Can I borrow a scope lapping tool?

[Baseacegoku]

Anyone in the Albany, OR area have a scope lapping set that I could borrow for a bit?

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[11Charlie]

Does @LuckySG have one by chance?

 

[osprey]

You would be welcome to use mine if not for the geographical challenge. Good on you for taking this extra step ignored by many.

 

[RVTECH]

Good on you for taking this extra step ignored by many.

I have known about this for a while but recently with some scope swaps I have decided to lap the rings on a few rifles of my own.
First i need to scrounge a section of 1" shaft stock so I can make a lapping tool!

 

[osprey]

The type of stock you need for straightness may cost nearly as much as the kit unless you happen to score a remnant. Here is a great value right here.

Wheeler Scope Mounting Combo Kit 1 30mm

Everything required for a scope mounting project with professional results. Kit contains Alignment Rods, Lapping Bar with Handle, Lapping Compound,...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[osprey]

Here is basically all you really need for 1" and 30mm. This is what I have.

Wheeler Scope Ring Alignment Lapping Combo Kit 1 30mm

This kit improves scope mounting two ways. First, the short bars let you know when the front ring is in perfect alignment with the rear one. Second,...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[NWCustomFirearms]

I have lapping bars from Brownells and paid way more then the wheeler ones on Amazon. I bought a 35mm Wheeler kit for like $30 bucks or something like that and it works every bit as good as the ones I paid double for.

Kudos on taking this step that for some odd reason is so controversial lol I've never seen so many people get all flustered over something as simple as lapping. We do it in our shop on every scope mount and unless the customer has ultra high end rings I always notice a considerable difference. Some people don't like to do it, or are strongly against it and that's fine too, to each their own.

 

[LuckySG]

Does @LuckySG have one by chance?

He does!

 

[11Charlie]

He does!

And probably the closest to the OP.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

I have one and I'm in Eugene.

 

[308]

I have known about this for a while but recently with some scope swaps I have decided to lap the rings on a few rifles of my own.
First i need to scrounge a section of 1" shaft stock so I can make a lapping tool!

Seems one should be able to find a scrap piece of shaft stock from a local machine shop. Our machine shop use to have lots of that stuff in various dimensions laying around

 

[RVTECH]

Yea I have yet to look around.
I can buy a section of shaft stock fairly reasonably online as well.
I could probably use a section of cold roll but i would have to 'mike' it first to see if it is a true 1".

 

[Greenbug]

If your rings need to be lapped.... then you should get better rings.

 

[RVTECH]

If your rings need to be lapped.... then you should get better rings.

It may not always be rings.
Slight variations in screw holes, mounts, rails etc. on the gun could result in minuscule misalignment.

 

[joken]

I have one you can use. I'm 4 miles north of Corvallis off Granger. Ken 541-753-3536

 

[Greenbug]

The minuscule misalignment can be overcome with a windage/elevation adjustment.

But some folks like to tinker I guess, that's ok too.

 

[RVTECH]

The minuscule misalignment can be overcome with a windage/elevation adjustment.

I agree however I have long wondered about the slight stress on scopes I have mounted when it has 'felt' as though the rings and scope tube were not 'perfectly' in alignment - and when screwing them down snugly and a few minutes later the screws can be given another turn.

Typically I have NEVER experienced any accuracy problems with scopes I have had on any rifles - until recently with the debacle on my Ruger PCC and the three different scopes and two sets of mounts.

This got me to thinking about at a minimum lapping the mounts on it and seeing if it has any effect.

And yep - some of us like to tinker!

 

[osprey]

If your rings need to be lapped.... then you should get better rings.

Buying high quality rings and mounting scope without even checking for alignment is a leap of faith. Higher quality rings are usually better but often the tolerance stacking with the tapped holes in the receiver makes the alignment of 2 piece rings problematic. Mounting a scope in tension due to misalignment is not a recipe for precision shooting. If you don't give a shoot, have the knucklehead at Cabelas mount your scope in whatever rings are cheapest. If you are more than just a casual shooter, it pays to have the proper tools and do it right the first time. Properly lapped/aligned rings in most cases will eliminate the need for locktite. As always ymmv.

 

[MountainBear]

If your rings need to be lapped.... then you should get better rings.

 

[Greenbug]

I agree however I have long wondered about the slight stress on scopes I have mounted when it has 'felt' as though the rings and scope tube were not 'perfectly' in alignment - and when screwing them down snugly and a few minutes later the screws can be given another turn.

Typically I have NEVER experienced any accuracy problems with scopes I have had on any rifles - until recently with the debacle on my Ruger PCC and the three different scopes and two sets of mounts.

This got me to thinking about at a minimum lapping the mounts on it and seeing if it has any effect.

And yep - some of us like to tinker!

Are you mounting this on a pic rail or using the factory Ruger rings set up?
I doubt you would see any accuracy gains on your PCC by lapping your rings, but you could make the situation worse quite easily.

Buying high quality rings and mounting scope without even checking for alignment is a leap of faith. Higher quality rings are usually better but often the tolerance stacking with the tapped holes in the receiver makes the alignment of 2 piece rings problematic. Mounting a scope in tension due to misalignment is not a recipe for precision shooting. If you don't give a shoot, have the knucklehead at Cabelas mount your scope in whatever rings are cheapest. If you are more than just a casual shooter, it pays to have the proper tools and do it right the first time. Properly lapped/aligned rings in most cases will eliminate the need for locktite. As always ymmv.

Absolutely more than just a casual shooter here for sure. Shoot in long range matches every month where precision is a must. Shooting out to a mile and then dialing back down to engage targets at 200, 600, and 1000 yards requires good if not the best equipment available. No Cabela's knucklehead touches any of my rifles or optics!

Just saying that properly lapping your rings is not a skill set most people have without the proper training. More harm than good can come from trying to do this at your kitchen table because you got a deal on a scope lapping kit on Amazon.

With today's manufacturing tolerances being as tight as they are, if you need to lap your rings, then some part of the mounting system may be out of specification and need to be replaced.

If lapping your rings works for you and gives you confidence in your system, then excellent, job well done! I certainly do not advocate this practice for everyone!