Mounting with a LaRue LT-104

[.Scarecrow.]

I experienced some flaking in a scope because I presume that I tightened it too hard or did something else wrong. I am mounting a Vortex Viper PST 1-4x24 on my DDM4V3 with said mount. I want to make sure I do it 100% correct. I've heard people say to get an Inch Pounds Torque Wrench and I think that is a wise idea. I would like if someone could point in the direction of one a good one that will also fit the mount screws of course. One in a nice price range would help as well. I would also like advice on correctly mounting scopes and what to do and not do.

 

[Outlaw Man]

I used the Wheeler torque driver that came with their scope mounting kit, but I'm sure they sell it separately. I'm pretty sure one of their bits fit the screws on the LaRue mount perfectly, if I remember correctly.

Fortunately, you shouldn't need to do any lapping or alignment on those rings. Install the scope and rings, getting them just tight enough to keep the scope from flipping around. Set your eye relief and level the scope (align the reticle with the edge of a wall or something if you don't have levels). Once you get it square, tighten the rings, alternating opposite holes like you're tightening lug nuts on a car. Your screws should have come with loc-tite (of another brand) already on them, at least that's how my LaRue shipped.

 

[.Scarecrow.]

They did come with Lock-tite on them but it's just a red smear and doesn't seem to do anything at all.

 

[MrCleanOK]

That little red smear is all it takes. Larue knows what they're doing.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Mine held up under shooting (granted, it's a 5.56), flying halfway across the country in an airplane, and back in a truck. I just recently swapped scopes, and the screws were still as snug as the day I tightened them. Everything about those mounts is built like a tank.

 

[.Scarecrow.]

I know it's not the best but I think I'm going to go for the Wheeler FAT Inch Pounds Torque Wrench. Right now I just can't justify $180+ on this kind of wrench, and it seems to satisfy people in regards to mounting scopes.

 

[Outlaw Man]

That's the one I have. I honestly haven't used it that much, but so far it seems to be good.

 

[.Scarecrow.]

If anyone reads this. I mounted the scope today and it worked great while firing. No flaking problems. However, I read the meter on the wrench wrong and instead of being at about 24 inch pounds I'm actually at 15. Will this be enough to hold it in place? I am afraid of tightening it anymore.

 

[taliv]

Torque Wrenches are nice but not necessary. Just snug them up by hand. Don't apply a lot of pressure. The key is to keep going around the screws. Tighten one until you feel it is right then tighten the next one etc. when you get back around to the first screw you will find that applying the same amount of pressure by hand will move it quite a bit further because of the work the other screws are doing. So I just do 3-4 rounds like that until they stop moving more with the same pressure

How'd you guys get red loktite? All the screws I've gotten from Larue have had blue on them.

And if you're afraid to tighten it more then don't!

Use witness marks to make sure they're not coming loose over time

 

[Outlaw Man]

I honestly can't remember what color mine had.

 

[.Scarecrow.]

Larue recommends 30 inch pounds and someone else said that Larue's should be set at 20-25 inch pounds. I think lighter might be better in the case of preventing flaking, would 20 inch pounds be enough to hold the scope snug while shooting? Again this is on an AR.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Not to resurrect an old thread, but I didn't want to leave this one hanging.

While I have read LaRue saying their thread locker can be reused 10-15 times, YMMV.

After finally getting my new barrel, I went out to try it out. As the day wore on, by shooting got HORRIBLE. I couldn't figure out why.

I was showing the rifle to a friend on Labor Day and noticed the scope rattling. Some of the screws had worked themselves loose. They were properly torqued originally.

I've since cleaned the threads and reapplied Loctite. Again, you may have better luck than me, but I'd advise caution if you plan to reinstall the screws with the same thread locker.