Avoiding Scope Ring Marks

[BayouBuck985]

Do any of you take any measures to avoid having your scopes left with ring marks in the event you have to move scopes to a different rifle and adjust based on the gun geometry. I haven’t experienced this or taken added measures to better protect the scope tube, but I have seen a number of used scopes for sale that have marks and noticeable lines from the scope rings. I guess this could occur if the rings are too tight. I have read about putting tape underneath the rings, but that seems overkill to me. Just wanted to see what y’all do, if anything.

 

[ccc23454]

I take the easy way to avoid this problem, I use a torque screwdriver and mount it properly.when done this way I have never had a problem. Side effects of propper mounting include scope working and tracking properly.

 

[mtmuley]

Are scope blemishes really a problem? mtmuley

 

[BayouBuck985]

Are scope blemishes really a problem? mtmuley

No, they are not, and I will likely never have to deal with that since I do use a torque screwdriver also. I guess the ones that I see that are heavily scratched and marked could also have some internal damage going on, possibly.

 

[schmalts]

Proper ring alignment is critical. Alignment tools and lapping rings in is a great way to make sure alignment is within the tolerance that you will not have damage or really bad ring marks,

 

[D4570]

Good rings that are torqued will not leave marks.

 

[Caseknife]

I lap rings usually, and use a torque driver. The scopes with the most noticeable ring marks are the ones that the rings have been lapped. Cosmetic only, usually buffs off with a soft cloth. I am not concerned about it on my scopes. I would think that anything that leaves a gouge or appears that the tube has been pinched may indeed have internal issues.

 

[cahunter805]

Use good quality rings and torque them and ring marks won’t be a problem. I find it funny people will spend lots of money on a rifle and scope but cry about spending a few more dollars on quality rings.

 

[mtmuley]

Use good quality rings and torque them and ring marks won’t be a problem. I find it funny people will spend lots of money on a rifle and scope but cry about spending a few more dollars on quality rings.

Or good bullets. mtmuley

 

[BayouBuck985]

Do you consider Talley and Warne to be solid choices for rings?

 

[Wyoming270]

In 2019 I paid a local gunsmith to mount a new scope to a rifle I owned. I guess he must have been ahead of his time because he did a real 2020 style job. I removed that scope this summer and despite it being properly torqued with no tube crushing, the bottom half of either ring had left inconsistant hairline scratches where burrs on the edges of the rings made contacts with the scope finish for about .0015" in depth.

Now to recap for the hard of reading:

Professional gun smith
New $650 scope
New $95 ring set
Rings torqued
Top of tube fine
Bottom of tube .0015" deep marks
Scope works fine, purely cosmetic issue


When I pulled everything apart I noticed nothing had been lapped on the scope ring surface, and the burrs could be caught on my thumb nail.

 

[cahunter805]

Do you consider Talley and Warne to be solid choices for rings?

I personally do not consider those a quality choice.

If you’re looking for lightweight style 1pc mounts I’d recommend Hawkins precision or leupold backcountry.

For rings to use on a rail Hawkins precision, seekins, Nightforce and area 419 all make a lot of quality options.

 

[mtmuley]

I personally do not consider those a quality choice.

If you’re looking for lightweight style 1pc mounts I’d recommend Hawkins precision or leupold backcountry.

For rings to use on a rail Hawkins precision, seekins, Nightforce and area 419 all make a lot of quality options.

I have a set of the Backcountry rings. Haven't mounted them yet. Lots of bad things said about Leupold, but these rings look very solid. mtmuley

 

[44hunter45]

Proper ring alignment is critical. Alignment tools and lapping rings in is a great way to make sure alignment is within the tolerance that you will not have damage or really bad ring marks,

This,
Since I bought a lapping kit I have never had a marred scope.

 

[MTLabrador]

The backcountry rings are nice. I recently put a set of Warne mountain tech rings on my .270 with my fixed 6x Leupold. They’re nice as well, light and very solid.

 

[Dave N]

I solved the problem by not taking the scope off once I mount it.

 

[antelopedundee]

In 2019 I paid a local gunsmith to mount a new scope to a rifle I owned. I guess he must have been ahead of his time because he did a real 2020 style job. I removed that scope this summer and despite it being properly torqued with no tube crushing, the bottom half of either ring had left inconsistant hairline scratches where burrs on the edges of the rings made contacts with the scope finish for about .0015" in depth.

Now to recap for the hard of reading:

Professional gun smith
New $650 scope
New $95 ring set
Rings torqued
Top of tube fine
Bottom of tube .0015" deep marks
Scope works fine, purely cosmetic issue


When I pulled everything apart I noticed nothing had been lapped on the scope ring surface, and the burrs could be caught on my thumb nail.

Quality rings should not have burrs. If you can feel with your fingernail get a 1 inch or 30mm dowel rod, wrap with very fine grit emery paper and polish till the burrs are gone.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I bought Burris signature rings with synthetic inserts to help offset misaligned screw holes in an action. As a secondary benefit, they don’t seem to mar a scope. However, I am not too concerned about ring marks on my scopes.

 

[Wyoming270]

Quality rings should not have burrs. If you can feel with your fingernail get a 1 inch or 30mm dowel rod, wrap with very fine grit emery paper and polish till the burrs are gone.

I specifically mentioned in this post 2x that a gun smith did this, not me. For what i paid him, and for what I paid for the scope rings i expected quality ringd that were properly lapped. Obviously he did not. Now a days I have my own lapping kit and level kit and have done a couple dozen scopes without any issues.

 

[bluegrassdan]

I am truly lucky I guess. Been building rifles and mounting scopes as a gunsmith for a long time and have never found the need to lap in a set of scope rings. I don't use cheap rings and I check each set on a surface plate prior to mounting so maybe that has something to do with it. I will say, the rings being made on CNC equipment in the last 5 years are a lot more accurate as far as dimensional tolerance goes, so lapping just does not seem to be required. I have yet to have a scope slip, get bent or otherwise require lapping. I think the "scope ring" thing is juuuuust a bit overblown as 9 times out of ten, it is cosmetic and not functional. In my opinion, for what its worth, if you have to lap a set of rings in, you need to get better rings, check them on a surface plate with a height gauge (it maybe your base is off) or maybe take a micrometer to your scope tube and see if it is oval and not round- that would go back to the MFG right quick.