Loose screw…still accurate?

[bsparker]

During my last hunt the mounting screw on my scope came loose.

I didn’t have time to tighten it and test fire to ensure it was still on target. I assume the loosening and tightening of the screw could impact the sights. Am I correct?

My gut tells me to pull out another rifle until I get to confirm it’s still sighted correctly. Just looking for confirmation or correction.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I would be leery of it still being OK. If you have the time check the zero.

 

[jmr40]

There are 10 total screws there. If only one was loose you're fine, maybe 2 or more depending on which ones. Are you talking about the 4 screws holding the scope in the rings, the 2 holding the rings to the base, or the 4 holding the base to the rifle? I've used rings like that in the past to completely remove the scope, then replace it and if zero changed it wasn't enough for me to notice.

It is when the screws holding the base to the rifle get loose that causes the most problems, and those are hard to see.

If you have another rifle it might be good for peace of mind to use it until you can verify zero. But I'm betting it is probably OK

 

[bsparker]

There are 10 total screws there. If only one was loose you're fine, maybe 2 or more depending on which ones. Are you talking about the 4 screws holding the scope in the rings, the 2 holding the rings to the base, or the 4 holding the base to the rifle? I've used rings like that in the past to completely remove the scope, then replace it and if zero changed it wasn't enough for me to notice.

It is when the screws holding the base to the rifle get loose that causes the most problems, and those are hard to see.

If you have another rifle it might be good for peace of mind to use it until you can verify zero. But I'm betting it is probably OK

The ones holding the rings to the the base. The large ones in the photo. only one of them may have become loose.

I’ve already grabbed the 30-30 but prefer the trigger on the savage so I thought I’d ask.

 

[stillquietvoice]

The ones holding the rings to the the base. The large ones in the photo. only one of them may have become loose.

I’ve already grabbed the 30-30 but prefer the trigger on the savage so I thought I’d ask.

Best to check zero, tightening that screw could torque the scope if you don't loosen all 4 that hold scope in the rings.

I fell, into a drainage ditch. with one of my rifles earlier in the season. And haven't been able to check its zero either.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

My buddie Johnnie was shooting his .308 and the impact kept walking around. I asked him if the scope screws were loose, sure 'nough, they were. Now I have the rifle, waiting on him to pick it up. I "oiled" the screws with some blue locktite.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[AJC1]

Swap the thumb nuts with actual nuts and use lock tight. A torque speck is available for all standard fasteners on Google. Find the correct size and use the spec.

 

[Atavar]

As long as it was just the one screw you should be fine. Really the screw just pulls the machined part of the ring tight to the rail. I have taken a scope completely off and put it back and it’s been right on. As long as you didn’t mess with the tube clamps it shouldn’t change anything.

 

[FL-NC]

I would use another until I tested that one.

 

[wombat13]

Safest to use another suitable rifle, but...if you are hunting at distances appropriate for a .30-30, then I would be surprised if your POI/POA has shifted enough that yo would miss a deer.

 

[Chuck R.]

I agree with the others, be on the safe side, use another rifle.

BTW, this is one of the reasons I like my discontinued Leupold Zero Point Boresighter (Why, why, discontinue something that works!). While the tool works well for boresighting, it excels at recording zero's for verification should something happen to your rifle/scope. After zeroing I put the bosresighter on to record the zero. I then take pictures of the reticle grid (pics below) using my phone and take the boresighter with me on hunting trips. Should something happen it's easy to re-check my zeros without firing a shot.

Two of my hunting rifle zeros:





A couple of years ago I put this to the test while remounting a scope. I had the Leupold custom shop change out the turrets on one of my target scopes. Before shipping it I made sure to capture as accurately as possible the zero using the Delta Point. When the scope returned a remounted it in a different set of mounts (ARC M10 VS Larue), and re-zero'd the rifle using the reference grid. I then stepped out my back door to test on my turkey swinger at 407 yds, took one shot and rang the swinger. The delta between "should hit" and "did hit" was just a couple clicks, no more than would be seen due to environmental conditions.

IMHO, this could save a hunt, or at least stop a a lot of second guessing after taking a spill. The Delta Point was something like $100 new and it's probably saved me far more than that in time and ammo. It makes swapping scopes & changing mounts a breeze. Anybody that I have come out to zero, I take a couple minutes to record their data, I figure it could well save me grief in the future.

 

[bsparker]

Well I followed my gut and the advice. Took out the 30-30 and got a doe at 70 yards this morning. Piece of mind and confidence went a long way.

that said, I tightened up the screws on the 30-06. Not sure if both were loose but I could hear it rattle some as I walked, so I tightened them both to spec. I’ll replace them and use titelock next soon.

I fired off two rounds at 100 yards off the knee, it’s still spot on as some of you assumed. But better safe than sorry. Thanks.

 

[Patocazador]

I would never bank on a scope holding zero if even one screw was loose.

However, I have a loose screw and I'm still fairly accurate.

 

[Atavar]

I would never bank on a scope holding zero if even one screw was loose.

However, I have a loose screw and I'm still fairly accurate.

I agree. But if I can retighten a rail clamp screw I would hunt with it.
Think about all the quick disconnect scope mounts out there with lever rail clamps.

 

[ericuda]

Think about all the quick disconnect scope mounts out there with lever rail clamps.

I would hunt with it, I have an hk 770 with clamps and as long as the rings around the scope do not change it holds zero quite well.