Scope Creep

[ovenpaa]

I read recently about someone (USA) who was 'bedding' the 'scope to the lower rings with a low thin low tack self adhesive tape. All I could think of was how on earth could you guarantee the 'scope was aligned to the receiver correctly...

[saddler]

While you say the rings are a good make, how do you know?
Are they alloy, steel, something else?
What sort of tightening screws are used in them?...and how many?
What are the screws torqued at?

One of the common mistakes with shooters, is that they seem to think a £500 scope on a £500 rifle will be a tack driver using £30 scope mounts.
Not saying that this is what the issue is in your case...but it was one of the first lessons I learned in the club and it has stood true for three decades = skimp on scope mounts/rings at your peril

[meles meles]

Steel is an alloy, ratty. An alloy of iron and carbon, with a pinch of other stuff chucked in.

If by alloy you mean aluminium (aloominum for our Colonial cousins), then that is usually an alloy too. Pure aluminium is too weak and soft to make much from, so they add varying sized pinches of magnesium, silicon, zinc and copper to it in order to harden, strengthen and toughen it.

Most metals are used in alloy form. It just means they aren't pure.

[Mail2pete]

Done some digging and the current rings are Leupold steel rings. Each one has 4star screws to tighten them


Sent from my boing using "An application"

[saddler]

Done some digging and the current rings are Leupold steel rings. Each one has 4star screws to tighten them


Sent from my boing using "An application"

Good news

If the scope is slipping so much, maybe it's a diameter related issue?
I know the rings are made in both 1" AND also in 26mm.

Have you checked the i.d. of the rings, just on the off chance that this is what's happening?
(Though it's doubtful, it's now a case of eliminating as many possible variables to find the cause)

[Chapuis]

Done some digging and the current rings are Leupold steel rings. Each one has 4star screws to tighten them


Sent from my boing using "An application"

You mean Torx. I wouldn't expect you to have any real problems with steel Leupold rings if they are torqued down correctly and I doubt if they are 26mm rings as the scope would really slide in the rings and not grip at all, but if they are 26mm by any chance I will gladly do a swap with you for a set of 1" rings.

I had a similar problem some years ago with a glossy Weaver scope and Parker Hale mounts and found that the solution was thin double sided sticky tape but as Ovenpaa says leveling the scope in the rings was a bugger. I have also heard of people using a thin smear of adhesive to cure such problems in the past but this can be a devil to remove should you decide to move the scope at a later date.

[David TS]

The first thing that crossed my mind is that they may be 26mm rings. Leupold used to list a 26mm, but they are now discontinued, but I expect there are lots still in circulation. They would hold a 1" scope, but only top and bottom (26mm rings are 24 thousandths of an inch larger than 1") as they would just close down the gap between the top and bottom ring halves closer. I would take the scope out of the mounts, and see if it is marked from the movement, and if so where it is marked. If you have ring marks just top and bottom, then I suspect that is the problem.

[Blackstuff]

Also where did you buy the rings from? There are loads of knock-off Leupold stuff on the 'bay

[Maggot]

Wrong size ring sounds right without looking.

I have the 30mm STD rings on my M67 and you would not budge the scope with a truck, they are not high end granted but they are easilly man enough to hold a scope to a .308 without it shifting.

Mine have a slight ribbed surface on the inside to hold scope tape etc in place.

Out of interest, is there any room between the upper and lower faces (where the Torx screws engage).

If not it may indicate the rings are too big for the scope.

May be worth trying a feeler gauge to see if it can be inserted between the scope body and mount.

It should not be possible.

We used to get scope creep on the old spring airguns way back but that was the mount shifting on the grooves as the piston whipped about.

This was largely cured on better rifles/mounts with arrestor screws or holes but that's no help for your problem.

[Mail2pete]

I have measured the rings and they are 30mm as is the scope. I have decided to buy a new set and am currently looking at the Third Eye Tactical mount. It that does not sort it I will accept Badgers offer to forge weld it in place. I did consider the 4" self tapper option but was not convinced it would be strong enough.