Electrical tape on rings

[BlackdogGS]

Do you put a layer of electrical tape on your rings before you install them? I've seen this done before and probably 50% of my scopes are mounted this way. I will say it prevents marring the scope tube.

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[1775usmc]

Nope. But I also am not concerned with making up my scopes.

I also use spuhr mounts so I am not concerned.

 

[aasbra]

No. I have a scope ring lapping kit that I use for most installs, unless I am using the Burris rings with the pos align inserts. I like these Burris rings as they have plastic inserts where the rings contact the scope which can help if there are any windage alignment issues, or allow you to get more elevation. Using the lapping kit, I haven't noticed much issue with ring marks on scopes that I remove/swap between rifles.

 

[lucusloc]

No, this method of mounting will not provide the most secure mount rings can provide. If you are concerned with marring the scope you want to lap the rings, but this marring is typically only cosmetic and nothing to be worried about.

Now will a scope mounted this way be secure enough? Possibly, I know people who mount scopes this way and don't usually have trouble with it. But I have still seen plenty of trouble from scopes mounted this way. Subtle POI shifts that are difficult to diagnose unless you assume the scope mounting is the problem. When I see this kind of mount that is typically what I do now and I remove it. I have never had a problem, or had one reported back to me, with mounts I have "fixed" this way (i.e. removed the tape from an otherwise good mount).

I would never mount a scope like this, it is not worth the headache it may cause. Just tighten the scope rings down to spec and if you are concerned with cosmetics get a lapping kit. Don't cheap out and bodge a scope mounting job.

 

[Nosferatu]

I prefer to TIG weld it to the rings.

 

[Koda]

No. Ive never used tape and never marred any of the scopes. I dont lap the rings either, todays rings are machined precise enough.

 

[thorborg]

No, I prefer to do it right, err, right as I see it.

 

[orygun]

No tape for me. Many years ago I remember a 22 or an air rifle with a cheap scope and cheaper rings that someone had taped to keep the scope in place.
I also remember people putting fingernail paint inside of the rings to basically glue the scope to the rings and prevent movement.
I've always used decent rings (Ruger, Leupold, Redfield, Weaver) and brand name scopes without any problems. No lapping, just lined up properly and the scope squared and tightened. Some of the guns were heavy kickers, 375 Ruger and 45-70 with hot handloads.
I'm a hunter and want my stuff reliable. I've had good luck with good parts.

 

[TTSX]

Let's take a precisely machined circle and add an imprecise, inconsistent layer of sticky plastic to it. That'll make it more better, for sure.

 

[lucusloc]

Let's take a precisely machined circle and add an imprecise, inconsistent layer of sticky plastic to it. That'll make it more better, for sure.

The words you are looking for are "conformal compression layering" and they. . . do not work as well as some people think they do.

Ah, suddenly I understand your point.

 

[titsonritz]

Not just no, but hell no.

 

[Buddy1211]

I've bought used rifles that had a lap of black tape on the glass. I lap my rings and honestly even one piece mounts most of the time. I was taught too growing up. Force of habit honestly….id say %75 of my stuff gets rattle canned thrashed. Rattle canned again. The cycle continues, so ring marks don't bother me. The other %25 aren't white gloved per se but they do get a higher level of love and care. Couldn't tell you why some make the cut and others don't (my brain might be a little broken.) but I don't believe in black tape on glass.

 

[foxmeadow]

I've lapped every scope I owned since learning about the practice. On most, I didn't have to do very much, just enough to see that the rings were pretty well aligned. On a couple, a lot of material had to be removed. I bought a used Savage fp10 from a guy called "Gunny"at a gun show. It came with rings already lapped. It turned out that when he set the rifle up, a 20 MOA base was not available. He put a slightly taller rear ring on it and lapped it until it was true. Crazy looking setup, so I bought a 20 MOA base and new rings, lapped it in and was good to go.

 

[Pepe-lepew]

Quality rings are machined to match the scope tube diameter. Adding the thickness of tape will likely damage the scope tube and possibly the rings. The additional thickness of tape must either compress the scope tube or spread the rings.

 

[smkn_brl00]

Tightening your rings down in small increments in a criss cross pattern will limit marking with less than perfect rings. Also ensuring you maintain equal spacing/ equal gap on both sides of the rings will help.

 

[Grumpy 1]

JB Weld for the win