NF Base coming LOOSE?!

[tfre3927]

<span style="text-decoration: underline">Equipment</span>: Nightforce base, ultralight rings, 5.5-22 NXS on R700 .308

I just came back from the range - I was punching paper at 100m just checking my zero and also working on trigger technique - anyway, it was going fine when all of a sudden I was all over paper - no significant wind, no particular shooting errors that could cause massive scatter... I started a fresh target (above) aiming ONLY at the far left square..

<span style="font-weight: bold">I did a dry fire or two with the crosshairs on target and the reticle was jumping everywhere!</span> I jiggled the scope/mounts and it was obvious the base was loose and was shifting around.

Now, this happened once before very recently: I got the rifle back from the gun smith and I just figured the smith loosened the base when he took the barrel off to turn it for a brake. I torqued the base back down at the specified 15 inch/lbs using a torque wrench but clearly the same issue has popped up again.

So..

Has this ever happened to anyone and(/or if not) what would you recommend to remedy this problem? Am I missing something? It has not come loose like this before going to the smith which is weird.

Some guys at the range said either just torque the screws down harder or use a locktight glue or whatever to secure the screws. I'm hesitant to overtorque the screws from the prescribed 15 inch/lbs or permanently lock the screws with glue but this loose rail stuff has to be fixed.

Feel free to voice what you think I should do.

 

[300ECHO]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

Sometimes what happens is that the rails on the rings and the slots on the rail are a little loose. So it might shoot ok oneday but not the next as it'll shift! Add a 3rd ring and see if that solves it.

 

[tfre3927]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

Really? I'm not sure if that makes sense. The rings are solid. It's definitely the base

 

[BookHound]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

Degrease the screws and threads on the action. Put the base on the receiver and start each screw just a couple turns to make sure everything lines up. Push the base all the way forward and snug the first (most forward) screw then the rest in order towards the back of the receiver. Come back and hit each screw with a torque wrench to 15 inch pounds.

If you feel better about it hit each screw first with just a drop of blue locktite.

Best of luck. Let us know how things work out.

 

[Spuhr]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

It happend to me with a loctited and bedded rail.
This is why I hate screw on rails and think that bases should better be integral in action!

Håkan

 

[rrflyer]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

DegreaSe

Locktite

Re-torque

 

[ranger1183]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

bed the rail. end of story.

 

[tbugher62]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

What Bookhound said...

 

[RollinCoal11]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spuhr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It happend to me with a loctited and bedded rail.
This is why I hate screw on rails and think that bases should better be integral in action!

Håkan </div></div>

How does that happen with a bedded rail ?

 

[Turk]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

Nightforce Torque Specifications
• Base attachment screws - 25 inch pounds
• Ring top screws - 25 inch pounds
• Ring crossbolt nut - 68 inch pounds

 

[tfre3927]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Turk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nightforce Torque Specifications
• Base attachment screws - 25 inch pounds
• Ring top screws - 25 inch pounds
• Ring crossbolt nut - 68 inch pounds</div></div>
<span style="text-decoration: underline">[imghttp://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1908/specscn.jpg /img] </span>

You're right Turk it has changed to 25! Must have had the old PDF on my pute

 

[Turk]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aussie700P</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Turk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nightforce Torque Specifications
• Base attachment screws - 25 inch pounds
• Ring top screws - 25 inch pounds
• Ring crossbolt nut - 68 inch pounds</div></div>

</div></div>
They have since changed to 25in pounds! It can be verified by their recent literature that comes w/ their scopes along w/ their website which I copied and pasted from!
On page 7 http://www.nightforceoptics.com/OwnersManual.pdf

 

[former naval person]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

Just TIG it on and go shoot. JMHO

 

[Hellbender]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

JB Weld is your friend.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

Really?
A poll for what to do when something is loose on a rifle, have we really come to this?


Grab an allen screw and put the long end in the fastener and tighten it as tight as you comfortably can with the short end in two fingers.

 

[WRENCHHEAD]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

use thread sealent. it's not permanent.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

1. Silly to have to say, but make sure each screw isnt too long. Especially the front most screw. It can bottom out on the barrel tenon and not actually hold the rail down.

2. Tighten the rail on as tight as you are comfortable tightening the screws to. The tighter the better in my opinion(within reason) without breaking them. Around 25inch pounds is probably what I end up on.

Thats it.
There is more that can be done but the rail shouldnt come loose if tightened all the way down.



From reading peoples posts on bedding rails, and from working on a few rifles with "bedded" rails, it seems sometimes people do more harm than good. Please done make your smiths job harder down the road. Use release agent. And only bed if its really needed. Perma-epoxying your rail to your action isnt helping a damn thing.

 

[tfre3927]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AZPrecision</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1. Silly to have to say, but make sure each screw isnt too long. Especially the front most screw. It can bottom out on the barrel tenon and not actually hold the rail down.

2. Tighten the rail on as tight as you are comfortable tightening the screws to. The tighter the better in my opinion(within reason) without breaking them. Around 25inch pounds is probably what I end up on.

Thats it.
There is more that can be done but the rail shouldnt come loose if tightened all the way down.</div></div>

I've checked the screws - the lengths are correct.

I've double checked that the recoil lug is marrying up correctly with the action etc and I've applied Loctite (blue) to the base screws.

Interesting to know that NF have increased the torque rating for their screws by 10 in/lbs (thanks turk!) so I'll torque them down to those specs. Thanks all!

 

[tfre3927]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Really?
A poll for what to do when something is loose on a rifle, have we really come to this?</div></div>

yes, we have come to this - 12 posts and 20 votes - therefore the poll was more successful in getting an overall opinion. Your cynicism is noted, though.

 

[Widowmaker0001]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

bluloctite and torque again,done.I have a NF 1 piece on my 700 .308 and installed this way with it yet to fail.Goodshootin'

~R

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

Re: NF Base coming LOOSE?!

1) Acetone to degrease
2) Locktite 271 for small screws nonpermanent
3) Retorque to proper specs
4) Wait about 20 min to let loctite set up before doing anything else