Rifle Scopes New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

[Shooter_308]

Hey guys, long time reader first time poster. I've been shooting pretty much 3/4 of my life and only until now i've been shooting milsurp/shotguns/small bore rifles. Played A LOT of airsoft and mounted a butt-ton of scopes.

Well, i recently picked up a Remmy 700 AAC-SD and threw some nice glass on it, Bushnell 3200 Elite 3-9x50. Now originally i had some low-cost B-square mount and Weaver brand rings on it. Today i took a step and went up to Leupold STD's 2 piece mount w/ dovetail rings. Now i've installed scopes and mounts before but nothing like these. The mounts went on no problem, but unfortunately i did not Lap the rings and upon checking for damage after tightening them down (i have a phillips torque wrench set at 20 inch/lbs)i noticed the rear ring left a pinch mark/scratch and very slight flat spot on both sides of the tube. I have since lapped the rings, re installed the scope and everything seemed to fit much nicely/smoothly. I didn't have to ad any pressure to get the ring tops to set flat on the scope tube.

So now i'm pretty freaked out considering i probably buggered up my $400 scope, and this is in no way covered under warranty. Should i be alarmed or do you think i'll be okay? I feel like a real rookie right now and wonder if anyone has any input. Thanks for any help/reassurance if there is any.

 

[Graham]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

20 in/lb tube damage is usually only cosmetic: As long as the scope tracks OK and the parallax works (if you even have a side focus adjustment) then it should be fine.

 

[jtv3062]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

A alignment bar would help to bed your base. I would of did this before you lap your rings. I have yet to lap my rings. Search scope base bedding.

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

Thanks for the quick reply Graham. So you think even though there is a slight and i mean SLIGHT flat spot i should be okay?

The parallax appears fine. I don't have a side-adjusted but it is adjustable at the rear of the scope.

JVT, in a pinch i had an old 3-9 tasco laying around and i used that for proper alignment. Like i said, i've mounted many many scopes before i just think the rings were a bit off-machined.

 

[jtv3062]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

I found on my Remingtons the rear scope mount needs to be bedded or the mounts will not be in the same plane. That could make your rings apear to be "machined off.

 

[Graham]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

It's just an aluminum tube. I wouldn't worry about in unless the scope doesn't function properly. And even then, if you don't use the adjustments, but it takes a zero, and it holds a zero, then you're fine.

 

[SIG700]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

Scope should still be fine, but the only way you'll truly be able know if the scope is still good is to test the scope by giving it a good work out- which should be done with any new scope anyways.

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

JVT - What i meant by that was the top of the ring actually fit flush to the scope body after a little bit of pressure was added, they didn't just set down by them self.

Graham - Thanks again for the input, makes sense haha

Sig - What do you mean? Bench/Vice it, and make sure everything works (windage/elevation/parallax) ? without doing anything quirky (moving diagonal, not moving etc)?

 

[SIG700]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter_308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Sig - What do you mean? Bench/Vice it, and make sure everything works (windage/elevation/parallax) ? without doing anything quirky (moving diagonal, not moving etc)? </div></div>

Exactly. Bench vise it- Measure your distance (100 yards, 200 yards, etc) to a target (I use poster boards with sticker targets at measured distances (center of one exactly 25 inches from center of another) and click over (a good way to figure out if you have true MOA or IPHY adjustments too. Do it a few times- if your cross hairs go to the exact same place every time with the same number of clicks- you're good (and you know your scope is reliable too)

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: New Guy Here Scope tightening...think i screwed up

thanks a ton man, so simple! we actually have a warehouse at work i could do that so that makes it even easier (no live fire of course)

thanks for all the help, now to wait for the UPS guy to deliver my Choate stock today!