scope ring screw torque

[M-Tecs]

Burris borrowed the design from the Sako http://www.sako.fi/optilockproducts.php?ringmounts

In the 80’s one of the big bench rest smith was making semi-custom spherical scope mounts. Not sure if he still is making them.

The design is very good. The Burris system works very well and I use a lot of them for long range rifles. That being said they are normal Burris quality. I use and recommend them but the Burris ones are an excellent design manufactured to normal Burris standards.

[rbt50]

I do 15 inch pounds on the rings and 25 to 30 inch pounds on the bases. never had a scope move and that is everything from 22 to 50 bmg.

[Ed K]

A call to Leupold years ago got me the reply: "our rings do not require any lapping". Oh yeah, then why does each and every scope that come out of them have signs of being crimped at the edges? I am convinced that lapping is the key to proper scope mounting. The manufacturers just don't want to admit any imperfection in their system. Once done properly, fasteners torqued to a reasonable figure and thread locker applied, you will no doubt be good to go.

[Clark]

I take 5 or 10 scoped guns to the range per year that I have not shot since I mounted the scope.
I take tools with me and help out others having trouble.
Clearly half the time I have trouble and half the time others have trouble is when the screws that clamp the bases to the receiver are loose.
A symptom is two holes over here on the target followed by two holes over there.
In contrast it is odd how seldom rings are loose on the base.
In contrast it is also odd how seldom rings are loose on the scope.

Why do those base to receiver clamping screws alone seem to need to be cleanen, loctited, and torqued?

[KCSO]

I have always used clear fingernial polish as it breaks loos easier than loctite and seems to hold just as well. I do the threads and a small dab in the rings too.

[snowwolfe]

Back in the 1970's I had a Remington XP in .308 and had problems with the scope moving. Took the rings apart and put a dab of rubber cement on each ring piece and tightened everything back up - scope never moved again. Best part is you can remove the dried glue with a fingernail.