Background and Problem:
Have two Sako 85 - both in long action magnum calibers (300 and 7mm) with no brake / muzzle device.
Currently using Leupold QR rings (SKU 49933) with only 1 screw on each side of each ring and not too surprisingly to me, the scope shifts back towards the buttpad a fraction of a mm after each shot causing a drifting zero. However, as far as I know, these particular Leupold QR rings with the corresponding Leupold base and the Sako Optilock base + rings are the only options for the S85 that gets the scope high enough over the ejection port to where an occasional (~10%) shell that gets flipped upwards instead of out sideways (the Achilles heel of the long action S85 due to the ejector position) will still properly eject and not cause feeding issues.
Question:
Is there anything that can be done to help hold the scope in the rings that doesn't involve changing to wider rings with a scope base or having wider rings custom made that work with the corresponding base?
I see online that some people put blue loctite between the rings and scope rings for additional grip, but because it's an aluminum scope and steel rings here, I imagine that this could cause galling (electrolysis) over time. Is there something similar to teflon tape that would be gripper or better than teflon tape would be in this application?
Other Info:
Currently have the rings at 27in/lb and the scope ring screws have blue loctite. Even after the scopes shift backwards on both rifles, when I checked the screws they were still tight and the loctite on the screws had not broken upon initial loosening by me. The bases also remained tight and did not shift. I cannot move the scopes in the rings at all using my hands as expected. I have not tried lapping yet but I don't know if this would help as the rings just aren't that big.
I've read at various places online that the same Leupold ring setup mentioned above has worked for people with larger caliber Sako 85 rifles (ex XL action safari calibers) without issue. Don't want bigger rings as that would require a scope base which would mess with the ejection port clearance issue above. Went through 4 sets of Sako optilock bases and none of which fit properly on my particular rifles (this was confirmed with Beretta techs to make sure it wasn't me imaging it after the 2nd base - they were surprised too). Not interested tossing the rifles or adding a brake right now as these are amongst the very few firearms that I actually want as a collectors item first and to shoot second.
No idea why Leupold doesn't just make the rings a little wider and use 2 or more screws on each side like they do with most their other rings I see......
Have two Sako 85 - both in long action magnum calibers (300 and 7mm) with no brake / muzzle device.
Currently using Leupold QR rings (SKU 49933) with only 1 screw on each side of each ring and not too surprisingly to me, the scope shifts back towards the buttpad a fraction of a mm after each shot causing a drifting zero. However, as far as I know, these particular Leupold QR rings with the corresponding Leupold base and the Sako Optilock base + rings are the only options for the S85 that gets the scope high enough over the ejection port to where an occasional (~10%) shell that gets flipped upwards instead of out sideways (the Achilles heel of the long action S85 due to the ejector position) will still properly eject and not cause feeding issues.
Question:
Is there anything that can be done to help hold the scope in the rings that doesn't involve changing to wider rings with a scope base or having wider rings custom made that work with the corresponding base?
I see online that some people put blue loctite between the rings and scope rings for additional grip, but because it's an aluminum scope and steel rings here, I imagine that this could cause galling (electrolysis) over time. Is there something similar to teflon tape that would be gripper or better than teflon tape would be in this application?
Other Info:
Currently have the rings at 27in/lb and the scope ring screws have blue loctite. Even after the scopes shift backwards on both rifles, when I checked the screws they were still tight and the loctite on the screws had not broken upon initial loosening by me. The bases also remained tight and did not shift. I cannot move the scopes in the rings at all using my hands as expected. I have not tried lapping yet but I don't know if this would help as the rings just aren't that big.
I've read at various places online that the same Leupold ring setup mentioned above has worked for people with larger caliber Sako 85 rifles (ex XL action safari calibers) without issue. Don't want bigger rings as that would require a scope base which would mess with the ejection port clearance issue above. Went through 4 sets of Sako optilock bases and none of which fit properly on my particular rifles (this was confirmed with Beretta techs to make sure it wasn't me imaging it after the 2nd base - they were surprised too). Not interested tossing the rifles or adding a brake right now as these are amongst the very few firearms that I actually want as a collectors item first and to shoot second.
No idea why Leupold doesn't just make the rings a little wider and use 2 or more screws on each side like they do with most their other rings I see......
Last edited:
