[Barry_R]

Originally Posted by Dominik

Unless they are made to be round when they butt.

But then they might as well come exactly gapped to begin with?

They are round when they are made and finished. Then they get "split" at the gap. The gaps on presized rings are surprisingly close considering the variables involved - .020-.025 is common to see. That allows for some bore size variation while remaining in a safe working range - remember that a .001 bore size difference is .003 gap variance. They don't know if you're putting them into a mom & pop driver, a taxi cab, a hot rod, a boat, or a MD truck when they go into the box...