What are they used for?

tlawler · #1 10-22-2018, 08:31 AM

I recently bought a bunch of reloading stuff from a guy that was getting out of reloading. Along with all of the reloading supplies, there were several tools and this set. This may need to be in the smithing section, but I wasn’t sure, and since I bought them as part of a reloading kit, I decided to put them here. They are exactly 1.000” in diameter, with the two pointed ones being about 4 inches long and the long single one being about 6 inches. All three have hollowed recesses in them.

CBH44 · #2 10-22-2018, 08:38 AM

They look like scope ring alignment tools.

dsink · #3 10-22-2018, 08:48 AM

Yep, CBH44 is correct. The 2 pointed rods are for lining the front and rear rings up and the solid bar is for lapping the rings.

2152hq · #4 10-22-2018, 08:54 AM

I'd guess they are 'scope mounting gauges/tools.
Being exactly 1"dia for the standard US made scope & rings.

The two that are pointed are placed into the rings after the rings themselves are secured onto the bases & rifle.

The points are set to oppose each other/point at each other in between the mounted rings.
If the points of the opposing rods don't come together with precision,,That quickly shows that the rings and/or the bases along with the rings are out of allaignment.
No sense placing the delicate scope into those rings and tightening them down if out of allaignment,,it'll only dent or further damage the fragile scope.
Correction of the mounts needs to be done before going any further.
It's not an uncommon problem.

The solid bar was probably meant as a final fitting tool for the rings.
Once the rings are in the best allaignment you can get with the 'points'..you generally lap the inside surfaces of the rings in by gently clamping a precision 1"d bar in place very gently with lapping compound on it.
Then lap the final fit of the rings to match the front and rear ring to a nice straight fit to one another.Tightening the rings a little as you go, you can get a nice solid contact betw rings and what will be the 'scope tube.

The solid 1" bar could also be used to clamp a ring onto it so you can work on the ring mt itself.
Those little buggers are a pain to hang onto and not damage them in a vise. But a working fixture usually has one end squared so it can be held easier in a bench vise.

added: I type too slow!

tlawler · #5 10-22-2018, 09:17 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I learnt something new!

ArchAngelCD · #6 10-25-2018, 08:01 PM

Late to the party again, nothing left to do here but agree lol.