Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Ring/Base Torque?

I am sure this question has been asked many times before, but I just scrolled through 50+ old post, and could not find any information regaurding the amount of torque to apply to scope ring bases and rings. I have been applying 25inch/lbs to base screws, and 20inch/lbs to rings, does that sound like a good practice?

Thanks
HeavyBarrel

While we are talking torque, 20 to 25 inch/lbs sounds good for scope bases. what about the torque on the stock screws for bedding consistency?

They vary between manufacturers.

HeavyBarrel

Wood or synthetic-40 inch lbs, with pillars up to 65 inch lbs.

I'd do 15 inch pounds for 6-48 base screws with blue loctite and 15-20 inch pounds for the ring caps.

I apply 14 inch pounds to ring screws and base screws

I put 30 inch pounds on base screws, 15-20 on rings. As others have said, the guard screws very by manufacturer, with about 35 the concensus on wood stocks.

Interesting though that Al and Roger Biesen torque their guard screws "farmer tight", front and rear - I'm sure way over 50 - and there's nothing in the bedding area but hard wood.

If you're looking for ring and base torque specs, I'd start by following the recommended specs of the parts manufacturer.

If you're looking for action screw torque specs, I'd start by following the recommended specs of the gun manufacturer, or the custom gun builder. These recommended specs often vary a good deal moreso than merely the materials used for the stock. When Brownell's was trying to keep track of these recommended factory specs for their customers, the specs would vary between the makers and would change from time to time based upon manufacturer tolerance of fit between the barreled action and the stock. There were years where some specs were much lower than others due to some rifles having far looser tolerances than others and a higher torque setting would bind the action. With that said, some of the custom builders using a close tolerance fit with strong materials, have recommend much lower settings than what would be capable for the screw size and materials used. Some of their measured settings are on the low end of the scale on rifles that could easily handle the higher torque settings. Often this is a matter of experience, and it is probably better to defer to this experience and recommended instructions when in need to re-assemble the parts at a later time.

A master smith with decades of experience who uses his own hands to feel a proper setting is a far cry from having the average joe attempt to match this without experience. Some of the smaller screws and parts need to fall within a lower and more narrow range of torque to stay tight without being damaged from over tightening. Some average joes are like Marines and can easily break ball bearings in a rubber room. Without using the proper tools, such guys can easily damage screws and parts using gorilla techniques.

Best:)

The reason that there is such a difference in torque used by people on the Rings/Bases is that the manufacturers do not supply the recommended torque information with the Rings/Bases, nor with rifles concerning action screws. The only exception is the Grim Reaaper intregral Ring/Base that has the information right on the package, there may be others that I am not aware of. I do not understand why others do not do this.

HeavyBarrel

Take a look at Brownell's website as they provide reliable info.

Brownell's is a good source, many such as Leupold place the specs on the packaging, many such as talley place the specs on their website, most all have a contact method to request the specs; as example, I logged into the site for Sako and requested the action screw torque specs for the A7, and I received a personal reply from their tech with the exact answer within 3 days. Members at times spend many days searching for answers in forum threads on Talley's specs, as example, when the exact answer is a couple clicks away on the Talley site or a 3-minute phone call directly to Talley. This is why I always recommend to start with the manufacturer or builder when talking currently spec'd parts.

Not sure if we don't already have this, but I think a good idea would be to have a sticky in one of the forums with a running list of exact factory/manufacturer recommended torque specs for the different bases, rings, action screws etc. This way all members could quickly find the exact answer in one easy to find location.

Best:)

Leupold must have just started putting specs on their packaging, it has been a while since I bought any, but I do not recall ever seeing a torque value on any of the old packaging.

Perhaps one of the reasons for some confusion is that these specs have changed over time.

I have in my hands a Leupold brochure from 1997 that recommends for Torx screws 27"lbs for base screws and 20"lbs for ring screws.

I also have in my hands a page I printed from the Leupold site in September 1999 that recommends 13-16 inch pounds for Torx ring screws.

My hands are obviously full becasue I also have a current package for Leupold Dual Dovetail bases (50042) that recommends:

6-48 base screws 22"lbs
8-40 base screws 28" lbs
8-40 ring screws 28" lbs
STD Windage screws 45"lbs
Ringmount keeper screws 45" lbs
PRW keeper screws 22"lbs

This should be enough to keep everyone confused!

405wcf