Rifle Scopes Ring lapping kits
- Thread starter Jason280
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Re: Ring lapping kits
I have used the following and am very impressed with them.
http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/acckit.htm
I have used the following and am very impressed with them.
http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/acckit.htm
Re: Ring lapping kits
I haven't used the Wheeler kit, so no help there. But I do have a Kokopelli 30mm that I really like. A little different (I think better) approach to getting everything aligned. You can check them out here. http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/. Hope it helps.
I haven't used the Wheeler kit, so no help there. But I do have a Kokopelli 30mm that I really like. A little different (I think better) approach to getting everything aligned. You can check them out here. http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/. Hope it helps.
Re: Ring lapping kits
Thanks for the links. I've never heard of the Kokopelli kit, and they are certainly more expensive than the Wheeler. I can get a combo 30mm/1" kit from Wheeler for less than $70, whereas the same from Kokopelli would run well over $150. Is the kit that much better?
Thanks for the links. I've never heard of the Kokopelli kit, and they are certainly more expensive than the Wheeler. I can get a combo 30mm/1" kit from Wheeler for less than $70, whereas the same from Kokopelli would run well over $150. Is the kit that much better?
Re: Ring lapping kits
The Kokopelli kit is by far the best way to go. Buy once, cry once.
http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/acckit.htm
The lapping bar is made of a soft steel and has a special surface finish to allow the bar to "load" up with the lapping compound. This aids in lapping the rings and not your lapping bar. I have lapped more rings than I can remember and the lapping bar is still in great shape.
Scroll down the page and read about the reasoning on the lapping bars and alignment bars:
http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/kokopelli.html
Hope this helps.
The Kokopelli kit is by far the best way to go. Buy once, cry once.
http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/acckit.htm
The lapping bar is made of a soft steel and has a special surface finish to allow the bar to "load" up with the lapping compound. This aids in lapping the rings and not your lapping bar. I have lapped more rings than I can remember and the lapping bar is still in great shape.
Scroll down the page and read about the reasoning on the lapping bars and alignment bars:
http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/kokopelli.html
Hope this helps.
Re: Ring lapping kits
Thanks again for the information. I've been looking at both kits, and I really can't see how the Kokopelli is that much better than the Wheeler kit. I am not trying to be too cheap here, and it may simply be my inexperience with these kits, but I really can't see a benefit to paying that much more over the Wheeler.
Has anyone actually used the Wheeler kit?
Thanks again for the information. I've been looking at both kits, and I really can't see how the Kokopelli is that much better than the Wheeler kit. I am not trying to be too cheap here, and it may simply be my inexperience with these kits, but I really can't see a benefit to paying that much more over the Wheeler.
Has anyone actually used the Wheeler kit?
Re: Ring lapping kits
You may take a look at this one as well. I have the wheeler fat wrench in that kit and wasn't very impressed with it. It stopped working after my second use with it. http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=38796/Product/Sinclair-Scope-Ring-Lapping-Tool-Combo-Kit
You may take a look at this one as well. I have the wheeler fat wrench in that kit and wasn't very impressed with it. It stopped working after my second use with it. http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=38796/Product/Sinclair-Scope-Ring-Lapping-Tool-Combo-Kit
Re: Ring lapping kits
I have used both, the Kokopelli kits are much higher quality. I have a 30mm and 35mm kokopelli kits. Very good stuff.
In reality lapping is not even needed if you align everything correctly. Lapping is just a bandaid for a bigger problem, and lapping causes another problem in and of itself. You use the alignement bars to lean where you are out and how much, then you can bed your base with devcon or get better hardware. Whatever the problem is it will help you figure it out. Once you get everything aligned the lapping bar is not even needed.
I have used both, the Kokopelli kits are much higher quality. I have a 30mm and 35mm kokopelli kits. Very good stuff.
In reality lapping is not even needed if you align everything correctly. Lapping is just a bandaid for a bigger problem, and lapping causes another problem in and of itself. You use the alignement bars to lean where you are out and how much, then you can bed your base with devcon or get better hardware. Whatever the problem is it will help you figure it out. Once you get everything aligned the lapping bar is not even needed.
Re: Ring lapping kits
Jason,
Yeah, the Kokopelli are a bit pricey. Are they worth it, depends. The alignment bars are pretty precise, stainless, and should last a lifetime or more. Not saying the Wheeler won't, I just think the Kokopelli is much nicer and gives me better confidence. If you go with the Wheeler, you can put the alignment bars in backwards (pointy ends facing out, vs in) and still do the alignment much the same way the Kokopelli kit does. Others may argue differently, but that way seems to work best for me. It lets you see an out of align condition easier imho. I'm pretty sure the Kokopelli site has directions for doing it this way, with pictures
, that explains it pretty well if you want to give it a try.
OneTwo above is definately correct with what he said. I've used the kit to mount a few scopes (I'm no gunsmith and don't have near the collection as some here, so only a few) and I've only used the lapping bar once to make a correction, the other times just to make sure I had full contact with the scope body (a few passes showed I did). I mounted a one-piece base to an AR and the rings were a bit out of line and needed some work. For the bolt guns, I've bedded the base to the action, and used the alignment bars to make sure everything was good from the get-go. I picked up that bit of advice from the great folks here, so I'm passing it on.
Bottom line: the Kokopellis are nicer and maybe a bit easier to use, but the Wheeler does work. I struggled with dropping the extra coin, but after doing a few I'm glad I did-ymmv.
Jason,
Yeah, the Kokopelli are a bit pricey. Are they worth it, depends. The alignment bars are pretty precise, stainless, and should last a lifetime or more. Not saying the Wheeler won't, I just think the Kokopelli is much nicer and gives me better confidence. If you go with the Wheeler, you can put the alignment bars in backwards (pointy ends facing out, vs in) and still do the alignment much the same way the Kokopelli kit does. Others may argue differently, but that way seems to work best for me. It lets you see an out of align condition easier imho. I'm pretty sure the Kokopelli site has directions for doing it this way, with pictures
, that explains it pretty well if you want to give it a try.OneTwo above is definately correct with what he said. I've used the kit to mount a few scopes (I'm no gunsmith and don't have near the collection as some here, so only a few) and I've only used the lapping bar once to make a correction, the other times just to make sure I had full contact with the scope body (a few passes showed I did). I mounted a one-piece base to an AR and the rings were a bit out of line and needed some work. For the bolt guns, I've bedded the base to the action, and used the alignment bars to make sure everything was good from the get-go. I picked up that bit of advice from the great folks here, so I'm passing it on.
Bottom line: the Kokopellis are nicer and maybe a bit easier to use, but the Wheeler does work. I struggled with dropping the extra coin, but after doing a few I'm glad I did-ymmv.
Re: Ring lapping kits
I'm happy with my Wheeler kit.
A couple years ago I Ceracoated a set of 30mm Badger rings and had to lap them to mount my USO SN3 TPAL. Worked well.
I'm happy with my Wheeler kit.
A couple years ago I Ceracoated a set of 30mm Badger rings and had to lap them to mount my USO SN3 TPAL. Worked well.
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