I'm scratching my head right now looking at a broken Talley Steel Fixed Ring. I have a custom 300 Wby built on a Montana Rifle action with a Leupold VX6 3-18 scope. Replaced the Leupold rings and bases last year in favor of a more reliable and stronger set. Purchased the Talley set up after much research. Set up has performed great for the past year and around 100 rounds fired. Quick check at the range today before going out and I couldn't touch paper. Noticed the front ring was loose and found the lower screw sheared off. Rings were lapped, installed per Talley torque specs (30 in-lbs lower, 20 in-lbs upper) with locktite, and torqued with a Seekonk torque wrench. Do I throw the entire set up out and find a more reliable set up or is this a freak occurrence? Carried in the mountains but no drops or falls, mostly sat in the safe or shot at the range.

They are buying screws in bulk and the quality is just not there. I have had numerous issues with their screws, I have had one issue with screw locks not being machined correctly which scratched the crap out of a Swaro AV scope at the time.

Replace the screws and carry on. Search for American made screws online. Had a similar problem with Leupold screws a couple years ago

Is there any other way a manufacturer buys screws ?

Call and speak to Chris @ Talleys on Monday and explain the situation. He will take care of you in very short order. 803-854 5700
Ask if those are Chinese screws and let us know how it goes.

They will send you a bag of the entire set of screws. They have done so more than once for me. Never broke one, but stripped several heads (both allen and torx). One I buggered up so bad, I had to drill the head off, and then just take the ring the rest of the way apart and the rest of the screw comes right out.

There is this small matter of quality , maybe they can call the folks at DNZ and ask them where they get their screws.

Thanks for the comments. I do know there is a huge variation in screw or bolt quality between foreign and domestic. I just hope this wasn't a calculated cost saving decision for Talley. I also understand that even the best screws will have a minimal failure rate. This is what I was trying to determine. Is this a one off failure or s systemic problem with this manufacture. I will call Talley tomorrow and see how they will make it right. I can't replace the broken screw because the screw failed at the point flush with the threaded base. I can't get anything on it to remove it and it does have locktite on it.
Ultimately I would probably replace this screw and continue to use if this rifle if it wasn't going on any big trips, but this is one of my "big trip" rifles. There is no warranty available that would make you feel alright with a failure midway into a multi thousand dollar hunt with no access to repair or replace. Failure like this isn't acceptable.

Unfortunately you can't guarantee quality parts no matter who or where you order them from today. I know. I build guns for a living. I get parts from some of the top names in the business and I still get junk sometimes.

Replace the screw.



Travis

LMAO.

Do they come with a free kghunt?




Travis

I had 2 sets (screws) go tits up and saw 2 more fail on others rifles. So I quit using them.

If you said anything negative about Talley, especially the LW's on here several years ago, you would be considered a heretic.

Most likely they were all the common cold-rolled and punched type. The very best quality fasteners are the ones where every
process involves machining , including precision milling of the Torx drive facets in the head.

I will not touch them ever again

I wasn't talking about screws so much as sights, extractors, stop plates, barrel bushings etc...