Abstract: A piston ring seal having stepped ends with feathered edges to minimize ring expander wear in high pressure hydraulic applications. The ring seal is circumferential and comprises a resilient material surrounding a longitudinal axis having width extending from an inner diameter to an outer diameter, and a depth extending parallel to said axis. The ring seal has a pair of apposed, overlapping, stepped ends. Each stepped end includes a circumferentially-extended portion and a circumferentially-recessed portion, each circumferentially-extended portion of one end being received by the apposed, circumferentially-recessed portion of the opposite end.