Most people here are probably familiar with Spuhr mounts. 6 screws per "ring", and from 21-25 in-lb per screw. I have I 6-8 Spuhr mounts and have never had any issues (and shouldn't for what they cost). However, I recently picked one up (30mm, 1.89") and mounted a NF NX8 1-8 in it.
I mounted it as I always do, using a FixIt Sticks torque limiter, and started in the middle two screws on each ring to resistance/alternating and then torque to spec. Then I move to the outside 4 screws and do the X pattern alternating to resistance and then to torque. Here's where my question comes in . . . once you torque those outside screws the middle ones are now looser (obviously) and I continue to torque down until all 6 screws are limited by the limiter. Is the torque somehow additive? If it's tightened to 21 in/lb and then you go back over it again after it's been "loosened" by tightening the outside screws on the rings, does that mean it's now MORE than 21 in-lbs?
Now here's the why: after mounting the optic (at the range) and zooming into the targets at 500 yards, things were very, very blurry. I brought it home, set it upon my tripod and looked off my deck into the surrounding hills and confirmed that it wasn't some weird thing at the range. I emailed and then spoke to NF and they said "sure, send it back in", but then I started thinking. What if it's the mount? So, I took off the front "ring" and the image was clear again. I then completely removed the optic, made sure it was 100% centered (the turret housing relative to the rings) and retorqued the rings. The blurriness had returned.
So, I grabbed the a much lower torque limiter and tightened it down just to snug and the image is clear again.
Knowing what I know about NF, it's hard for me to believe there is anything wrong with the scope body such that it's out of round. But the same is true of Spuhr, too.
What are your thoughts? I always think I'm not an idiot, but I consistently prove myself wrong. I'm wondering if this is one of those times.
I mounted it as I always do, using a FixIt Sticks torque limiter, and started in the middle two screws on each ring to resistance/alternating and then torque to spec. Then I move to the outside 4 screws and do the X pattern alternating to resistance and then to torque. Here's where my question comes in . . . once you torque those outside screws the middle ones are now looser (obviously) and I continue to torque down until all 6 screws are limited by the limiter. Is the torque somehow additive? If it's tightened to 21 in/lb and then you go back over it again after it's been "loosened" by tightening the outside screws on the rings, does that mean it's now MORE than 21 in-lbs?
Now here's the why: after mounting the optic (at the range) and zooming into the targets at 500 yards, things were very, very blurry. I brought it home, set it upon my tripod and looked off my deck into the surrounding hills and confirmed that it wasn't some weird thing at the range. I emailed and then spoke to NF and they said "sure, send it back in", but then I started thinking. What if it's the mount? So, I took off the front "ring" and the image was clear again. I then completely removed the optic, made sure it was 100% centered (the turret housing relative to the rings) and retorqued the rings. The blurriness had returned.
So, I grabbed the a much lower torque limiter and tightened it down just to snug and the image is clear again.
Knowing what I know about NF, it's hard for me to believe there is anything wrong with the scope body such that it's out of round. But the same is true of Spuhr, too.
What are your thoughts? I always think I'm not an idiot, but I consistently prove myself wrong. I'm wondering if this is one of those times.
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