Thoughts on scope mounting?

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crimsoncomet

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Hey guys,
I just bought a Bushnell Elite 4200 4-16X40 side focus scope from midway. Seemed like a great deal. I am going to set it in a one piece luepold base with leupold rings on my remington 700 LTR. I have always just bought the scope and rings and mounted it myself using my eyeball. The scope I took off the gun has ring marks on it.
I have recently been reading about lapping the scope rings to get the fit just perfect. Do you all suggest doing this or just go with my same method? I would hate to put ring marks on this nice scope. I have never had a problem with the scope being "off" when firing, but i would like to do this rifle up just right. Thanks in advance.
 
I've always put tightened the rings using a wooden dowel, then set the scope in them. If the scope didn't slip in easily, I'd make adjustements with my dowel.
 
Good choices on the hardware. I don't think you will need to lap the rings, since they are the one-piece design.

Good luck.
 
The odds are that the rings are not aligned correctly if you have ring marks. I'm not sure that you need lapping tools or torque driver but you definitely need a tool for correct checking ring alignment. If you doubt that, check your scope again! Doing this simple job without that tool will work sometimes and sometimes it won't.

There are how to videos at Midway's website and on YouTube. Lapping or shimming may be necessary sometimes but usually not.

;)

Bruce
 
Having mounted a lot of riflescopes, I just do not use many Leupold rings. Those that I have used, some I did lap, but honestly, I cannot tell you that it did any good. I lapped until the high points merged with the low. I have never taken the scopes off to see if there were any ring marks. I use a torque wrench to tighten all to 15 inch pounds and have never seen rings. I use mostly vertically split Warne rings and that is the reason I do not lap. I had one set of, I believe Burris rings, I could be wrong, where the scope had to almost be pressed into the bottom halves. That set did require lapping. Basically, for me, it is a lot of extra time for virtually little gain. Nice scope.
 
I use the Burris Signature rings with the polymer inserts. The inserts do a great job of aligning the scope and holding it so it doesn't slip. No lapping or ring marks.
 
For $100 you can buy a scope mounting kit from midway, cabela's, etc. Sounds pricey but you get a $50 torque wrench that has tons of firearm uses plus all the tools to mount a scope perfectly. I highly recommend this route. Or you can take you gun to your local shop and usually they will mount and lap if you buy the bases and rings from them, at least Cabelas does. But personally I get tired of driving out there and waiting in line. If you mound a scope or two a year OR like to swap scopes and rifles its well worth the $100. Also my scopes can go on and off with zero ring marks of any kind on them.
 
Well, i just went ahead and mounted it. The rings seemed to align very nicely. I torqued the rings to 20 in/lbs. I didnt torque the base with the torque wrench. I tightened it about as tight about as tight as a could get with the little wrench supplied by leupold. Now it's bothering me that i didnt torque the base. I may take it all off and start over. They are most likey over tightened. Any chance of them breaking off?
 
If you don't want ring marks, I'd recommend going with the Burris Signature Zee rings instead of the Leupold ones.
 
crimsoncomet said:
Well, i just went ahead and mounted it. The rings seemed to align very nicely. I torqued the rings to 20 in/lbs. I didnt torque the base with the torque wrench. I tightened it about as tight about as tight as a could get with the little wrench supplied by leupold. Now it's bothering me that i didnt torque the base. I may take it all off and start over. They are most likey over tightened. Any chance of them breaking off?
Click to expand...
You are probably fine with the bases and I would not take them off and do not worry about them breaking off. Typically tightening them with the supplied torx wrench until you cannot further tighten them without undo effort is what is done. 20 inch lbs of torque is probably ok for the rings. Enjoy.
 
Base should be fine torque specs from manufacturers are usually pretty sissyfied anyhow. My biggest things with mounting a new scope is getting cross hairs perfect and can be a pain but if your using a one piece tac style base feeler gauges seem to do the trick getting them perfect. Best of luck with your new glass.
 
Did you put any thread lock on the base screws? I use Lock-Tite RED. Not necessarily to hold the screws, but to keep moisture out of the threads. If they ever rust in, you will be in trouble dismounting :(
 
With regards to what BrocLuno wrote, if that's the reason you're using a thread locker of any kind, I would suggest switching to blue. Your reason is super-valid, I just have found that with fasteners that using the red thread locker can be a bit overkill and also give fits with small fasteners.

Just my experience with small fasteners...

Best wishes,
PE
 
dho3 said:
Having mounted a lot of riflescopes, I just do not use many Leupold rings. Those that I have used, some I did lap, but honestly, I cannot tell you that it did any good. I lapped until the high points merged with the low. I have never taken the scopes off to see if there were any ring marks. I use a torque wrench to tighten all to 15 inch pounds and have never seen rings. I use mostly vertically split Warne rings and that is the reason I do not lap. I had one set of, I believe Burris rings, I could be wrong, where the scope had to almost be pressed into the bottom halves. That set did require lapping. Basically, for me, it is a lot of extra time for virtually little gain. Nice scope.
Click to expand...
I correct myself. That should be 25 inch pounds of torque. Sorry for the mistake.
 
x2 on using blue threadlocker....No red for me on small parts or anything I plan on taking apart later. If it sets up correctly, you will have to use heat to remove them .
 
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