the extra money and get the genuine Sako mounts. But, at present I don't see any new Sako's being added to the collection as the next project is a Stiller Predator in 6mm BR.
Pete

 

[GARMASTERS]

rino: Burris,like a lot of others have recently had some quality control problems, created by their outside suppliers, I'm told. Suggest you contact their customer service, explain the problem, and they will probably send a replacement set, and tell you to keep the ones you bought. My experiences with them have been above reproach.

Quality control IS a problem and their customer service people aren't exactly rocket scientists. I bought a set of their XTB bases and the front screws only held by TWO threads. After a very explicit email to them with a request for 2 more of the rear length screws,which would have sufficient thread engagement) they sent me 4 more of the too-short front screws! Average response from an email to customer service takes about a week.

 

[CoverDog]

I'm thinking you may have got a pair of rings that has been on the shelf for some time. The message below I posted in June of 2008 on this site.

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The new 30mm Sig. Zee rings I just purchased and then advertised here to sell because they were to high have mis-marked inserts.

I just got off the phone with Larry in the Tech. dept. of Burris and he said the company that makes the inserts for them incorrectly marked the +10 and -10 inserts. In my pkg. I have 3 +10 only one of which is thicker, both of the other +10's are the same thickness as the one -10 that was in the pkg.

He said they have been aware of this problem for about 3 weeks and are awaiting shippment of correctly marked inserts from the company. Said it should be any day now. I am now on the waiting list.

 

[SooStan]

I too had a problem with the signature rings and used some shims to get things right. I figured with the floating inserts things would be ok.

 

[boogershooter]

I had a good experience with those rings,recommended by a reputable gunsmith, mentioned alot on this site.Although I couldn't get enough down adjustment out of my Nikon scope,so I ordered a different MOA insert, for I think $5- Optics planet and the next trip to the range I was on the money.