J E ,I know Nightforce says Do Not Lap their rings. Should you lap the Talley rings? Thanks.
The reason is simple, Nightforce scopes are heavy and if not done correctly a/any scope can move under recoil.
I use to lap rings and also bought a reamer to true the rings up. I finally realized that the surface of the ring helps grip the scope, and the problem was Installation.
The only ring marks I have ever got on scopes were from the old Weaver with the steel top ring that snaps on (It is more than a half circle).
Now I use an aluminum round bar that matches the OD of the scope and check the alignment before I clamp the scope in. If it doesn't line up then I replace the rings.
Most of the time, I can get the rings perfectly aligned and then I can install the scope without any damage. Occasionally I find one that the manufacture did a poor job boring the rings true, and have to replace them.
If you look at a scope that has ring marks it will be from misalignment and if you ream or lap them it will reduce the holding ability because of the surface or the increase in the ID of the ring. I always did a minimum of lapping and occasionally I would have a scope move on me and the hole process of sighting in had to start all over costing ,more than the difference in a good set of rings and bases and a poor set that had to be reamed or lapped.
When you purchase a new set of rings, I recommend that you mark the rings position and don't turn them around(They are bored in this position and placing the caps on the ring backwards, can defeat
the boring accuracy.
Picatinny style are the easiest to align correctly if you assemble the rings to the Picatinny hand tight, lay the mandrel in and install the caps. if the rings are good and can be aligned, install the scope (The ring to base is still only hand tight) tighten the caps in a crisscross pattern after the scope is aligned and proper eye relief is set. then do a final tightening on the Ring to picatinny base and the little bit of slack in the cross pins will allow the rings to be aligned without marking the scope. also if you change the scope do not loosen the cross bolts on the picatinny rail and the rings will stay In alignment.
Rather than replace the poor rings, some will elect to lap or ream and that's ok if they know what they are doing and don't remove anything that is not absolutely necessary.
When I purchase quality rings ,I expect them to be right and if I install them correctly, they will not mark the scope.
I believe that improper installation and poor quality rings are the major cause of ring marks an I
don't lap or ream any rings. In fact I have a brand new 15 year old reamer that I have never used.
Poor quality/cheep scope mounts are just what the cheep means and you get what you pay for. Why buy/build a rifle that cost $1500.00+ hang a scope that cost $1000.00 and use a set of rings and bases that cost $50.00 to put the scope on. You don't have to spend $400.00+ on a set of rings and bases but get a good set and never look back.
Many will disagree and that is there right, I have had 100 % success with the way I now do ring installation and don't have a single scope that has ring marks.
As Sully2 said "I don't use them"
Just my way and opinion
J E CUSTOM
