Mounting rings and scope questions

[Hummer]

I bought a new hunting rifle scope and will take delivery of a new rifle next week. The gun shop offers to do the mounting at no cost, just as Cabela's and other storefront dealers do. I have little personal experience with scope mounting but have seen YouTube videos in which the rings are lapped with a bar and abrasive, and the screws are tightened to specified inch-pounds with a torque wrench. I have several torque wrenches but none that break in in./lbs. The shop I'm buying from uses alignment bars but doesn't lap the rings. Many don't bother with lapping or with using a torque wrench. I'd like confidence in the best possible accuracy and don't want to screw this up. What's your opinion, is lapping useful/necessary? Should I go to a gunsmith instead?

Also, I've read the rifle maker recommends 45 in./lbs. on the front screws, 35 in/lbs. on the rear screws. Not sure what this refers to so I'll have to confirm the measures. I don't know if the shop uses a proper in/lb. torque wrench or if they tighten by feel as in many videos. How important is this and what do you recommend? Should I go to a gunsmith? If so, who?

The rings I will use are Talley lightweight one-piece 1" scope mounts for a Zeiss Conquest HD-5 3-15 x 42, on a Kimber Adirondack. TIA.

[Irving]

How receptive is the shop to use providing them torque numbers? I'm sure that wouldn't be an issue for them.

[Hummer]

How receptive is the shop to use providing them torque numbers? I'm sure that wouldn't be an issue for them.

I don't know yet, haven't asked, but wanted to talk with more knowledgeable people here first about the value of lapping and exact screw torques. Particularly with regard to the type of scope mounts I'm using. I'd be willing to buy a tool if necessary.

[C Ward]

35 - 45 in/pds will be the torque for the action screws that hold the rifle in the stock .

The torque on the scope rings is typically 15 - 20 in/pds but check with the ring manufacturer .

Lapping quality rings is a waste of time and if not done properly you can destroy the rings , lapping removes metal and if too much is removed the clamping force is changed because the bore is oversized.

[brutal]

Alignment bar and proper torque = win.

Agree with C Ward, lapping is not recommended or required for quality rings.

[Hummer]

Thanks for your replies! I'm going to follow your advice. I did get a reply from Talley that they don't recommend lapping, and to use torques of 25 in/lbs in the receiver, and 18 in/lbs on the caps. Apparently the receiver screw torque may vary depending on the type of metal and screw sizes used in a particular rifle. It took me some effort to find the link but Talley does address the issue: http://www.talleymanufacturing.com/About/Frequently-Asked-Questions-(FAQ).aspx




35 - 45 in/pds will be the torque for the action screws that hold the rifle in the stock .

The torque on the scope rings is typically 15 - 20 in/pds but check with the ring manufacturer .

Lapping quality rings is a waste of time and if not done properly you can destroy the rings , lapping removes metal and if too much is removed the clamping force is changed because the bore is oversized.


Alignment bar and proper torque = win.

Agree with C Ward, lapping is not recommended or required for quality rings.

[BPTactical]

I was gonna say 45 in / lbs seems awful high for base screws.

[GilpinGuy]

Glad I saw this thread. I never mounted a scope before and have one to mount (Leupold QR 1-piece base, rings and VX-2 on a Marlin 45-70). After watching a few YT videos I'm rethinking DIY and maybe just having a gunsmith do it.

Is DIY that difficult? Doesn't seem like it should be.

Edit: I read the instructions [blaster] for the base, rings and scope and man, it seems pretty straightforward. No mention of lapping or alignment bars at all. Basically, line up the holes, snug the screws, level the crosshairs and torque the screws. I can do that! (said every man who ended up throwing tools across the room in frustration)