Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Anybody ever ream 1" rings to 26mm?

Someone suggested that it would be less expensive to buy a 26mm reamer to open up 1" rings by 0.6mm. Given the cost and scarcity of 26mm rings it seems like a good idea. If you've done this, please let me know how well it worked and if you ran into any issues.

Honestly, I don't see any reason it wouldn't work. If you find a reamer, I have tons of rings to can play around with to see how well it works.

I found one and have a box full of old Redfield 1" turn-in rings to experiment on, but thinks for the offer.

I've got a couple B. Nickel scopes that I'd like to put on Husqvarnas, but don't want to pay the asking price for 26mm rings.

Couldn't you just wrap some electrical tape around the scope where it will have contact with the rings?

I've done it and it worked fine....and was very secure...

I've got a Doctor 6X42 with a 26mm tube I was going to mount on my CZ455 so I was trying to figure out the best way to go about it also. This is the options I found.

Here is a link about filing the meat on a set of one inch rings.

one inch to 26mm rings conversion

There is using a brake hone to open up one inch rings, buying one inch rings with inserts, using 30mm rings and buying the 26mm inserts.

I've done it using a 1 inch scope ring lapping tool clamped in a vise, with layered emery cloth and some lubricant. Not a fast or precise process, but with patience it will get you to something that works.

I have done it with the lathe 4 jaw and a single point tool...ya gotta shim the parting line and tighten the hell out of the screws...two passes about .006" and done.

How does wrapping tape around a scope that is too big for 1 inch rings going to help?

I have done this with a doctor scope. Use the Burris rings with plastic inserts. Use a sander barrel with a dremel tool. The plastic will get a little hot and flow but you can sand out the amount you need. You are over thinking this thing by milling.

Excellent choice. The Dremel tool is the answer to all questions about gunsmithing.

Never reamed any but bored a bunch. GD

Someone's had his coffee this morning

(and there's folks who trust and use Seafire's load data)

Some years ago, I had a NIB Redfield TX27 5-20 scope. With a set of 1" Talley LW rings mounted on the gun, I used a 7/8" wooden dowel rod wrapped with 180 grit paper to start opening them up. As it went along, I changed to a 1" dowel and kept going until the middle of the tube fit to the level of the top edge of the bottom ring half. Then, I bedded the scope tube in the rings for a perfect fit. After that was dried and cleaned up, I did the top ring halves the same way and bedded them. Worked out great. I had that scope and ring combo on one of my Winter fox and coyote rifles for several years.

Since you're looking at .023-ish for total dimension change, just make sure the rings you use have enough material to accommodate this. Half/half -top/bottom...you're not taking much out. Just make sure you keep it square and straight.

Hope this helps. -Al

I wish someone offered this service. The 30mm rings with the spacer move the scope higher more than I want on mine. Would love to be able to send my 1" rings in and get them back in 26mm.

They sell the reamer to do this exact thing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304547982137?hash=item46e8796b39:g:OwYAAOSwPW9e4Hc2&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA8H%2BYg00NvPzGRkmEO4NBoapr9IJvyNVQNUWjSwtqkDRQFJzib1wQL3qVQU1zR8jclm5qwb%2FsWysfj2et2YdxalZKtsmZwANLEdmypnWMftw9PIuNNJFuodehMSzog2h7%2BE9JADnw5DLirPPPWngTG%2FfqepIHkQltN9rwJGwfRYh5ao%2B64n%2BeDiZRawA66csXsHyX8f1DV02%2BTg7XGWyR3pF1CqrhyZYlRNde3AJdULZVGKd9Tz4N%2BSU4wqkJxNgXmDGItE1ybrCGlk73YrefA7X6qh7ZRsKpAvT0ZDpJ3KSlDigKXCPDkZ9iEb%2BtOb3zMQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM_N70kqth

On a mill with feeler gauges to set the side gaps, it's almost too easy. -Al

It's just a couple tenths under 12 thou a side.

Reaming.....
It's a two sided interrupted cut and that in itself won't produce a dead nuts round hole.

Get a toolmaker to bore, wire of circular interpolate but be ready to pay for the set up fee.

It'll take longer to set them up then to cut them.

If you don’t have bases, Talley has 26mm rings with that clamp base the build. If you’re looking for pic rings, TPS builds them in a variety of heights. Best other option is eBay. I have used them all and they work fine.

Thanks for all of the feedback.

I bought a tapered reamer for this job.

I strongly recommend bedding the rings when you're finished. -Al

A what????