Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Bedding scope rings???

Any body ever "bed" scope rings with bedding compound rather than Lapp them?? Is that a bad idea?? It just seems like a simple solution to me.. Where am I going wrong?? What say you?

I had my rings lapped, and then the rings/bases (talley one piece) bedded to the receiver.

RatherB ... - this may sound stupid, ignorant or careless - but I have never lapped (or bedded) a scope ring in more than 50 years of shooting - seem never to have experienced any problems as a result of that laxity. Maybe I'm lucky.

Have done such work a few times for others who believed they needed it. Have never "bedded" any, but seems like it might be worth a try - should be less labor intensive. Then again, the available tolerances may be so slight as to make the work mostly messy, and questionable.

Someone probably wrote a good article on this. If so, I should read it.

Talk to Brad.

I would lap first just to see how bad the fit is. If you can't get at least 60 to 70 percent contact, bed them. It's dirt simple and fail proof. Common shoe polish and JB Weld from the hardware store, and you're good to go.

For those that never lap or bed, how are those rings marks on the scopes looking? I suppose when the ring edges digs into the scope barrel, it shouldn't slip.....

I have bedded a couple using WayneShaw's recipe. I bedded for two reasons: I hate those rings marks on my scopes,,plus it provides perfect surface to surface contact. Oh,,yes, it is fun and easy! Recently I have gone to the Burris signature rings with the inserts. Sturdy,,,adjustable,,,no ring marks.

I use Burris Signature rings when I can, but otherwise I lap AND bed. With all you have invested in your scope and its proper functioning, why not? Lapping and bedding is easy if you do it right.

If you look at the pattern produced by lapping, you can readily see the potential for stress, and at a minimum some ring marks. OTOH, lapping can produce excess spaces, so why not bed to ensure even contact?

Paul

+1 and chit drops dead.

I am very strong on taking good care of equipment, but there are limits to how much I will do to compensate for imperfections made by others.

Ordinarily, I carefully decide on the rifle/scope combo, install the scope, properly tight, for the life of the rifle, work with it to where it shoots accurately, and leave it alone. If the rifle does not shoot up to par after all reasonable efforts, I get rid of the combo. This rarely happens - but it does occur. If a scope itself does not perform as it should, it is useless to me, it comes off and is a "gimme" for anyone who wants to mess with it. Either way, if there happens to be any ring marring, it is not of consequence.

OTOH, I have purchased good used scopes with such ring marks, installed them, and used them sucessfully - those ring marks did not seem to make any difference. My aim is for shots in the same hole - am not a fussbudget about the less consequential cosmetics.

Maybe I'm quite dense, but am not able to decipher any meaning here.

I've used rubber cement on scope rings. Easy to wipe away the excess when it's dried and prevents ring marks.

BINGO !! "properly tight"