Gunsmithing Two Piece Bases not true. Short Action 700

[SporterII]

I am going to correct a height mis alignment between the bases where the front is a tad low.
Leupold recommend a shim.
I know I will have to lap the rings.
I plan to have the lower front base raised to within a thou or three and lap in without loosing elevation adjustment. [Its a 223].
Am I better off lapping steel or aluminum rings and if steel, what to protect the broken finish with?
I have the rings in alloy and will switch if necessary.

 

[Boltfluter]

Re: Two Piece Bases not true. Short Action 700

I would lap the steel rings and just use some cold bluing to prevent corrosion. Good luck.

Regards,
Paul

 

[Hellbender]

Re: Two Piece Bases not true. Short Action 700

I'd bed the base properly and not ruin the rings.

 

[Ledzep]

Re: Two Piece Bases not true. Short Action 700

I would also bed the bases.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Two Piece Bases not true. Short Action 700

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hellbender</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd bed the base properly and not ruin the rings. </div></div>

Me too.

Or determine why the bases are not level, and fix that.

 

[SporterII]

Re: Two Piece Bases not true. Short Action 700

It would appear the 700 action has two different mounting planes and on my action these are not made to spec.
This rifle was just extensively 're barreled'. The minor spec discrepancy on the receiver mounting spots was not caught. I suspect this is a common condition. Easily remedied with a single piece base which is most easily bedded.
I do not know how to bed one of the two bases elevating it to spec.
It sounds like a shim and lapping should be a reasonable approach.
If bedding these bases is better, I would like to know about that.

 

[seanh]

Re: Two Piece Bases not true. Short Action 700

you can buy a shim kit but I'd just use a soda can for shim material.

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: Two Piece Bases not true. Short Action 700

I have seen guys lap bases in lieu of bedding them. Could this method be used on the rear base to bring it in with the front? I was never a fan of shims. I hear a lot of mixed answers on lapping rings. Some say the higher quality rings don't need it, some say they all tend to be off to some extent. Get a set of alignment bars and see if its even necessary.