Persistently Loose Rail - Tool and Locking Compound Issues

[tmwinds]

Can you even buy a non-hardened bit?

Some are harder than others I guess, I've rounded off a few, I could probably break a bowling ball with my less than stellar mechanical skills.

 

[boltfluter]

I would put a straight edge on the rail first to see how bad it is or not. If straight proceed. If not, toss it and get a brand name rail. EGW puts out some real junk from time to time.

Paul

 

[Larryh128]

My first post in this part of the Forum.

I’ve got an EGW rail on a 338 LM Savage that is working a lot better than the factory rail, but it still comes loose after around 80-100 shots. I have using the stick type blue loctite and around 45-50 ft-lbs to reattach. I have not had a problem with a rail coming loose on other rifles.

Today I noticed the rail was loose again. No trouble removing the four screws, they were just hand tight. When retightening today, after I made it to 30 ft-lbs I noticed my T10 driver was twisting on the tip, and it happened to two different ones. I mean it yielded. I think the tool steel is crap. What is a recommended brand and steel grade for Torx / Hex head etc bits so that the tool is at least as hard as the screws? I don’t know much about tools, always leaned toward Craftsman unless I had other information, but I wonder about them now that Sears is folding.

I am also unsure about what locking compound would help the rail hold longer. I have been using blue loctite liquid and stick types. I have on hand unopened packets of the liquid in red strength, and I also have Roksett.

There are much better tools available than Craftsman, not what they were years ago.

 

[ricco1949]

@6ShotsOr5?

I can't imagine a 6x48 or an 8x40 standing up to 45-50 foot pounds. Surely they would strip. Did u mean to write 45-50 inch pounds? EGW recommends 20 inch pounds.

 

[hogpatrol]

WIHA makes hardened torx bits. I bought a set of their ball end metric hex drivers for the tiny screws on scopes. Good quality stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001US4RMI/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

@6ShotsOr5?

I can't imagine a 6x48 or an 8x40 standing up to 45-50 foot pounds. Surely they would strip. Did u mean to write 45-50 inch pounds? EGW recommends 20 inch pounds.

Yes DEFINITELY, surprised someone didn’t catch that sooner.

 

[memilanuk]

Any particular reason you're going so heavy on the torque, other than things coming loose? As already pointed out, EGW recommends 20 in-lbs, and other manufacturers (i.e. Farrell) recommend similar values - 20-25 in-lbs. That and a (small) drop of blue Loctite should be enough to hold it for a good long while - assuming the rail fits the receiver well.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Any particular reason you're going so heavy on the torque, other than things coming loose? As already pointed out, EGW recommends 20 in-lbs, and other manufacturers (i.e. Farrell) recommend similar values - 20-25 in-lbs. That and a (small) drop of blue Loctite should be enough to hold it for a good long while - assuming the rail fits the receiver well.

Just what you said, trying to get it to stay put. I’m only going to 20-30 inch pounds now because those #10 Torx kept breaking anyway. I’ve already bedded the high end with JB Weld and torqued down the low end to 30 in-pounds with purple loctite on them. Now I’m going to wait several days before putting in the high-end screws and I’m gonna only go 10-15 pounds on those since there’s JB Weld on that end already.

 

[memilanuk]

Sounds good. I'd love to see pics of the underside of the rail after you have it all done.

 

[GNERGY]

Tighten the screws and then take a hammer and your bit and give them a smack, that sets them a little deeper in the threads and then tighten some more. They shouldn't come loose. That is how I have been doing mine since I got my first Unertl scope back in the 70's
Tarey

 

[moondog]

I had the same issue with a Savage over and over. Murphy base bedded, not glued.
It was the stainless screws. Never came loose again after they got changed.

 

[Ggmac]

Bed it , it'll work !