L
9

Pro tip: You're probably over-torquing scope ring screws

I see this all the time in the shop. Guys bring in rifles with scopes that won't hold zero. They blame the scope or the mount. I check the screws. Nine times out of ten, they're cranked down way too hard. I use a FAT wrench set to 15 inch-pounds, like the manual says. They just reef on it with a regular driver. It strips the threads, warps the tube, or crushes the internals. I had a guy from Tucson last month who sheared a screw clean off in his Seekins rings. That was a $80 fix he didn't need. It's a precision job, not a lug nut. How do you guys explain proper torque specs to customers without sounding like you're talking down to them?
2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In
2 Comments
milalopez
milalopez28d ago
My old man taught me to tighten scope screws until they just stop, then give a tiny nudge. Never had a scope slip in 20 years.
4
bettym89
bettym8928d agoMost Upvoted
That tiny nudge can easily double the manual's 15 inch-pound spec.
3