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Tighten the screws #8029052 10/29/20 04:30 PM
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I missed a big hog last evening. Crosshairs were right on him, and he was standing still at 200 yards. And I just flat missed. That actually gave me a minor bout of depression and frustration. Shouldn’t have missed. So, this morning I checked the sights and found the POI to be about 3” low at 100. It’s the new Athlon scope, which has been perfect up till now, and I hadn’t hammered it against anything. Looked it over close and realized that the scope had slid forward in the rings. The screws were not just loose, but were very loose - all 4 of them. They were plenty tight last time I checked. Could cold weather cause an expansion difference between the aluminum Aero Precision mount/rings and the steel screws?

I’ve never been a Lock-tite user. Maybe I need to be.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8029066 10/29/20 04:39 PM
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Could be a CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) mismatch. That would be the property and characteristic to Google for each metal. But, I doubt it. Sounds like more a mismatch in flexural strength of the two materials. I'm not a fan of loc tite here either, but sounds like it may be a necessary evil here, IMO.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8029072 10/29/20 04:42 PM
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Good bases, good rings, low strength locktite, and typically tighten 5 in/lbs tighter than recommended.

Loose scope, and loose action screws cause big problems.

They most likely came loose due to repeated recoil, probably not temperature.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: J.G.] #8029106 10/29/20 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by FiremanJG
Good bases, good rings, low strength locktite, and typically tighten 5 in/lbs tighter than recommended.

Loose scope, and loose action screws cause big problems.

They most likely came loose due to repeated recoil, probably not temperature.

That's a pretty hefty increase, 25% on some rings. That would be compounded even greater with loc-tite. If someone tried that with a material mismatch they'd likely strip something. Good equipment, I go with the published spec, that was likely taken from a thread engagement table.

But, you did say "typically".


An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8029120 10/29/20 05:18 PM
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Blue loc-tite on all scope screws and mounts. There is zero reason not to do so.


Originally Posted by onlysmith&wesson
I was wrong...on anything technical.

Originally Posted by Sailor
Fitz............. is right, ya know............
Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8029253 10/29/20 06:57 PM
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I suppose the ‘screw loosener’ must have been recoil, but it’s a 223, so recoil isn’t much. And the AR really isn’t that light.

Oh, well, everything is back where it should be, and seriously tight. Still no lock-tite. The scope is again dialed in.


Not my monkeys, not my circus...
Re: Tighten the screws [Re: onlysmith&wesson] #8029344 10/29/20 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by onlysmith&wesson
Originally Posted by FiremanJG
Good bases, good rings, low strength locktite, and typically tighten 5 in/lbs tighter than recommended.

Loose scope, and loose action screws cause big problems.

They most likely came loose due to repeated recoil, probably not temperature.

That's a pretty hefty increase, 25% on some rings. That would be compounded even greater with loc-tite. If someone tried that with a material mismatch they'd likely strip something. Good equipment, I go with the published spec, that was likely taken from a thread engagement table.

But, you did say "typically".


I'm willing to take the risk I'm taking. I've had things come loose before, too. Locktite and 5 in/lbs over is less of a risk than a scope coming loose.

I don't do that on other people's rings, just mine. But, what I buy hasn't broken yet.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8029386 10/29/20 08:42 PM
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Just me-
Anytime I mount a scope, all the screws get loctite, I put a
bead of loctite between the receiver and base, and I put a
thin coat on the inside of the rings. Mine won't get loose
and blow a shot for me. If I thought the scope would
never need to be removed, I'd epoxy all of that with JB
Weld or something similar. I know several that weld their
bases to their receiver.
Many other things might happen, but my scope will never
come loose at a critical time and cause me to flub a shot
or cut a hunt short for me. That's one variable I have control
over, and I'll never let it be an issue with my shooting.

Re: Tighten the screws [Re: maximum] #8029471 10/29/20 10:04 PM
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Oh hell no. Just loctite the screws. Blue version.

Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8029503 10/29/20 10:32 PM
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If they come loose again, I’ll use the blue lock-tite. I’ll be watching em closely.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: Big Fitz] #8029583 10/29/20 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Big Fitz
Blue loc-tite on all scope screws and mounts. There is zero reason not to do so.


This here.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8030460 10/30/20 05:56 PM
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I'm in agreement with the folks who advocate for blue loctite.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8030962 10/31/20 01:20 AM
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If you use Loctite blue, remember that it takes 24 hours to cure. There is also a PURPLE LOCTITE that is for aluminum and brass.
Different LOCTITE Products and Uses.

Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8033866 11/02/20 03:12 PM
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Funny because I was just coming in to post on torque numbers for rings. I've had two rifles where the scopes are rotating off axis. I fixed my 6.5 and will fix the .308 later since it's still dead on (just tightened the rings a little). I'm going to 25 in lbs but what is everyone else doing?

I'll add some blue loctite if it happens again. I think the culprit is running around on the SxS over rough terrain

Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8034221 11/02/20 05:57 PM
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I use a fatwrench, torque to the ring/base manufacturer spec and put blue locktite on. Never had a problem.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8034271 11/02/20 06:36 PM
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All of the above for me red, but no loctite...sounds like I'm headed that direction

Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8034312 11/02/20 07:00 PM
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Purple Loctite on scope screws.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: Cast] #8034629 11/02/20 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Cast
Purple Loctite on scope screws.


Purple works but Blue is stronger and still removable without heat. I see no advantage to Purple, am I missing something Cast?


Originally Posted by onlysmith&wesson
I was wrong...on anything technical.

Originally Posted by Sailor
Fitz............. is right, ya know............
Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8035106 11/03/20 05:09 AM
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Also degrease the male and female threads with acetone, Gun Scrubber, or something equally effective. Blue Loctite and a torque wrench are givens as are rings with either 4 or 6 screws per ring riding atop a pic rail. The bonus of using a pic rail and ring setup is switching scopes is quick and easy.

Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8035259 11/03/20 01:22 PM
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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: 603Country] #8035293 11/03/20 01:46 PM
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Fellas, I have the Fat Wrench and a rainbow of loktite. At the moment, everything is set up without the loctite and I’ll leave it that way for now. I keep telling myself that I had cranked those screws down tight last time, but the possibility remains that I didn’t. If even one of those screws shows signs of being looser from now on, the loctite gets used. Blue loctite.


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: jeffbird] #8035300 11/03/20 01:48 PM
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Originally Posted by jeffbird
Also degrease the male and female threads with acetone, Gun Scrubber, or something equally effective. Blue Loctite and a torque wrench are givens as are rings with either 4 or 6 screws per ring riding atop a pic rail. The bonus of using a pic rail and ring setup is switching scopes is quick and easy.

I do this also - clean before installing with blue LT. I use the Wheeler Fat Wrench. Wish Wheeler could figure out an adapter for AR barrel nuts!


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Re: Tighten the screws [Re: Big Fitz] #8035449 11/03/20 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Big Fitz
Originally Posted by Cast
Purple Loctite on scope screws.


Purple works but Blue is stronger and still removable without heat. I see no advantage to Purple, am I missing something Cast?


Yeah, it’s recommended by the scope guys and it holds until it doesn’t need too. You need red, blue and purple.


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