Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Reusing Scope Rings.

dreher
I have often used scope rings multiple times, such as mounting a different scope on a rifle. Take off the top part of rings, swap out for a different scope, retighten, good to go. Had a person tell me that it is always best to only us a set of rings once. Is this correct? If so I guess I've been doing it wrong for a lot of years.
0

Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • perry shooter
    I would say you friend does not understand how a scope ring works. The ring is made so if the screws between the top half and bottom half are tightened, Then they will grip the scope tube. Yes maybe if you really LAPPED the rings each time you could enlarge the diameter between each half But under normal usage one could use the same ring over and over many times. A circle is Very strong and hard to enlarge "rings" or reduce in diameter "SCOPE" you may wear out the threads on screws or rings but only after many times in good quality rings .
    0
  • Herschel
    I have been a gun enthusiast for 50+ years and reused scope rings many times. Never had a problem. I have never heard before that it was not best to reuse scope rings.
    0
  • nmyers
    What Perry Shooter is referring to is a "scope ring alignment lap", which is used to quickly true misaligned or out-of-round scope rings. Lapping rings will allow to tighten them to spec without risk of denting the scope.

    Today, lapping doesn't seem to be needed as much, due to modern manufacturing techniques & factory D&T'd screw holes. But, if I'm going to spend $10,000 on a guided hunt for trophy muskrats, I'm going to insist that my gunsmith make darn sure my scope is up to the task.

    I use my own "poor man's lapping technique", which is to put a thin strip of acid-free paper or plastic inside my scope rings. That compensates for any irregularities, & prevents the rings from scratching the scope.

    Neal
    0
  • 62fuelie
    I have reused scope rings made by a variety of makers and never had a failure as long as the same care is used in mounting each time.
    0
  • dreher
    Thanks all. This guy was acting so knowledgeable I was starting to feel like an idiot. The rings I just reused are on they're 3rd scope. Always made sense to me.
    0
  • charliemeyer007
    +1 for proper care in mounting; some folks could ruin an anvil with a rubber mallet.
    0
  • nononsense
    dreher,

    "Had a person tell me that it is always best to only us a set of rings once."

    Since none of us were present for this conversation, it's impossible to definitively ascertain exactly what was meant from your one short statement. But we can examine the different perspectives in order to expand our understanding of some of the mounting hardware foibles.

    I agree that if you simply remove to upper portion of each ring in order to switch scopes, you should encounter no problems unless the second scope is a different diameter from the first or if there is a minor misalignment between the rings. You can also run into problems with eye relief if the adjustment knobs fall at the intersection of a ring.

    I can state definitively that Leupold's Rotary Dovetail Rings will stand one use and one use only if they have to be moved as a whole. In essence, if the entire ring has to be removed from the base then the ring will not function correctly in the second application. I've seen this attempted in dozens of instances when shooters try to lessen the financial blow of a new scope by re-using this style of ring. In all cases they were greeted with failure and had to spend the additional funds to buy new rings.

    The Weaver style cross slot rings and the Picatinny version can be used repeatedly given that is why they were designed in first place.

    Best.

    ADDED:

    "Nononsense
    Could you please explain the failures?
    what would make them fail , and how did they fail?
    thanks"

    I guess that would help, duh...

    The connection of the rotary dovetail into the socket of the base is too soft to allow for repeated removal/attachment cycles. It gets loose from the tightening into the socket.

    Now, if you leave the bottom of the ring alone and simply remove the top then replace the scope, all is well.

    I think He Dog and I both had notes which agreed about Conetrol rings being difficult to re-use, from a post a while back. I really like the looks of their rings but I have big hands which makes the re-assembly even harder than it needs to be.

    Best.
    0
  • oneoldsap
    quote:Originally posted by nononsense
    dreher,

    "Had a person tell me that it is always best to only us a set of rings once."

    Since none of us were present for this conversation, it's impossible to definitively ascertain exactly what was meant from your one short statement. But we can examine the different perspectives in order to expand our understanding of some of the mounting hardware foibles.

    I agree that if you simply remove to upper portion of each ring in order to switch scopes, you should encounter no problems unless the second scope is a different diameter from the first or if there is a minor misalignment between the rings. You can also run into problems with eye relief if the adjustment knobs fall at the intersection of a ring.

    I can state definitively that Leupold's Rotary Dovetail Rings will stand one use and one use only if they have to be moved as a whole. In essence, if the entire ring has to be removed from the base then the ring will not function correctly in the second application. I've seen this attempted in dozens of instances when shooters try to lessen the financial blow of a new scope by re-using this style of ring. In all cases they were greeted with failure and had to spend the additional funds to buy new rings.

    The Weaver style cross slot rings and the Picatinny version can be used repeatedly given that is why they were designed in first place.

    Best.




    I can see why the front ring would need replacement , but why couldn't the rear (windage) be reused
    0
  • TANK78Z
    Originally posted by nononsense;

    "I can state definitively that Leupold's Rotary Dovetail Rings will stand one use and one use only if they have to be moved as a whole. In essence, if the entire ring has to be removed from the base then the ring will not function correctly in the second application. I've seen this attempted in dozens of instances when shooters try to lessen the financial blow of a new scope by re-using this style of ring. In all cases they were greeted with failure and had to spend the additional funds to buy new rings."

    Nononsense
    Could you please explain the failures?
    what would make them fail , and how did they fail?
    thanks
    0
  • He Dog
    Conotrol rings can be difficult to reuse.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity

Didn’t find what you’re looking for?