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Joined: Jan 2001
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,611 |
Reading the instruction manual that came with my new M18 last evening, it says to epoxy bases. "... ensure that the mounting base is not just screwed on, rather has additional and evenly applied high-quality two-component adhesive used to stick it in place."
What say my expert Campfire advisors? Should I epoxy scope bases? If so, how do I get them off if I ever want to?
I have used LocTite in blue or red a few times to ensure even contact between bases and receiver but usually not. I have Talley one-piece base/rings ready to put on the rifle. If I use epoxy it would probably be marine grade since I have some on hand and we hunt the wet.
FWIW, the manual also says to never shoot hand loads, and its use of English is faintly odd, calling the bolt the chamber most of the time.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,286
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,286 |
I've epoxied-on bases (and the screws that hold them to the receiver) for over 20 years on every rifle I own. You end up with a "monolithic" mount.
I use JB Weld as it's a farily "weak" epoxy. Apply it thinly and evenly across the base bottoms, and a small dab on the end of the screws. Tighten down slowly, alternating between screws. Take up to 5+ minutes to tighten allowing excess epoxy to squeeze out.
Clean up with acetone and/or denatured alcohol and qtips, cotton swabs and paper towels.
To remove bases, take barrelled action out of the stock and lightly kiss the bases with a Benzomatic torch until screws loosen.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,383 |
I get the cross hairs centered in the tube. My way of rotating the scope and change the turrets until the hairs cross are in the center. I have since read about pressing the objective against a mirror and adjust the turrets until the crosshairs line up with the cross hair reflection. With the rings tight on the bases and the scope, I shim [with narrow shims] the bases until the crosshairs align with the cross hairs. I then epoxy between the bases and receiver, but leave the screws loose. After the epoxy is hard, I take off the rings and tighten the base screws. Now centered scopes can be swapped from rifle to rifle and be on the paper. Now the rings are not putting a bind on the scope tube. Alternatively I can put a scope base in modified V blocks and mill out, with a boring bar, the concave bottom of the base. I can change radius, height, or introduce and offset.... ala Steve Acker.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,840
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,840 |
No, sir. I would not recommend epoxy for bases .
FUGK CCP
It’s time to WAKE UP GOD BLESS THE USA WWG1WGA THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,286
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,286 |
No, sir. I would not recommend epoxy for bases . What's your advice based on?
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,727 Likes: 2
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,727 Likes: 2 |
I have never epoxied my bases and have never had an issue. So, for me, there is nothing to fix.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,840
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 10,840 |
No, sir. I would not recommend epoxy for bases . What's your advice based on? 30 years of experience and white privilege.
FUGK CCP
It’s time to WAKE UP GOD BLESS THE USA WWG1WGA THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 864
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 864 |
I think Formid’s method is plenty strong/reliable enough. His extensive testing proves that it is.
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Joined: Nov 2013
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,813 Likes: 4 |
Never had one come loose, so never felt the need, until I bought a .22 Match barrel for my G2 Contender. The screw holes were shallow, forcing me to shorten the screws of my EGW rail. Probably would never cause trouble on the rimfire, but just to be safe I mixed up some clear epoxy and ran a bead on the rail, staying clear of the holes. When I torqued it down, the glue oozed out a bit and I wiped it flush. I can see it on the edges, so if it ever lets go, I should be able to see that. I think the loctite on the screws should've kept the glue out of those holes.
The instructions for the Burris bases I put on my Alpine said to smear loctite on the bottoms, so I did. We'll see how that works out.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: Sep 2005
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,132 |
I typically do not bed two piece bases and personally feel lapping corrects the same issues, but I do like to bed one piece bases or rails. I highly doubt you would ever see a difference in your case with Talleys, but I would lap them.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,286
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,286 |
No, sir. I would not recommend epoxy for bases . What's your advice based on? 30 years of experience and white privilege. So in other words, no experience. Thanks.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Jun 2020
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2020
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No, sir. I would not recommend epoxy for bases . What's your advice based on? 30 years of experience and white privilege. So in other words, no experience. Thanks. Math is racist . thirty equals zero . Thank you
FUGK CCP
It’s time to WAKE UP GOD BLESS THE USA WWG1WGA THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES
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Joined: Jun 2014
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,550 |
I use loctite on base screws only and have never needed more
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Joined: May 2020
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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It's the same as bedding a rifle to me. No downside to doing it.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I don't epoxy Everything gets degreased with acetone and gets the appropriate amount of loctite including the ring screws. If it has threads it gets loctite
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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No, I have never epoxy on bases!
Further, I've never had problems so why change.
Liberalism is a cancer Support Christian Family values
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I did on a couple of rifles but would not now. I will epoxy bed bases and rails if they appear to need it but most don't. The reason I wouldn't epoxy now is if I were on a hunt and dinged a scope it would be a pain to swap out with out the proper tools. Loctite or even nail polish has not let me down yet even on the medium bores.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I have never epoxied my bases and have never had an issue. So, for me, there is nothing to fix. I’ve mounted roughly 75 scopes for myself and a few others. Never used any epoxy on bases and never had an issue. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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Campfire Outfitter
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NEVER NEVER epoxy any screws on scope mounts. tighten too 20 inch lbs per screw
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