Keep scope in place

D

davem

Moderator
I've never had this problem before, the scope seems to be sliding back in the rings from recoil. I have tightened down the rings as much as usual, I'm wondering how to hold the scope tight?
 
You can shim inside the rings with friction tape. or if the ring screws go into blind holes, you can shorten them to make sure they aren't bottoming out
 
Options to LockTite

You can shim inside the rings with friction tape.
Click to expand...
Another option, is electrical tape, Scotch-33, sticky side onto the rings contact areas. Whenever I mount a scope, I always put light reference marks with a lead pencil and can detect any movement as soon as it starts happening.

And yet, another option;
They make a double sided sticky tape, used to install plastic sheets over windows. Use this as well and I guarantee, it won't move. This tape is harder to work with and the reference marks, will help in the alignment. Just make sure you get the tape that is rated for outdoor use. ..... ;)

Good Luck and;
Be Safe !!!
 
Thanks. I was thinking about just a small drop of glue to help hold the scope but small enough you could give it a knock and break the bond. I think some bench rest shooters just epoxy glue everything but that would be too much. :cool:
 
My longtime gunsmith uses rosin on every centerfire scope he mounts for customers.

I've never had one move on any of my guns he's done it with.
I would not advise glue.
Denis
 
I wouldn't want to put sticky stuff there. It can be pita when you need to make adjustments. First thing to make sure is that the rings are not bottomed out. Torque driver is good tool for this occasion.

-TL
 
Try it for yourself. ...

It can be pita when you need to make adjustments.
Click to expand...
One added note about the use of electrical tape like the Scotch-33. It allows you to make all the adjustments you need, then clamp it down. If it needs more adjusting, you can still take it apart. Once your are finally satisfied with your work, you leave it alone. Now, with time, some of the tape adhesives creeps out along the edges and locks up the scope. Later you can still pop the top halves of the rings off as well as remove the scope but you will have to apply a "reasonable amount of force. I have never had a scope slip on me but have worked on many that did. .... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
Use the Burris Signature rings with the polymer inserts, you'll get 100% contact between scope and rings, aligns scope with barrel, no slipping or scope marring.
 
Lap the rings to at least 80% contact and you will not have the problem. Lapping is the proper solution. When I lap rings, usually I discover that initially the rings have less than 20% contact before I lap them.
 
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Before lapping ensure you aren't using oversize rings. Which may be why they are slipping in the first place.:rolleyes:

Lapping removes material so the hole gets a smidge bigger. I had a loose set once & it turned out the 1" hole was over 1":eek:
 
I've never had to lap rings or put anything inside the rings, never had a scope slip. The scope should be moving forward during recoil, not backwards. I suspect you have cheap rings. I'd buy better rings.
 
i've scoped at least 500 guns for other folks: Also lap all the rings. i fire 10,000-15,000 centerfire rifle rounds every year, including a couple thousand magnum rifle rounds. i use quality rings and mounts.

Never personally had a scope slip in the rings. If recoil would cause a properly mounted scope to slip in the rings my 7.5 pound (with scope) .325 Winchester short mag would do it, but it don't. It did bust two Leupold rear turn in mounts.

At least once per week i'm on the firing range. All the scopes that i've witnessed slipping in the rings on the range were mounted on rifles that were fired from lead sleds. One of the numerous reasons i don't do lead sleds.
 
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In my opinion, lapping rings is as important as bedding the action. (For purposes of discussion, I consider Burris signature to be "lapped.")
Rings do not have to be lapped. Actions do not have to be bedded either, but they both make a huge difference in accuracy. A guy I shoot with has worked for several scope companies, (he is in high demand). He says almost every scope that comes in for warranty work has a bent or dented tube from being mounted in un-lapped rings. He said once they are bent, dented, or deformed, they will never be the same.
 
It amazes me that people can hand lap rings made on a CNC machine and get better results. Wow. And if the rings are not made on a CNC machine, buy better rings. Very good rings to buy: Weaver, Leupold, Burris. Very bad rings to buy: WalMart, discount store, or odd-brand sporting goods store rings. And put a drop of Loctite on the scope rings before seating the scope in them.
 
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