[SSN Vet]

Should "standard" style rings from one manufacturer be useable with a "standard" style base from another manufacturer?

I purchased a NIB set of Burris "standard" rings and a Redfield base off of seperate e-bay auctions.....and though they look like they should work together, the dovetail seems very tight.

I don't know how much force to apply and I'm afraid I'll damage something.

Any help/advice is much appreciated.

[Jim K]

The dovetails are normally pretty tight, even with the same maker. DO NOT try to turn the front ring with the scope; you can bend the scope and ruin it. Gunsmiths use a solid brass or steel bar to work the dovetail in before putting the scope in the rings.

Jim

[SSN Vet]

DO NOT try to turn the front ring with the scope

:what: :what: :what:

Perish the thought!

I'm going to take it to my favorite machinist and see if we can knock the slight burr off one of the edges of the dovetail and then ever so lightly relieve the underside of the slot with a ball wheel on a die grinder

Does this sound like a sound approach???

[SSN Vet]

Update.....no grinding required.....I was being a wuss.

A coworker who used to shoot competitively confirmed Jims advice.

My machinist friend gave me a stub of 1" TPG shaft stock from the odds and ends shelf.....which I then calmped into the dovetail ring and went to town.

Bingo!!!

I used the shaft to tweek the rings back and forth and now have them aligned pretty darn straight.

Test fit scope and it seems to just barely ride a little harder on one of the rings edges, so I'm wondering...

should I lap the rings?

Good idea? Bad idea?

I was thinking of wrapping the TPG shaft stub w/ 600 grit emery paper and giving it a couple of turns but the the scope mics at 1.001" and the shaft mics at 1.012" w/ emery paper and won't drop in all the way.

Shoud I just goop up the shaft with lapping compound and take a few swipes?

Only one last obsticle....

I need three #8-40 x .25 long black cap screws to mount the base.

Any smiths out there willing to help me out with that one. I'll gladly pay a reasonable amount.