Scope Help

[DanTheFarmer]

Hi All,

I'm just mounting my first scope on my first rifle (o.k., the first since my Weaver 6X on a Mossberg 333 22lr back in 1974 and I think my older brother actually mounted that one.)

A week or so ago I mounted the bottom of the rings on the rifle and put thread locker (the reversible kind) on those Torx screws.

Tonight I fiddled around and got the fore and aft positioning of the scope to my liking and then used a LaserLyte scope leveler to level the cross hairs.

Now I've put on the top half of the rings (Weaver Grand Slam, steel, 1", medium) and tightened those Torx screws.

My question is, "How tight is tight?". I used the little wrench that came with the rings to get them to "snug" and turned just a bit tighter to "light firm". Is that about right? The nice lady at the gun store where I bought the rings recommened no thread locker on the ring to ring Torx screws, but to put it on the ring to base Torx screws. Does this sound right too?

Thanks for your help. After following the sage advise I'm sure I'll get here I'll adjust as needed and then boresight in morning.

Paper targets beware!

Dan

 

[Sky]

Dan I have seen guys put muscle into screws with no bad results. Have seen guys do the blue loctite with firm psi. As long as you do not strip out the screws or do damage to your scope and the scope does not come lose you gonna be in the ball park. There are probably guys who will insist that you do 34.7658 pounds of torque for a particular mount but like I said as long as no strip, bend fold or come lose you did good! I would make sure the screws are tightened equally kinda like putting a tire on your car.

 

[stsimons]

I was always told to tighten the rings until the allen wrench starts take a nice bend. I've always done it that way and never had a single problem with the scopes getting loose or having heavy ring marks. Maybe right, maybe wrong... but its never failed me in 30 yrs...

 

[Bear70]

Torx screws don't need loctite, even on the bases. A tiny drop of oil under the screw head will help you torque it down tight enough. Generally, using just your thumb, middle and forefinger will give you about 15-20 inch lbs of torque which is what you need for ring screws.

 

[slowr1der]

I just installed some Burris rings today, and even though it had torx screws I used some blue locktite. Am I an idiot? Or was what I did fine? I'm just used to using it on all the other setups I've done.

BTW don't you mean 15-20 inch pounds, not ft lbs?

 

[Bear70]

I really did not specify foot lbs, but yes, inch pounds. Corrected reply.

 

[LoonWulf]

I hand tight my ring screws, both at the base and scope. I actualy put quite a bit of effort into the base to gun screws and use lock tite. I had a cheap base come lose and then sheer a mount screw on my .300

 

[DanTheFarmer]

Thanks for the advice guys. I tightened down those screws some more, boresighted and now I think I'm ready for the range.

Dan