Man I just buy them, never had any trouble other than with one like I commented on, back when bike was so new none were out in the marketplace yet. The bike shop had a guy who custom cut them, his work was not as good as he cracked it up to be.
Steel ones can commonly be better than aluminum.
The ring if not touching shouldn't be making any noise, BUT, if cut off center then bolt pattern may be as well, since both are indicated in commonly at the same time.
Tighten chain up to almost too tight and then roll wheel around, if it is tighter in one spot and looser in other then sprocket is out of whack. The bolt pattern and teeth are not concentric to each other.
It can be corrected if one has access to like a mill, to set up on the OD of teeth then go back and slightly repunch holes out and redress the center bore if needed. What I did to pull mine out of the trash many years ago.