Scope ring torque

[Pyscodog]

I guess the previous owner was afraid recoil would loosen the screws on the little Annie 22 mag I just bought. I had to use 60 inch pounds to break the screws loose. I've seen them tight before but never that tight. I couldn't break them loose with a regular allen wrench. I had to use my Wheeler Fat Wrench and even at 60 it snapped a few times before it broke loose. Doubt they go back that tight.

 

[6Creed73]

Yikes! I torque mine at about 16 inch lbs. I hope he didn't damage the internals of the scope...that's way too tight.

 

[243Lapua]

Whenever it's the base screws I like to give it a good whack with a brass hammer, get the proper size hex adapter insert on screw and whack, if it's a flat screwdriver head I use the proper size screwdriver and do the same. Usually unseizes it.

 

[Shooter13]

Yikes! I torque mine at about 16 inch lbs. I hope he didn't damage the internals of the scope...that's way too tight.

Yes, I'm at 18 for the scope and 40 for the ring base.

 

[6Creed73]

Yes, I'm at 18 for the scope and 40 for the ring base.

That's a good point...he may have been talking about the ring base, which is still too tight but not nearly as bad as if he torqued the scope rings that tight. If he had the scope rings that tight, I'd be surprised if it's not damaged.

 

[Pyscodog]

No guys, it was the ring cap screws. I had my Fat wrench maxed out. Usually I go 18 on the ring caps and a little tighter on the ring to base screws. I tried just an allen wrench at first and almost cut my hands, They were TIGHT!!!

 

[WileyG]

ARC M-Brace rings recommend 55 inch pounds if I remember correctly.

 

[South Pender]

The most common advice I've seen re scope mount screws is 25 in-lbs. for the base screws and 15-20 in.-lbs. for the ring screws. Swarovski recommends 2 Nm (17.7 in.lbs) for ring screws, and less if less is recommended by the scope-mount maker, but not more. They are mute on base-to-receiver screws for obvious reasons, as their concern is with damaging the scope tube.

I routinely use the 25 in-lbs. torque on the base screws with purple or blue Loctite (but absolutely never red). The last thing I want is to rip the heads off screws or strip the screw threads (or worse, the receiver-hole threads). The thread-locker is insurance.

 

[rijndael]

I routinely use the 25 in-lbs. torque on the base screws with purple or blue Loctite (but absolutely never red).

I'd be hesitant to talk about base screw torque values without talking about fastener sizes. A 6-48 probably shouldn't get the same torque as a one of the substantially larger screws that American Rifle Company uses.

 

[South Pender]

I'd be hesitant to talk about base screw torque values without talking about fastener sizes. A 6-48 probably shouldn't get the same torque as a one of the substantially larger screws that American Rifle Company uses.

Yes, you're right. I was assuming 6-48 base screws as that is the size of all base screws I've encountered.

 

[D-4297]

Perfect example is Vortex recommends a maximum of 24 inch pounds on Caps , the Tech said never more than 35 inch pounds on Rail clamps , or contact the Scope Ring manufacturer for their specs .

 

[Bill Norris]

A while back a friend of mine came over and mounted a scope on his rifle. When it was time to tighten the ring cap screws I offered him my torque wrench and set it @ 20 inch pds. When the wrench let go and clicked he said awe man that ain't tight enough and decided to tighten "by feel" A few weeks later he was taking the scope back off and returning it due to "scope ain't no good" BTW, the tube was scarred and indented in several places.

 

[DShortt]

If you guys would lap your rings you wouldn't need to torque the screws to the point of stripping things or denting scope tunes.

Captain Obvious here.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Warne got a bad batch of screws a few years ago. Those ring screws would twist off at the head like piece of bailing wire when barely tight, they made it good and would replace them.

 

[majohnson]

Something to consider, they might of had some type of chemical thread locker. Check the screws and mount. If they did you might run a tap to clean out the threads so you do not get a false torque value.

 

[dantiff2]

Something to consider, they might of had some type of chemical thread locker. Check the screws and mount. If they did you might run a tap to clean out the threads so you do not get a false torque value.

Agreed^^ Also, breakaway torque can be substantially higher than the initial tension torque after a period of time. Something torqued to 20 in-lbs, twenty years ago may need 40 to break. Just be mindful of where you torque to and I wouldn't worry about it ; )

 

[South Pender]

Here's something from Warne that I found useful:

Torque and Scope Mounts: Proper Torque Specs for Scope Rings.

Part of properly attaching set of rings to a scope requires using the right amount of torque. Learn how much torque you need for scope rings.

warnescopemounts.com

 

[South Pender]

If you guys would lap your rings you wouldn't need to torque the screws to the point of stripping things or denting scope tunes.

Captain Obvious here.

Some scope-mount makers advise against lapping. Talley for one.

 

[linebaugh]

Could be thread locker or oxidation of screws to the rings. Likely more common than we think. Been there and glad they broke free and the heads didn't pop off.

 

[Thud]

By chance were they loctited in.