Never had a scope (mount) problem in 45 years of shooting until now - always use/ buy Leupold products - old school. Shoot a Kimber 84M in .308 with STD Leupold base/ rings and VX3 3.5-10 50mm glass. I noticed that the rear ring mounted with windage screws had shifted slightly forward - screws were tight. However, something did not look right; removed the scope and rear ring - to my dismay, the "dimples" underneath the windage screws had begun to shear off - steel rings shearing - hmmmm! The rifle is very light and is a real thumper on the bench; the scope is a heavier model for that rifle weight. I am guessing that the combo of sharp/ quick recoil and a larger objective (heavy) scope combined to cause the shearing - just not sure. Your thoughts? Thanks.
A New One For Me
- Thread starter Steve S.
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Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Sounds plausible, although I've never heard of that happening. Perhaps that is why Leupold also makes dual-dovetail mounts?
That exact problem is the major shortcoming of the Redfield style mounts, which were designed in the 1940's. The rear ring carries very little support in the direction of the bore, leaving only the front ring to hold the scope against most of the recoil. There are many better setups for hard kickers, the dual dovetail being one of them.
Laphroaig
Laphroaig
Steve S;
I had the same situation happen with a .338 Winchester magnum, a larger scope, and those type of mounts from another maker. I went to Talley mounts on the same gun with the same scope & haven't had a problem since. The first set-up went sour in about a hundred rounds or so. Been about ten years ago though, but that round count is reasonably close.
900F
I had the same situation happen with a .338 Winchester magnum, a larger scope, and those type of mounts from another maker. I went to Talley mounts on the same gun with the same scope & haven't had a problem since. The first set-up went sour in about a hundred rounds or so. Been about ten years ago though, but that round count is reasonably close.
900F
I have a number of Kimbers. I shot the 308 Montana today and it was right on as I hoped and expected at 200 yds.
The scope is a 2.5-8X Zeiss Conquest in Weaver Quad Lock rings on Weaver bases. I have Weaver mounts on many rifles for half a century including my 358's. They always work fine. Easy to take off and on also.
I have other mounts for looks or the just came with the rifle. Conetrol, Buehler,
Leupold, Ruger etc. Yes some of those side screws in the rear mount are not the best design.
The scope is a 2.5-8X Zeiss Conquest in Weaver Quad Lock rings on Weaver bases. I have Weaver mounts on many rifles for half a century including my 358's. They always work fine. Easy to take off and on also.
I have other mounts for looks or the just came with the rifle. Conetrol, Buehler,
Leupold, Ruger etc. Yes some of those side screws in the rear mount are not the best design.
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
Yup---Leupold STD mounts are garbage
Go with the dual dovetail or QRW mount systems.
Go with the dual dovetail or QRW mount systems.
Thank you fellows; I thought that maybe I had mounted the scope incorrectly or just had a defective ring. I bought a new set of Leupold rings (I know, the definition of insanity) but made a change - took my 40mm VX3 off of my Kimber .22 (lighter scope) and switched the glass between the two rifles. I will re-sight the .308 and pay close attention to the mounting system. I have always used this mounting system on all of my life's rifles (had heavier thumpers when I went thru the magnum disease) and never had a failure - however, based upon this and other readings, I will have to look at other options for this rifle (if it fails again). It is just a very fine shooting rifle - deserves a stable scope platform. Thank you again.
I'd stop short of calling them "garbage"! Back in the day, your choices were Redfield or Weaver mounts which have some issues as well.
I have several sets of Redfield/Leupold bases on 30-06, .308, 25-06, and .260 rifles and have never had a problem. I like the ability to adjust the preliminary windage in the base, although I've heard you can bend your tube doing that. I think Steve's problem is a combination of a lightweight rifle and a big 50mm scope. I bet the smaller scope fixes his problem. Be sure to snug that front ring good and tight!
Laphroaig
I have several sets of Redfield/Leupold bases on 30-06, .308, 25-06, and .260 rifles and have never had a problem. I like the ability to adjust the preliminary windage in the base, although I've heard you can bend your tube doing that. I think Steve's problem is a combination of a lightweight rifle and a big 50mm scope. I bet the smaller scope fixes his problem. Be sure to snug that front ring good and tight!
Laphroaig
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osprey176
Member
I've had one scope mount failure in fourty years of shooting,and it was the same as you described,with a Redfield brand mount. However,the gun was a T/C Contender chambered in .444 Marlin.I had front and rear extension rings (more leverage)and an Armson OEG red dot sight.The barrel was ported,but the recoil was way past intense.Your .308,even in a light weight rifle shouldn't cause failure on it's own. It's possible your rear mount was over tightened,causing stress,and eventually,metal fatigue leading to failure.That ring/mount combination has been working well for sixty some odd years,it's far from garbage.My two cents.
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