Can I reuse lapped rings on new gun and scope

I agree, it is not needed every time. I do think that it should be checked every time.

I include bedding the scope into the rings in my comments because some prefer to do it that way. I can see some advantages in doing it that way, but have yet to try it.

I didn't lapp until I bought my first Swarovski. A z5 5-25X52. I used Talley. They say no lapping is necessary. If the wear pattern displayed by the lapping told me anything it told me I would have dinged the Swarovski.

I used Talley because I wanted light to go on an ultralight rifle.

@gslinger,

Keep us posted, please.

When I did the test for alignment the bases were not mounted.( I sold the 257 mag the nightforce was on).
When I decided to get a 1piece base and mount for my 7mm rem mag, for lower scope height. I tried with base mounted
and the ring would not pass across without lots of pressure.
All other test were with the bases on my workbench loose.
I took off the ARTS set to try without any torque from being screwed into action.
same results.
The custom action is still in the box and has not had a barrel yet. so it was loose on the bench.
I tried to keep every thing the same

Also both scopes in the rings have scope marks.no dents or anything like that.
Both have small marks where the rings join.

My custom stiller action is now going to the top of the list .
My last piece came in the mail today.(except the stock)
I will need a lot of advice. This is my first build.
I got snake bit by you guys on here 10 years ago.
As I started learning. I started improving my equipment .
I started shooting more.I started getting better( I quit missing deer)
I thought it would be nice to have a custom gun .
made with the parts I wanted (one gun to rule them all).
It took 8 years of saving and buying 1 piece at a time.
8 years ago I bought the barrel.
Now the time is here I feel a little worried I'm going to make a mistake that I will
regret later on in the build.The old wuonce you cut you can't add it back
I should start new thread for the build.
I quess in gunsmithing

Don't let the rings scare you.
If it bothers you lapp them.
Just know, the guys who are contradicting you will most likely mount a scope in good rings with a good base and not even check if they need lapped, let alone lapping them.
And their scope will function just fine, probably won't have any rings marks to speak of, will dial straight up, no one would ever notice the scope rings wasn't lapped.
Seems like if you lapped yours you'd sleep better at night, so I say lapp them.

Gslinger if it will make you sleep better at night then lap them. Just don't over do it and end up ruining your rings like some do. A small amount of lap. But I would plan to keep that set up with that rifle.

That said with a custom action and base and a quality set of rings there shouldn;t be a need. I mounted scopes on two new Bighorn TL3 actions this past year and after ring bottoms were torqued to the base the scope set in and there was no binding at all and it moved freely. But as mentioned it's your rifle, money and sleep so if after 8 years of saving then throw a light lap on them. Just the bottom of the ring though.

Also what are the ARTS rings?

Rob01 said:

I didn't say bed rings. I said bed the base. The base to receiver, especially factory receivers, is where the misalignment starts and transferred to rings. And I don't want people screwing up perfectly good rings because some think it's needed on every rifle. It's not.

Click to expand...

this ^^

Lapping isn't about the rings; even a Hass cnc can cut a set of rings. The problem is mounting the rings to a receiver that saw the scotchbrite wheel as the last operation and holding concentricity between the two ring cylinders. A rail makes the job a lot easier than say a 1pc base/ring combo.

If you're going to check alignment, use a real alignment gage.

SCOPE RING ALIGNMENT TOOL KIT - 30 mm and 1 inch. (includes One Set Of Each)
OK I check this out and found a video of a guy using this kit on youtube .
He used rings and a 1piece mount. Both were on a rail.
He had the exact same results as I did.
His base and rings were said to not need lapping if used them together (same as mine)
On the rings the coller would not pass.
On the 1 piece mount,The coller pass with no bump.Like they were on the single piece lapping rod.

By turning my alignment bars around and butting them,putting a ring to pass between the two.
I can tighten ring till it can run tight and smooth. This should be no different,except I can adjust ring tightness.
Thanks for showing me this.I was able to a see video and see that someone else got same resuts.(probably better kit as it was designed it for this purpose of transfering ring from one bar to another bar.).

Everything I tried so far was expensive rail and rings.Found an old pair of weaver 30mm steel rings.
I never used these for anything before.So I mounted them on the stiller rail.
The ring would not pass with no amount of reasonable force.(YOU SHALL NOT PASS).
I will test this on a 1 piece mount ,When it gets here in a couple of weeks.

This kit is expensive compared to the wheeler kit. Wheeler kit has torque driver.
Also purchased wheeler scope kit with barrel leveler mount.
If you need scope mounted cabela's will do it. Or you send to gunsmith and wait in line there.

I bought good bases and rings (I never lapped any). I bought meopta and nightforce scopes.
Never questioned till I took off nightfoce and saw ring marks.

ARTS is canadian company that build actions percision rifles and make parts. and sells guns scopes and supply,s

Now I just lap mine and don't look back.

Well the nikon black 30mm 1 piece mount arrived today.
Did the test with the ring.Used the stiller action.
Tighten rings on alignment bars and put ring on one side .
The ring passes from one side to the other side no problem.
The ring slides easily.
Well I think I will start looking at 1 piece mounts for my other guns.

Son in law bought new gun last week
The scope came in 2 days ago.
We mounted a scope and rings.
The rings did not line up till we lapped rings.
Took 3 times of lapping,Tested ang lapped
We lapped only the bottom ring.
On the third lapping the ring passed from one to the other easily.
We mounted new scope without worring about putting torque and stress marks on the new scope.
I think we will test and lap from now on