I don't think lapping is "automatically" necessary or required, and Badger doesn't think so either. Still, many customers swear by it, and it does have its proponents.
I think lapping should be treated as a solution to a problem, rather than a predetermined treatment.
I'm sure others will chime in.
Good luck,
Scott
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Personally I lap every set of rings that I get. I see no point is unnecessarily risking damage to my expensive optics out of laziness or being cheap. So my suggestion is this:
I don't care where I got the rings or how much I paid for them, I'm still going to lap them.
M.45
Major League Wannabe
Registered: 08/19/06
Posts: 690
Loc: SOCAL
I lap all of my rings. It's easy and then I know I every set of rings will fit perfectly.
After you lap them, I'd recommend that you mark them so you know which top half goes with it's lapped bottom half ring so when you take the rings off to swap a scope out you can reassemble them and know which piece goes where. Lapping is unidirectional.
I put a score across the left side, two on the front set, one on the back.
(yeah that score mark is ugly but after a number of scope and rifle swaps, it's earned it's place)
Registered: 09/07/09
Posts: 193
Loc: Columbia Falls, MT
Originally Posted By: Longshot38
Personally I lap every set of rings that I get. I see no point is unnecessarily risking damage to my expensive optics out of laziness or being cheap. So my suggestion is this:
I don't care where I got the rings or how much I paid for them, I'm still going to lap them.
yeah i have never lapped any of my rings, i dont feel that the Seekins need it.
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I only lap if the scope sticks when set in the bottom rings mounted on the base. I also mark my tops to match my bottom. A small F and R punch on the inside flat face of the rings keeps them straight and you would not be able to tell unless you knew to look for the mark.
Registered: 08/05/03
Posts: 2160
Loc: The Reservation
I dont understand only checking the ring bottoms, the tops are just as likely to cause problems. I agree with Scott on this though. Check for problems, if there are none then no fix is needed. Its not a matter of laziness.
okie
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SPDGG
What ???
Registered: 11/30/05
Posts: 2981
Loc: Kali
fwiw: I'm going off memory.........
I'd mic the main scope tube on the NF. Believe NF are on the larger OD size than most and most that knew in the past did lap their rings = Cheap Insurance. I do recall lapping mine when I had a NF.
Someone recall, have a link, or can back my info. on this, please do.
"I believe/assuming, again, not 100%"...Seekins makes rings that are for NF scopes. I would PM Mr. Glen Seekins first at see.
Have a great one
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boone
***Super Civ***
Registered: 01/06/09
Posts: 232
Loc: West Virginia
It doesn't matter who the maker of the rings are. Some will require lapping some will not. Even my NF rings had to be lapped, very minimal but lapped none the less. I find it humorous that people will pay $1000-$3000 for a scope $100+ for rings but not $30-$70 for a lapping kit. JMO
I love it. This argument is just like so many others -- like barrel break-in.
If you've got a high-quality one-piece base, and high-quality rings, then lapping makes absolutely no sense. Lapping removes any finish inside the rings (losing strength if they're aluminum, and corrosion-resistance if they're steel), and leaves a nice sharp edge where there was once a bevel. It does nothing to keep a scope securely in place that proper torque would fail to accomplish.
Lapping makes sense used in conjuntion with with two-piece bases, if the rings really don't line up. Ideally, then, the rings should be re-finished -- or simply silver soldered to the scope. Think German claw mount.
Now don't take this out of context here, because it's just a question from someone who's never lapped rings, but has anyone ever seen an improvement after lapping rings? I'm talking a good set of rings. If so, what was the improvement? Groups get better? Zero wander, or scope slip before lapping? Or is it a procedure just done to not mar the scope body?
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Registered: 02/26/03
Posts: 7575
Loc: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Just the latter, for me. Didn't want to mess up the scope tube. Of course I use $50.00/pair rings. I can buy 48 pairs for what my SN-3 would cost to replace.
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Yes, and to remove any stress on the scope that may cause it to fail.
I have felt the scope "stick" with Badger rings and a one piece Badger base. So, it doesn't matter what setup you use, some will need it and some won't.
M.45
Major League Wannabe
Registered: 08/19/06
Posts: 690
Loc: SOCAL
Originally Posted By: JRose
Now don't take this out of context here, because it's just a question from someone who's never lapped rings, but has anyone ever seen an improvement after lapping rings? I'm talking a good set of rings. If so, what was the improvement? Groups get better? Zero wander, or scope slip before lapping? Or is it a procedure just done to not mar the scope body?
Lapping isn't one of those make or break procedures (like bedding an action). I do it primarily so there's more contact surface from the rings to the scope so there's less chance of it slipping in the rings if I clunk it on something. And it ensures there are no areas that will pinch the scope tube, leaving marks.
Aries64
Staff Sergeant
Registered: 03/12/07
Posts: 898
Loc: Los Angeles, California
Originally Posted By: 7mmRM
Originally Posted By: LFOD1776
If you've got a high-quality one-piece base, and high-quality rings, then lapping makes absolutely no sense.
Its often not the base and rings thats the problem, its the reciever they get mounted to.
This is "true". However, if the receiver is the underlying problem it would be better (although almost assuredly more expensive and time-consuming) to have the problem with the receiver solved, rather than ruining good rings by lapping them. Not only are you sticking a band-aide on top of the real problem but the rings are now specific to that base and receiver.
Keith
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The Mechanic
Chief Warrant Officer
Registered: 09/09/06
Posts: 3452
Loc: San Diego County Ca.
had to lap my Badger Max-50 ultra highs on my Windrunner with my Nightforce. The lapping was perfectly uniform all the way around so I know the rings were true, just a little undersized
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If you've got a high-quality one-piece base, and high-quality rings, then lapping makes absolutely no sense.
Its often not the base and rings thats the problem, its the reciever they get mounted to.
How is that possible? If the base won't fit right to the receiver, how would lapping the rings help you out?
If using a 1 piece base, you should check to see if it sits on the receiver without and rocking. If the front is not in the same plane, when you torque the base it will stress the scope. If so you should bed the base and lap the rings. This should help alleviate stress placed on the scope body and provide a more secure grip.
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7mmRM
General Nuisance
Registered: 07/02/04
Posts: 9758
Loc: Ireland, Indiana
Originally Posted By: Dinosdeuce
Originally Posted By: LFOD1776
Originally Posted By: 7mmRM
Originally Posted By: LFOD1776
If you've got a high-quality one-piece base, and high-quality rings, then lapping makes absolutely no sense.
Its often not the base and rings thats the problem, its the reciever they get mounted to.
How is that possible? If the base won't fit right to the receiver, how would lapping the rings help you out?
If using a 1 piece base, you should check to see if it sits on the receiver without and rocking. If the front is not in the same plane, when you torque the base it will stress the scope. If so you should bed the base and lap the rings. This should help alleviate stress placed on the scope body and provide a more secure grip.
Right on the money.
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Registered: 06/09/08
Posts: 63
Loc: The Woodlands, TX
I just installed a set of 1" TPS steel rings on the factory two-piece Weaver base system that comes on the Sako A7.
Despite being good quality rings, the scope did bind in the front ring, and I figured it was a problem with base alignment.
Phil at TPS directed me to a product that seems pretty cool if you are averse to lapping. I chose to lap the rings and did not purchase the alignment bar, so I offer this without endorsement.
Most production rifle actions or ring and base combinations are not manufactured accurately enough to ensure proper alignment out of the box. After properly securing bases and rings to the action, alignment and compression of the rings is required prior to mounting the riflescope. To fulfill this requirement a 30mm lapping bar kit is available from Nightforce or other suppliers of precision shooting products. This lapping bar kit consists of a steel bar 30mm in diameter with a handle attached and a nonimbedding lapping compound. This tool is used to remove unnecessary material from the lower halves of the rings eliminating misalignment. This procedure allows both rings to align with one another, thus creating a stress-free platform for the riflescope. Step One With bases and lower halves of the rings securely mounted to the rifle, mount the 30mm steel lapping bar and tighten top ring halves. This procedure will cause the rings to compress and take set to the lapping bar instead of the tube body of the riflescope. Do not use the riflescope in place of the steel lapping bar. Step Two Remove the lapping bar and apply lapping compound to the lower ring halves. Perform lapping procedure until a maximum of 75% of the surface area has been lapped of the lower ring halves. (Note: or until the bar moves freely. i.e. no binding halves.) Step Three Remove the lapping bar and clean all surfaces with alcohol or other solvent to ensure an oil free surface.
I do it "just cause..." if that makes me wrong, I can live with that.
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