Rifle Scopes How Many In/lbs torque to use

[Pleistarchus]

Someone told me I should use 16 in/lbs torque to tighten my rings on my scope. Sounds a little light but since I bent my last scope tube because I tightened the crap out of them I'm a little hesitant so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Chris

 

[hk dave]

With a good set of rings, 16 in/lbs will be fine. I bet even less would work out depending on caliber and brake.

Bad rings require lapping.

 

[Bradu]

I believe Nightforce and badger are 25 inch pounds for the ring screws and 65 for the cross bolts.

 

[Dkindels]

Agreed. Most will say somewhere on their papers or website about inch lbs. I use the burris PEPR at 18-20 inch lbs

 

[Wolfkin]

Torque Specifications for Gunsmiths | World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools - BROWNELLS

 

[roggom]

OP, which rings? Torque varies from manufacture - manufacture. Warne and NF use 25, Leupold standard rings are 15-17 (for the non mark 4 rings). The Standard Leupold will bite into the scope tube if you over tighten them.

 

[dawson08]

mine are 20 pounds

 

[Pleistarchus]

In this case they are American Rifle M10's. went with 16-17 in/lbs and the scope was all over the place. Now, I was firing a 338 MRAD but didn't take long to realize scope got pushed all the way forward and a slight cant after 10 rounds. Good thing was no marks or signs of this but like I said I've become hesitant to tighten too much because of my past experience. Now on ARC's website for the M10 rings says recommended is 65 in/lbs for "ALL" screws but I can't imagine that being for rings screws(bolt screws yes)


Sorry not recommended 65 in/lbs instead Torque spec 65 in/lbs

 

[AutoEssentials]

Use a good torque wrench measured in inch pounds. I recommend the Borka tool for the job.

 

[Rhys]

Just put a set of those ARC rings on a rifle for my brother this afternoon. the cap screws were 25 in pounds, and the ones clamping to the rail were 35 in pounds

 

[Pleistarchus]

Use a good torque wrench measured in inch pounds. I recommend the Borka tool for the job.

I used a good torque wrench measured in in/lbs first set at 16 then figured +/- 2% accuracy so set at 17 in/lbs

 

[Pleistarchus]

Just put a set of those ARC rings on a rifle for my brother this afternoon. the cap screws were 25 in pounds, and the ones clamping to the rail were 35 in pounds

Hey Rhys, By Chance did you remove to see if there was any marks and such. Also who gave you the specs to set it at 25. Thanks Brother

 

[Rhys]

didn't remove the rings after I installed them. THe torque specs were in the instruction sheet in the box. The model on these rings says M3 Ring Set-Gen 3

 

[Wayfaerer320]

What about for Badger rings?

 

[cb_tikka]

What about for Badger rings?

Badgers are 15 to 18 in/lbs. In general, majority of decent rings are 15-20 in/lbs.

 

[Wayfaerer320]

Badgers are 15 to 18 in/lbs. In general, majority of decent rings are 15-20 in/lbs.

Thank you!

 

[Wayfaerer320]

Is there a cheap torque wrench out there that measures In/lbs? What do you recommend?

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Badger torque specs are printed on the box. All of the Badgers I've used say 15 inch-pounds (not inch/pounds) for the ring caps and 65 inch-pounds for the cross bolts. AI unimounts are 18 inch-pounds and 30 inch-pounds respectively. Find out what the specs your rings have as they may be different.

 

[AvsFan]

Is there a cheap torque wrench out there that measures In/lbs? What do you recommend?

The Wheeler FAT Wrench Screwdriver works well and can be found for around $50.00.

 

[Wayfaerer320]

The Wheeler FAT Wrench Screwdriver works well and can be found for around $50.00.

Perfect - thanks. Might have to pick one up.

 

[Cornholeo]

+1 on the Fat Wrench, does the job at a good price.

 

[Pleistarchus]

Well just received an email from Ted at American Rifle who says that yes 65 in/lbs is the recommended torque for the scope screw.......Quote-"Since there is only one "Bigger" screw it requires more torque to impact the same tensile load than two smaller screws would otherwise apply when torque to a lower value. 65 in-lbs applied to a single 5mm screws will exert about the same force as two 4mm screws torqued to about 20 in-lbs." I'd like to thank you all for your feedback, Chris.