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How tight should my rings be?

Devils_Emissary

Private
Minuteman
Nov 26, 2011
14
0
37
Southern Maryland, USA
Once again I'm not sure if this belongs here or the gun smithing section but this one seems to be visited more often... Feel free to move it if necessary moderators. I have a trijicon accupoint rail and weaver tactical 6-hole rings on my BA Rifle. When I originally mounted my scope I tightened everything down and went out a shot for a while and when I was done I noticed that the rings had come loose from the rail... really loose. So I took it home and snugged them down again to what I thought was fairly tight. There was no actual indication that it was getting tight like most equipment has. I didnt want to overtighten it and break the rings. I've shot a few hundred rounds out of it since and I went to take the scope off the other day and I used a wrench and the bolts felt really easy to loosen up... like just past hand tight. It wasn't loose to where the scope could move or where I could have loosened them with my hands but not as tight as i thought I had tightened them. I guess my question would be does anyone have any idea on what kind of torque specs the rings have or how much I should be tightening them? I dont bang the gun around to where it would loosen anything up... just standard shooting. I don't have any problems with the rings coming loose from the scope. Just want to know how tight I can get before I have to worry about breaking something.
 
Re: How tight should my rings be?

You should go about 18 inch lbs. Put some blue loctite on those suckers. Mine haven't loosened up yet but they are only on a 22LR. Hope that works for ya.... if not, i think its time to look for some new rings. TPS makes a nice set and affordable.
 
Re: How tight should my rings be?

I think Bruno and jps were talking about ring caps, ring to rail should be conciderably tighter than 18 in. pounds. Lotsa info on the web bout scope mounting, look to the ring manufacturer to be sure. Get yourself a good wrench that measures in. pounds.

okie
 
Re: How tight should my rings be?

I have Nightforce steel rings on my BA. The bolts that hold the rings to the rail are 62-65 in/lbs. or 1/4 turn past hand tight. The screws for the rings are 21 in/lbs, if memory serves... Or about as tight as you can get them with the supplied wrench, long end on the screw, short end in hand.
 
Re: How tight should my rings be?

18 in/lbs on the ring caps.....55 on the ring to base....bet thats pretty close.
wink.gif


okie
 
Re: How tight should my rings be?

I have Smith Enterprise rings that I tighten to 22 in-lbs on the rings and 65 in-lbs on the 1//2" nut from ring to base.
 
Re: How tight should my rings be?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bruno86</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You should go about 18 inch lbs. Put some blue loctite on those suckers. Mine haven't loosened up yet but they are only on a 22LR. Hope that works for ya.... if not, i think its time to look for some new rings. TPS makes a nice set and affordable. </div></div>

+1 on TPS. I've been very happy with my rings. They snug down firmly and distinctly unlike any aluminum rings I've ever tried.

-1 on the loctite though. There shouldn't be any reason to need it and it can become a real PITA should you need to make a change in the field or without ideal shop conditions--especially if it's applied too liberally and binds up everything anywhere near the screws.