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Rifle Scopes Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

JeffMichaud

JeffMichaud

Private
Minuteman
Oct 24, 2009
35
0
54
Yonder
#1
Let me first say I don't know diddly about diddle. When it comes to optics and accessories I'm like that guy in Sideways who keeps tasting every wine and declares "tastes good to me".

So I was at Jensen Arms today, and they had a case of rings. I've gotta be honest: they all looked good to me. They had Seekins, USO, and IOR's (all over $100), and Burris XTRs, and no names for $25; you get the picture.

Please help me understand what would catastrophe I will avoid by spending $125 for some Seekins versus $40 for some Burris'.
 
#2
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

None. I havent heard anything bad about the Burris XTRs. With high end rings, i.e. USO, NF, Badger, Seekins and such, the quality alone eliminates any potential issues that may arise. A happy medium is Warne, Burris and the like. Nothing wrong, but it is more possible to get a set of these with an issue than the prior mentioned. I have crappy Millet rings. Damn cross bolt stripped out. So I drilled it out and but a SS buttonhead with a locknut. It works great, but should not have been needed, and probably wouldn't have happened with a better ring.
 
#3
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

I a huge fan on Seekins rings. That being said, just remember, your rifle is only as good as the cheapest part you have on there. Cheap rings wil not come in a matched pair (like most high end rings do) and will most of the time put ring marks on your scope, or worse, fail like desertrat's rings did.

Spending $125 on a pair of seekins rings will not only put your mind at ease, it will also save you the expense of replacing them in the future should something go wrong.
 
#5
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

Thank for the advice. Is "peace of mind" the only bonus Seekins offers? Does anyone know technically what the difference is between the different options besides the price, and the peace of mind? At snipercentral he does his reviews with Burris rings, right? So I'm wondering why people spend three times as much? Whats specifically is three times better about Seekins? What catastrophe is imminent if I don't shell out a weeks worth of groceries on my rings?
 
#6
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

1- 100% made in USA (even the material with certs)
2- made from Billet 7075
3- Machined as pairs and numbered as such
4- Customer service if a problem was to arise
5- All screws are the same and available at any hardware store
6- Quality assurance
7- formed threads instead of cut threads (way stronger)
8- they look cool
9- snag free
10- did i mention they are 100% USA made?

smile.gif
 
#8
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

1-10 got me and the fact that Glenn comes on here and listens to other shooters as to what they would like to see. Not to mention his rings are kick ass
 
#9
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

serialized rings like badgers should be a "perfectly matched pair"

seems to me that virtually any 2 rings off the same modern equipment should be identical. that is the most important part i think so you dont stress the scope.

if its goin on a high abuse/high recoil weapon than i suppose it would make a difference what the rings were made from. my only concern with aluminum rings is me "gorilla handing" the rings past their spec and stripping the aluminum. as long as you are careful they should be fine.

FWIW i once bought a set or IOR rings that were about 1/8'' different from eachother. i dont think they were serialized and i probably got sent 2 different heights since the second set was fine. who knows.
 
#10
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

I really like the XTR's but I did have to lap the set I have, they're stought though especialy for the price. They're not the rings a BO or Seekins set would be though. Ya know, a little off topic, but several years ago Donnie of Big River Tactical fame, produced a line of rings and bases called Acculoc. They were excellent and much cheaper than anything even close to being comparible. I bought a base and rings from him and I dont know why you dont see them anymore but I wish I'd bought another set before they went away. Sorry, just ramblin
smile.gif
.

okie

BTW, modern equipment dos'nt make all ring sets identical, maybe it could but it dosn't. I've seen too many sets that needed lapping.
 
#11
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

As with many things there is adequate, there is average to above average, and there is overkill.

I'd place the Burris XTR rings at the top of the adequate pile. Definitely need to be lapped (I made my own lapping bar for less than $10). Once lapped, they are very servicable. Three to four removals of the ring tops and the screws start to get soft when they torque. The nut on the end thru-bolt always feels like it's going to twist off before it reaches maximum torque. YMMV.

That being said, I replaced mine with Seekins because they were the only manufacturer that offered the height I wanted. They are very nice rings and I put them solidly in the above average range.

Compared to the XTR's: Same groups. Scope doesn't slip with either. Neither leave marks on my scope.

The Seekins have far better hardware and I really like their built in recoil lug as opposed to the machined (weakened) bolt in the XTR's. Plus all the stuff Glen said.
wink.gif


Are the Seekins worth it? Depends on you and your budget. If they were $79 I'd say no brainer, at twice the price it definitely made me stop and think. I would have stuck with XTR's if they'd been the right height, but that's me.

John
 
#12
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heatseekins</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1- 100% made in USA (even the material with certs)
2- made from Billet 7075
3- Machined as pairs and numbered as such
4- Customer service if a problem was to arise
5- All screws are the same and available at any hardware store
6- Quality assurance
7- formed threads instead of cut threads (way stronger)
8- they look cool
9- snag free
10- did i mention they are 100% USA made?

smile.gif
</div></div>

There you go General...Hows that for peace of mind? And yes I concure with number 8 except I would have used the term "Badass".
 
#14
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

Now I'm understanding better. I didn't know some were aluminum, and some were steel. They all look good tom me
wink.gif


Is the lapping required to make them both the identical? I guess I've heard this term a lot, but not exactly sure what to do? Do you lap them with round files making their circles identical?
 
#15
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

Boomstix,

Lapping bars run $30-40 for 1" and 30mm, more for 34 and 35mm. Brownells, Sinclair, others carry them. You can pay more if you get the alignment bars (which I don't think are necessary unless you use rings which turned into the base, like on hunting rifles)

I usually lap until I get about 90% engagement. (use a sharpie to check your progress)

Lapping is done to make sure that the two holes are round, the correct diameter and are aligned correctly about the same axis when the rings are mounted on your receiver. A number of factors can make it necessary.

John
 
#16
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

I understand the lapping process but I guess where I am getting confussed is by your statement about the allignment bar "unless you use rings which turned into the base".
 
#17
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BoomStix</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I understand the lapping process but I guess where I am getting confussed is by your statement about the allignment bar "unless you use rings which turned into the base". </div></div>

Sorry. Referring to dual dovetail rings like Leupold makes. (see here: Dual Dovetail Rings) They're inserted into the base at 90 degrees, then rotated into a locking dovetail. The alignment bars make it much simpler to tell when they've been rotated square to the base. Better?

John
 
#20
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heatseekins</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1- 100% made in USA (even the material with certs)
2- made from Billet 7075
3- Machined as pairs and numbered as such
4- Customer service if a problem was to arise
5- All screws are the same and available at any hardware store
6- Quality assurance
7- formed threads instead of cut threads (way stronger)
8- they look cool
9- snag free
10- did i mention they are 100% USA made?

smile.gif
</div></div>

When they have the 6/4 rings you will have another reason...

with the hope of a Pic. rail and anti-cant
 
#22
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

Well, I've personally have wasted too much ammo and had too many headaches due to cheapo mounts throwing off POI. My 2 cents, stick with quality mounts, they're cheap compared to everything else on a precision rifle.
 
#23
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

I'm so glad I asked these questions. I really had my head on sideways about this matter.

So last question. I've got a Savage 10 with the HP precision stock and don't know if I need low or med rings for a 44mm bell. I ask because I don't want to get mediums and find out I won't have a descent cheek weld without modding my stock (which I don't really have fund for an upgrade at the moment). Will low be too low; med too high? Looking for "just right" without modding the stock.
 
#24
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

As to your last question it will depend on the height of the base you put on the rifle. Pick a base then choose your rings.
Or just call Scott at Liberty Optics or Glen Seekins and get everything from them. Same goes for Badger, Marty will tell you what you need.
 
#27
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

(New guy question) On the matching sets issue. With some of the high end sets is it not advisable to go with a pic rail cap or simrad cap? Or is this a non issue?
Seekins do rock.
CC
 
#28
Re: Rings; do I need to bust the bank?

Seekins sounds good, except I dont see the rings with the 6 screws in the product line up thats in the pic on their website... what up?
 
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