Electrical Tape...is this a bad idea?

[Walkalong]

The rings will be attached to a picitinny base on a .308 AR that I use for precision shooting.

XLR rings

They went up ten bucks a a couple of months or so back, but still a great value.

.22 LR "Precision" rifle. Shoots pretty dang good.

 

[jmr40]

I've never done anything special. Never had any issues.

 

[whughett]

I’d wager it’s a common enough practice. I’ve done it from time to time over the past 50 years or so.
It’s one of those fixes that a great many shooters do and a greater number who can only afford lower dollar scopes and rings. No all can invest as much in the telescopic sight, bases and rings as the firearm it’s mounted to.

 

[Walkalong]

You don't have to spend a lot to get a nice setup that works well without having to resort to tape. Burris Zee rings were always priced right, and are great rings.

YHM risers, Zee rings, Simmons Whitetail Classic that used to go on sale at Midway for $109, I swap it around on ARs when I want to check for accuracy of a load.

Load testing 300 BLK I shot this 5 shot group at 100 yards with it on the rifle. (110 Gr V-Max)

 

[The Glockodile]

The desire to leave your $3,000 scope without blemishes is entirely understood.

No true harm in using some tape, just be mindful to flirt only with the lower end of recommended torque settings, and that if the adhesive doesn't dry up before then - it tends to ooze out of each end.

If you've done enough scope rings, you'll sort of get a "feel" of where things should be, if you haven't decided to change tools or buff up between setups

Easier to "feel" with larger scope barrels (34mm and up), less so with smaller scope barrels (30mm and below).

ETA:

Oops, totally misread. Much different objective on your end

 

[CapnMac]

the thin white tape you seal threads on pipes

In the trade, that's "Teflon tape" which is PTFE coated vinyl which is meant to deform and stretch and fill the voids between machine-cut pipe threads.

Would not be my first choice for scope rings, same way I'd not use pipe dope compound (a gloopy mix of acrylics and vinyls in a slow-evaporating solvent base).

Were I inclined to "shim" a ring, I'd probably carefully apply some LokTite. Maybe.

 

[Walkalong]

If you've done enough scope rings, you'll sort of get a "feel" of where things should be, if you haven't decided to change tools or buff up between setups

Easier to "feel" with larger scope barrels (34mm and up), less so with smaller scope barrels (30mm and below).

Or you could use a torque wrench of some sort or another.

 

[BigBlue 94]

My grandpa did the whole tape on the scope thing. 10-15 years later and I have a goopy nasty mess on my hands.

 

[Varminterror]

If a person insists on ANY method to improve ring contact, without abrasive lapping, then skim bedding with epoxy is the only appropriate option.

https://eliteaccuracy.com/services/pdf/2019/precision-scope-mounting-for-the-working-rifle.pdf

 

[Walkalong]

My grandpa did the whole tape on the scope thing. 10-15 years later and I have a goopy nasty mess on my hands.

I've gone behind someone who did that as well, not fun.

 

[Moparnut]

So, just reading this thread, I see the pros and cons of this idea. It has created a question in my mind. It appears most people are suggesting buying a decent set of rings.

So, if quality rings are the answer and not using any form of tape like the op suggested, is there really a need to lap the rings?

Also, if you torqued the screws properly you should not have any distortion to scope tube or any other components.

 

[JFrank]

I don’t use any tape or lapping, installed and torqued properly it shouldn’t be necessary with todays CHC cut rings, if things are moving you may have other concern's.

 

[taliv]

I see the pros and cons of this idea

There weren’t any “pros”

So, if quality rings are the answer and not using any form of tape like the op suggested, is there really a need to lap the rings?

With a good set of rings you won’t need to lap either. In fact, you should not lap.

 

[Varminterror]

There weren’t any “pros”

With a good set of rings you won’t need to lap either. In fact, you should not lap.

All of this.

Even with cheap rings, there’s no “pro” for using tape. It’s 100% imaginary.

There’s also no excuse to do use crappy cheap rings when great cheap rings exist. $49 for a set of Burris Signature Zee rings, which not only offer exceptionally great grip, but come with the added feature of in-ring elevation and windage correction.

 

[JFrank]

Weird things do happen’ like maybe a two piece mount or rings that do not fit the reciever quite right might come into play or the rings are not a good match for the picatinny rail etc. a fella can see that pretty easy when installing a scope. No down side to checking with the wheeler alignment tools I suppose.

 

[herrwalther]

So, if quality rings are the answer and not using any form of tape like the op suggested, is there really a need to lap the rings?

With most sets of rings, no. Manufacturing has gotten better and there is less variance in thickness of powder coating, the stuff that lapping gets off to improve ring alignment. Most gunsmiths don't even lap rings as a standard practice when putting on a scope anymore. But lapping can help if the rings are not properly aligned. So it is usually done to fix a problem that you already know about.

 

[wiscoaster]

I may not be remembering the brand right - might be Vortex - but I have bought rings that come as a matched pair, pre-lapped, so to speak, I suppose, and in perfect alignment when used together.

 

[webrx]

I have never used tape on scope mounts, but if I did, I would think about using plain old friction tape?

https://www.amazon.com/Duck-393150-Friction-4-Inch-Single/dp/B0000BYD6E?th=1

.015 inches thick, and a 30 foot roll only cost around $4

d

 

[DustyGmt]

I have considered using the tape method before I knew it was a "method", just thought it was a clever solution to a problem that after giving it some thought and mounting a few optics using proper torque specs and mounting, realized doesn't really exist. I like others thought it would provide a dimensionally minimum buffer layer in between the ring and scope tube but really, when using factory torque settings and proper mounting, I don't get any movement or migration so why bother futzing around with tape. Even a lower cost set of rings like Weaver quad locks seem to fit uniformly and snug and haven't damaged any of my gear or had any movement.

Interesting though because alot of people seem to use this tape method, maybe there is something to it, idk.

 

[Walkalong]

Like Sheriff Buford T. Justice said, you can think about, but don't do it.

 

[redcon1]

Or you could use a torque wrench of some sort or another.

That Sunex looks like a nice torque wrench. I wish I had seen it yesterday before I ordered a real avid torque wrench. I may have to send the Real Avid back and get this or get it as well at that price point. Is it made in Taiwan?

 

[Walkalong]

I don't remember off hand, I'll check, but I would assume it's no better or worse than 90% in it's price point.

 

[Walkalong]

Sunex 10-50 Inch Pounds. +/- 3% CW & 6% CCW. I paid $87.48 June 2019 ($133.58 today, so likely a no go for it)

Olsa 30-150 Inch Pounds. rated +/- 3%. I paid $86.87 Dec 2020. Taiwan

I try to use a torque wrench where the needed torque is somewhere near the middle of its rating, but the Olsa claims 3% for the entire range.

 

[redcon1]

I have it in my cart and I'm just thinking about it. The Real Avid was like $80 but it's Chinese made although it allegedly goes through QC in the states before being distributed. I thought the Sunex was a little cheaper than that when I put in my cart. But I'm definitely going to check out the Olsa you pointed out. thanks for that. Taiwan makes good tools. China? Not so much.

edit: The Olsa is not useable for optics mounting. It starts out at 30 inch lbs which is almost double what Vortex, for example, recommends. The Sunex is perfect which is probably why it's more pricey. and ordered now.

 

[Walkalong]

The Olsa is not useable for optics mounting.

Depends on the torque values, the ARC Embrace scope rings I just mounted are 55 inch pounds for base and cap screws. That is why I have both of them (Both 1/4"), but yes, most mounts are under that, some way under.

I also have an eTork 30-150 1/2" torque wrench for torquing pre-fit barrels onto actions.

With a million different ones, of whatever it is, at our fingertips these days, it's hard to choose.