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Generally you'd go with what the optic manufacturer says. It's their tube you'll be clamping down onto. Too much over their spec and yes, there could be damage. A lot of factors in this though (number of screws, type of mount, etc). Common sense also plays a small part.
You double sure you're not confusing the base screw torque with the ring torque? What model mount is this?
Valuable info there. Thanks.A quick google showed me that your mount has two screws per ring, that correct?
For context, when a scope maker recommended their scopes be mounted in no more than 18 inch pounds, I emailed them and asked what rings they tested with. Their response was Badger Ordnance, four screws per ring.
"that'll give you approximately exactly enough"
don;t you mean
that'll give you exactly approximately enough?
I agree.I also go with what the mount maker specs.
Just do them up finger tight using the short end of a L shaped allen key, that'll give you approximately exactly enough.
I agree, a simple Wheeler Fat Wrench is something every gun owner can afford.I’m sorry, that is a ridiculous statement. If I’m running a $2800-$3000 scope...which MANY of us are, I’m not going with “almost good enough.”
Between my time, ammo, match fees, traveling expenses, etc, I’m NOT showing up to a 2 day match to look at my scope that slipped in my rings. It’s now canted, my zero is gone, and I have horrible scrape marks/ring marks on my scope.
I’m this day and age with in lbs wrenches so affordable, there’s zero reason to go “good enough.”
First hand experience. Bought a vortex and let the gun shop mount it. Took rifle to range and it shot all over the place. And this was a proven 1/2 inch rifle. Called gun shop back and they said I needed to contact Vortex knowing all along it was the scope and I wanted my money back. Note the gun shop torqued it to 25 inch pounds with nightforce rings. Called vortex and had to send scope in. They called me and accused me of bending the tube when I mounted it and said there scopes couldn't be torqued over 17 in/lbs. After the guy got through busting my ass I busted his and told him I didn't mount the scope and to call the gun shop that did and deal with them and to send me a check for the scope because if there scopes were that shitty I didn't want one. Vortex refunded my money. So you might want to look at scope manufacturer specs first.
I’m sorry, that is a ridiculous statement. If I’m running a $2800-$3000 scope...which MANY of us are, I’m not going with “almost good enough.”
Between my time, ammo, match fees, traveling expenses, etc, I’m NOT showing up to a 2 day match to look at my scope that slipped in my rings. It’s now canted, my zero is gone, and I have horrible scrape marks/ring marks on my scope.
I’m this day and age with in lbs wrenches so affordable, there’s zero reason to go “good enough.”
You're going to shit your pants when you find out that people who maintain aircraft that cost hundreds of millions of dollars don't use a torque wrench on every bolt, nut and screw they install.
If you are that concerned about getting it perfect, I hope you send your $50 torque wrench for calibration every 6 months to ensure its correct.
Considering the different options shown in this thread alone goes too show that it is not as important as you might think, the difference between the ring and scope manufactures recommendation can vary greatly, as seen above Tagent Theta say 15 in-lbs and ARC say 50-55 in-lb so what you going set your wrench too?
Chances are the scope manufacturer recommends a lighter setting so folk don't phone up and complain they dented the tube on their $3000 scope, and the ring manufacturer recommends a higher torque so that the rings wont come loose and folk phone up and complain their scope lost zero and cost them a 2 day match and some ammo and $600 of food and accommodation fees.
Unless you are a total ham fist or can't feel the difference between 15 in-lb and 15 ft-lb (it has been done) then chances are you will get it right by feel.
If you want to use a torque wrench that's fine go ahead, but the difference between not enough torque that your rings slip and too much that you dent your tube is quite considerable, especially if you have a short lever you are tightening with (hence the L shaped allen key).
Most of the time torque settings are recommend as to ensure screws aren't over tightened due to ham fistery, but it can cause issues when the same hand fist can't use or set a torque wrench right and instead of doing what feels about right they rely on their torque wrench they are not using correctly and still screw it up.
So in summary, just use a L shaped allen key, has worked fine for me for the last decade.
Then you rock you brother.
I’ll use my torque wrench and we will both be happy. ?
@beetroot It’s impossible for you to get even torque across all fasteners without something to measure it with. I was a GM Certified ASE Master for over 20 years. Torque on big fasteners like suspension and heads is critical, how much more so on tiny scope ring fasteners?
I’m not saying you cannot get away with it, but saying you can get perfect results with no other measurement besides your Mark3 hand unit is not an honest statement.
While not the same as a $400 Snapon inch/lb torque wrench (which I own) a Wheeler Fat Wrench for like $20 at least will torque all fasteners to the same amount and not allow any to loosen due to being uneven (especially in caps with multiple fasteners per side).
20 years as a tech, Service Manager, more as a Snapon franchisee and a small business owner has taught me that when someone refuses to use proper and proven methods and tools to do perfect (not “it’ll do”) work, I fire him or ignore him.
Can you imagine a gunsmith telling a customer “yeah I just snug these up by feel cause torque limiting tools are not as accurate as this here hand”...Hell no and that guy would not be in business for long.
Bubbas saying that their hand is more capable of getting proper and EQUAL torque, which is in inch pounds on tiny fasteners, than a torque limiting wrench or measuring wrench is a fawking joke.
Give me a break.
I’m not saying you can’t get away with it, he’ll I could get away without torquing a headbolt or a barrel nut or a bearing cap but it isn’t the right way or best way or the way that is the most likely to create the best outcome.
Do it any way you want, I don’t give one care if you goof up you own shit, but stating what you did in a technical forum where people read to understand things and learn is simply ignorant.
And...
I have already stated I typically use the mount’s specs.
What bothers me the most? Scope manufacturers and mount manufacturers be being able to come to a consensus when a specific mount/scope combination is given to them. Ask either and you get a different answer.
No it should not have any negative effect at 15 to 18 inch pounds with typical large centerfire rifles under typical recoil. The scope manufacturer should know how crappy they built their scope tubes. I have crushed only two.... a Meopta and a Vortex using a 25 inch pound tool made by Warne. I now have a "Fix It Sticks FISTL18 18 Inch Lbs Small Portable Torque Limiter" and Vortex replaced the scope. The Badger Ordnance Max 50 rings however have been awesome - totally destroyed a couple of bases (EGW & steel MGM) on this .375 H&H TC Encore..... now working with a Warne steel base and six screws ; ) and a Super Sniper. I did put a Terminator T3 break on to tame the recoil. Last range session was promising.I have a one piece mount that the manufacturer recommends 30 in/lbs torque for ring screws and a scope manufacturer that recommends 15-18 in/lbs. I used 15 in/lbs. Will this difference in torque have any negative affects?