Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Need Help - Scope Slipping In The Rings

Anybody have a solution for this problem..?

- I have an early Leupold VX 3-9 X40 Gloss
- Weaver Bases
- Weaver "Quad Lock" rings

I feel that I have enough torque on the screws, and fear that much more will either strip them out or break them off.

Is there a solution ?

I put rosin on my rings and never have a problem. Some shooters line them with electrician tape.

FWIW, scope slippage is the reason I never buy gloss finish anymore. Matte seems to have less problems.

Electrician's tape, or a silicone adhesive are two methods I've used.

I started to use Shoe Goo, a polyurethane adhesive available everywhere, for no better reason than it stuck pretty well to the bottom of my tennis shoes and it was in front of me on the work bench when I was looking for some rubber cement to add a little more grip to a set of rings. It worked as well as rubber cement so Shoe Goo is what I use now.

A better solution is to switch out the Quad locks to Burris Signature Zee rings.

Rub a small dab of clear silicone in each rings and tighten down,works very well.

First thing to check is if the rings are aligned. Use a 1 inch rod or the scope; you should be able to turn either fairly easily until the rings are almost snugged down. If you can't the rings aren't aligned and/or need to be lapped. Lapping greatly improves the amount of surface area for the rings to grip the scope and helps accuracy. You can also try rubber cement, it's easier to get off than silicon; can use one of those orange oil based cleaners and it takes it right off without harming paint. Electrician's tape works. Or the old time trick of using a peel off address label from a magazine inside the ring; trim to fit, can leave your name in case someone steals your rifle...

For years I have used that rubberized paper cement. A bottle runs about a dollar. Put it on the inside of the rings, let it dry and put the scope together. The benefit is that anything that gets on the outside rubs off easily and it holds the scope securely.

When Buehler was making the mounts and rings used on the early Weatherby's, that's what they used. I had many scope problems with light rifles, heavy scopes and large calibers but all my troubles ceased after I had tried everything and went to this method. Cheap, easy and effective.

Weaver brand rings are on the cheap end of the spectrum. Better than Simmons or Tasco, but not real great. Try Burris or Leupold or Warne types for the Weaver bases. Not much torque should be needed to hold the rings, any of the above should work.

I use warne rings and never have any slipping issues anymore. When I needed to use clear silicone it worked very well and was super easy to remove.It also keep moisture out from between the ring and scope.

I've had the same issue with some large scopes on some Weatherby's. Silicone fixed the 257, but I had to go to Talley rings with a 30-378.

Gonna try the "Hook-Strap" type on top of the Weavers...

...with a little silicone on the bottom of the ring.

Kinda ugly, but if it holds, it will be a beautiful thing.

Thanks for the responses, all.


Thinkin the Talley's would work out well, too...

I use rubber cement. It works well and will not harm the finish on the scope. It is also inexpensive.

If I'm not using Burris Signature Zee's then I am lapping the rings to increase contact area. Once I am satisfied with the amount of contact I put a dollop of finger nail polish on the inside of the bottom and top ring then tighen them down to 15-20 inch pounds.

If done properly the scope will not move after the polish dries. Been useing this method for years.
Dallas Jack

Double-stick/sided scotch tape works amazingly good as well. Last one I moved it was stuck like mad.

Liquid electrical tape works for me.