fixing misaligned scope rings

[CARSON]

I have an M38 Mauser my father gave me that shoots rather well, but my father did the gunsmithing to the rear of th reciever to attach th scope base. When i wnet to mount a ne scope on it, if found that when you tightened the rear ring down that there was a 1/8" gap between the front ring and the underside of the scope. Can anyone give me an idea on what procedure I should use to rectify this problem? i have heard people mention using shims to solve the problem, but i have also heard people using sandpaper to change the angle of the inside of the rings.

 

[critter]

Sometimes when scope rings are SLIGHTLY misaligned, they are 'lapped' using a 1" rod and abrasive compound. That can cure the problem. With 1/8" gap, you have rather severe misalignment. Lapping won't do it-sandpaper MIGHT but it would cause large changes in the rings. Then you have the problem that the scope MIGHT be pointed in such an off-angle that it could not be zeroed.

You have a problem-and I don't really have any good solutions to offer. I would hold off on the severe sanding till I got some better plan though. Good luck.

 

[Pistolsmith]

1/8" is too much for shims to fix. It sounds as though you have a low mount ring mated with a medium mount ring. Try a new set of rings. If that does not work, look to the bases and see if they are a mismatch according to the factory information. This is all predicated on the assumption that the scope does not point up or down hill, but is held level by the highest ring.