Hello all. Thought I would post a question in here while the section is still new.

The last time I mounted a scope, I over-tightened the rings and damaged the scope tube. That got me to wondering, does anyone use a torque wrench when tightening scope rings? The torque wrench obviously would be used to prevent over-tightening.

Is such a wrench even available for hex bolts or are they for sockets only?

Thanks. And no, I am not a gunsmith.
~Robert

Wheeler Engineering FAT (Firearm Accurizing Torque) Torque Wrench Screwdriver

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...718023#enlarge

$55.99

JMHO

The FAT wrenches are about $40-$50 on ebay.

I use a regular click style torque wrench with a socket on it that fits my bits when I mount scopes or mess with forearm screws.

Check the pittsburg tools torque wrenches from Harbor freight. They can be had for less than $20 and hold up great. I have had a complete set of HF torque wrenches for 5 years and they get used alot...I drive a Jeep and always have to work on it. My first torque wrench was a crapsman and it fell apart the first time I used it. It was all plastic. The ones from HF are all metal and have lifetime warranty.

Forget the wrench because when you set it to 17 inch pounds (this is what Leupold recommends) you are going to tighten the screws more any way. 17 inch pounds isn't very much torque at all and you aren't going to believe it is sufficient.

I recommend that you just don't tighten the screws as much as you use to. Screw the screws down until the are just slightly snug. Then another 1/2 turn and you are about right.

I'm no gunsmith but what you are looking for is a torque driver. As far as I'm concerned it is the only way to assemble a gun, mount a scope or do anything that requires consistent assembly.

First of all the Fat Wrench is junk. Not repeatable and no precision at all. I use a Wera, it cost about $80-$100 and it is calibrated to a National Standard as opposed to some chinese kids best guess.

Aluminum scope rings 12-15 in lbs. depending on quality. Steel rings slightly more..like BB said 17-18 in lb.

If you mount one this way you will never mount another without a torque driver.

Thanks guys! I will check those out. I don't need to be crushing scope tubes!

Like BB said....17 in lb. is probably alot less than you might think and your first thought will be to go more.

I also alternate tightening ie. front left, rear right, front right, rear left, all the while making sure the split gap is the same on each half on each side.

http://www.wera.de/catalog_de.html?L...djustment.html

+1 on this. Wheeler has great stuff.

specifications on how to mount scope rings and bases vary all over the place with each manufacturer . warne for instance has there wrench and specs at 25 pounds for there steel rings. wheeler says if you lap your rings to coat the rings with a light coat of oil to keep from rusting. its just weird to coat something that your gonna to screw and lock down in hopes that the scope doesnt move in its rings. base screw torque specs i have seen 30-35lbs and up on some directions. the wheeler wrench may not be perfect but with all the companies throwing out different factsi gotta guess if a wrench is pound or 2 off its got to be better than using your hands and using a feel method. i bought the wheeler fat wrench and wont mount without it. i got tired of buying gun specific thread taps and drill bits

To each his own I have a setable torque wrench I saved when I sold the shop and retired and I set it for 21 inch pounds because thats the way I was taugth 52 years ago.