Scope mounts

[Someoldguy]

So . . .

It is recommended by more names than I care to mention to bed your scope bases to your action.

Seems reasonable. It would be difficult, at best to measure the fit, so why not?

Following this same line of logic, why do we not bed the rings to the bases, and what is the procedure?

If this is old ground, I apologize. It's winter and darn cold here.

 

[Timgunner]

I think bedding a scope base is only possible if it is a one piece base like a picatinny rail. The primary reason is that factory actions are sanded and polished after machining causing an irregular surface. I don’t think there is a benefit with most custom actions. I can’t think of any logical way to bed scope rings to a base. I think this is why rings are lapped to level them out once they are mounted to the base and the base secured to the rifle.

 

[Someoldguy]

I think bedding a scope base is only possible if it is a one piece base like a picatinny rail. The primary reason is that factory actions are sanded and polished after machining causing an irregular surface. I don’t think there is a benefit with most custom actions. I can’t think of any logical way to bed scope rings to a base. I think this is why rings are lapped to level them out once they are mounted to the base and the base secured to the rifle.

An interesting thought. Let's suppose I took a 1" or 30mm lapping bar and attached the scope rings to it, then attached the 2 piece scope bases and bedded the bases to the action using alignment pins threaded into the action holes. Then used electrical tape or surgical tubing to hold the whole works in position whilst the bedding material cured.

(?)

I'm not saying this is the correct method. Just tossing an idea out 'there'.

 

[Willie]

So . . .

It is recommended by more names than I care to mention to bed your scope bases to your action.

Seems reasonable. It would be difficult, at best to measure the fit, so why not?

Following this same line of logic, why do we not bed the rings to the bases, and what is the procedure?

If this is old ground, I apologize. It's winter and darn cold here.

I don't see any reason to bed 2 piece mounts, as they individually won't stress the action. Most 2 piece errors are addressed by lapping the rings.

Bedding one piece bases is common because any error in the fit can easily be seen by tightening one end and observing any clearance on opposite end. Then reverse. Proper bedding should then deliver a stress free base.
This method tends to require little to no lapping of the rings.

As to bedding rings to base, I can't conceive exactly how you would go about that, but cold weather drives us to strange thoughts. Just lay in plenty of release agent.

 

[Someoldguy]

I don't see any reason to bed 2 piece mounts, as they individually won't stress the action. Most 2 piece errors are addressed by lapping the rings.

Bedding one piece bases is common because any error in the fit can easily be seen by tightening one end and observing any clearance on opposite end. Then reverse. Proper bedding should then deliver a stress free base.
This method tends to require little to no lapping of the rings.

As to bedding rings to base, I can't conceive exactly how you would go about that, but cold weather drives us to strange thoughts. Just lay in plenty of release agent.

 

[Someoldguy]

I'm having trouble following your line of thought here. You say it is unlikely 2 piece scope mounts could be misaligned. Why, precisely? Because you are not able to tighten the screws at one end and observe the deflection introduced at the other? You say two separate scope mounts won't induce stress to the action. I would agree on that one point, but if one is utilizing an optic, then all of the stresses are borne by the optic itself, apart from those introduced to the action by the optic. Oy!
It seems to me that 4 drilled holes could more easily be misaligned than in perfect alignment, let alone the profile of 2 separate scope base mounts perfectly matching the profile of an action, when all 3 of these pieces have been mass-produced. And we have not even begun to consider alignment problems within the mass-produced rings, and how do we know that the scope tube itself is straight?

Honestly, it is a wonder that any human being can place a group of shots within the parameters required to win a bench rest match.

 

[Willie]

I did not say it was unlikely 2 piece bases would be misaligned. Due to screw holes, anything is possible.

I just don't think bedding 2 piece mounts would be nearly as effective as bedding a rail, where relieving any stress on the action or scope tube is paramount. Just my experience.