Which Loctite to use?

Blue.

Like he said.............Blue!

Locite # 242 Blue.

Yup, Blue works fine and is very secure. I use it on base/mounts, but I dont use it on rings.

Should you need to remove the bases/mounts, just apply a little heat (I use a propane torch from a distance) and it loosens right up.

Pretty much anything you use loctite for will use the blue variety (and no, it doesn't have to be the actual brand, there are several other types). Just remember to let it set a bit. I attached an antenna to my motorcycle, and had to redo it because I didn't let it dry, and the antenna mount drooped over.

The red stuff if the really nasty compound, I've never had cause to use, and will result in you never getting anything apart. Don't use it if you don't absolutely need to.

Red 271 if you'll be leaving that scope on that mount/rifle, otherwise blue is better.

Red I believe #262 if I remember right you don't want to use period on a firearm. That stuff is way to powerful and you'd never get it back apart. I used it on a trailer Ball once. I heated it up and it still took allot of pounding from a 1/2 impact wrench.
Some say the Purple is okay but I have never tried it. Stick with the Blue 242 and you'll do fine. I've never had anything loosen up using it.

242 works great for most applications. You dont have to get a big bottle, a little tube will last you a good while.

Should you need to remove the bases/mounts, just apply a little heat (I use a propane torch from a distance) and it loosens right up.

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Someone here once recommended a soldering iron.

^^Just don't use your mother's hairdryer, she gets mad. Same as when you use her iron... funny people, mothers. Haven't used them on loctite, but when you need heat, you gotta use what you have.

Red is good for automotive work - Suspension members, motor mounts, axle shafts - anything you wouldn't mind whacking with a real big hammer or heating up with a torch.

Funny thing though, the Blue Loctite (or off brand) can come in a red bottle.

Two Cold Soakers said:

Red is good for automotive work - Suspension members, motor mounts, axle shafts - anything you wouldn't mind whacking with a real big hammer or heating up with a torch.

Funny thing though, the Blue Loctite (or off brand) can come in a red bottle.

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I used all different types of Loctite for years. All of them came in the same Red bottle. Make sure what number you're using. I can't say if 242 is the only Blue Loctite but I believe it is.

If it is not new, give it a quick dip in acetone (some nail polish removers are acetone). This will get rid of any grease/oil that may be there and let it dry away.

Makes the Blue LocTite work better than if there were gunk around.

Yikes- stay away from any of the RED's~!

Red thread locker is the approved grade for installing Glock screw-on front sights BTW.

Blue. Only use red for things you NEVER want to come apart. Red Loctite must be heated to 300 degrees to get it to release. Blue Loctite can be broken with a little bit of elbow grease, but is sufficient to keep things from vibrating loose. Not gun-related, but blue Loctite also works wonders for sealing the threads of air fittings up to 1000 PSI or so.

Hummm...And I have been using "Low Strength" 222 for years. It's red.

I use the wifes nail polish....it's the same stuff.

I use purple (222, low-strength) for all my scope/ring/base screws. Loctite recommends purple for fasteners smalled than 1/4". I've never had a screw vibrate loose, and also never had a problem removing a screw.

Big thumbs-up to cleaning the fastener with acetone or brake cleaner (or gun scrubber, if you want it expensively cleaned ) first before applying the loctite. It bonds a lot better if it's got clean metal to stick to.

When I went to replace my old depleted bottle of Loctite 242, the Ace hardware didn't have that brand . . . I've now got Permatex "medium strength threadlocker blue" and it's he same stuff. Apparently, the numbers seem to be a generic formula designation that works across brands. Get 242 or blue, and it will be fine.

i use blue

Ooops...Yer right Tom488. It is purple (Loctite 222). Purple's O K...It's kinda red. Isn't it?

I used the red stuff on a Colt Navy where the arbor pin came loose. Subsequently I had to get it off again because I had left it one turn too far out. Heated it with a gas torch and it came loose.

This may help you out http://www.type2.com/library/chemicals/loctite.htm

Note that there are 15 different "blue" and 13 different "red" loctite formulas.

There is a lot more to it than “red”, “blue” etc. even with the same manufacture different compounds use the same die color and certainly with different brands you will have vastly different compounds with the same color. Personally I almost never use thread locker on bases and never on rings and have had exactly zero come loose in decades. I have however seen a lot of damage caused by the use of thread lockers on the small screws common on firearms.

Kind Of Like Duct Tape...

I use Blue 242 on my M1 gas cylinders that are just a tad loose instead of peening the splines (I 'peen only if they won't tighten up with the 242). I don't routinely remove them, but if I do, it's a simple re-do, and I haven't had one come loose from shooting yet. Loctite says the blue "removes with hand tools" and that has been my experience - haven't needed heat yet.