Scope Ring Recommendation

[jim]

I am purchasing a 6PPC benchrest rifle (my first PPC) and I need to obtain scope rings for it and am looking for recommendations on what to buy (will be using a Weaver 36x scope). It is a Remington trued action in an older model McMillan BR stock. I have a Savage 6BR and numerous other varmint rifles and almost without exception they are equipped with Burris Signature rings with inserts. They never mar a scope and are very useful in obtaining "up" when shooting long range such a 600 yards with the 6BR. I have looked at Kelby rings and they would look great on the gun however my question is would they serve me any better than the Burris rings which cost half of the Kelby's.

Comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[virg]

I think the Burris Signature type rings would still work great with your setup. The Kelbly rings would do as well but use the Davidson type bases...but would save a couple of oz. The Kelbly ring also will not mar your scope. Try your Burris rings and if you just must have the Kelbly setup...it's alway available.

virg

 

[alinwa]

I suggest the Talley one-piece base/ring setup.

Take the money you save and buy a Kokopelli alignment and lapping kit.

Now epoxy the bases down to the action. I do this by cleaning/degreasing the parts and greasing the screws. Now if you're careful and handy you can get the screws started into the holes without getting any epoxy in the holes..... tighten down gently, finger tight at most. After the epoxy has set up give the screws another nudge, two fingers and thumb on the long side of the allen wrench.

Now use the Kokopelli stuff to align the rings, degrease the surfaces and gently clamp 'er together. Grease the screws and just go finger tight, snug.

your scope will never move.

al

 

[Al Nyhus]

Ditto the Talley's. They have a 'pinch point' where the ring halves meet and that needs to be lapped out so the scope fits squarely in the rings with maximum contact. Removing the 'pinch point' also ensures the scope tube isn't damaged.

On a production reciever like the 700's, there can be a big difference in ring height due to the recievers not be exactly perfect. Bedding the bases to the reciever gets the base heights equal, gives 100% contact between the base and reciever and lays the foundation for a good set of rings. A good example is my .17 Rem, pictured here. There was .016-.018 difference in the ring heights from front to rear. Bedding the bases equalized the heights. The rings were lapped, then bedded.

The Davidson/Kelbly type dovetail setup offers a lot of flexibility, also. Personally, I think the dovetail setup is right on the edge of holding these scopes w/o moving. I JB Weld the rings to the rail on my Panda and Kodiak actions to make sure this doesn't happen. On my RFD, I made a recoil 'lug'...and JB Welded the rings...just to be sure.

Most 1" scope tubes measure between .998 and 1.002. A piece of lightweight tubing that measures 1.00" o.d. as the 'scope' when bedding the rings works well. AccraGlas Gel is a nice ring bedding compound. The Nylon in it gives it just enough flex to conform to the scope tubes.

Lapped and bedded Kelbly rings. Probably a dozen scopes in these rings over the years:

Once the rigs are bedded, they become 'universal' to any scope you may want to slap in 'em...with zero chance of stress or damage.

And people also win doing none of this.......

 

[expiper]

zIf you are worried about weight the Bushnell Rings that are split are just the ticket...they mount on Weaver bases and are light vs the Burris Sig-Z which is made of steel.....and they are readily available and cheeppp....Roger

 

[Vern]

Al Nyhs,
What is the stud or post on the mount on the RFD action.
I never new that once rings were bedded they were universal I thought they were then condemned to be for one scope or scope brand only.
It looks like you bedded the bottom half of the bases only. Dont you have to do both halves? Though I could see doing the top half would be pretty difficult.
As good as rings are in the BR area why do we need to bed or lap them?

 

[Al Nyhus]

What is the stud or post on the mount on the RFD action.

That's a recoil 'lug' to help keep the ring(s) from moving forward.

I never new that once rings were bedded they were universal I thought they were then condemned to be for one scope or scope brand only.

The rings won't know what scope tube is in 'em.

It looks like you bedded the bottom half of the bases only. Dont you have to do both halves? Though I could see doing the top half would be pretty difficult.

I have some with bedded tops and some not. The tops pictured really fit nicely and had close to 80% contact, so they didn't get bedded.

As good as rings are in the BR area why do we need to bed or lap them?

Yep...most rings are pretty darn good. It's the bases and/or recievers we mount these rings to that can give 'ya gas.

I recently mounted some BAT one piece rings on my RFD. You can see the bedding under the edge of the base if you look closely.