How Easy is it to knock off a scope?

Easterner

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I have a Leuopold VX III on my model 70.

Sadly, I do not have a Gun Boot.

I transport my rifle in a cheap hard case from CTC. It tucks in beside my leg as I drive the 10 minutes to my stand. It gets the usual bumps from the trail ride.

I am wondering of I should be worried about losing zero from the trips.
I have gone out twice so far like that. I am buying a Gun Boot tomorrow though.
 
It's not so much a question of what gun or scope you have ( assuming its a decent quality scope, which yours is). It's more a question of what mounts and rings you have and how they are installed (ie, loctite on the screws or not). I transport all my guns in those cheap CTC case, though they are in the back seat of my truck or behind the seat, not on a quad. I use Weaver bases, usually Weaver grand slam rings and always use blue loctite on all the screws. I haven't had one shift yet.

Jim
 
My previous hunting rifles have been beaten around quite a bit, with a quality scope (Leupold, Bushnell elite) and quality mounts there shouldn't be much issue - provided everything's torqued right.
 
I once had a swivel stud let go and the rifle fell directly on the scope, left a mark on the front part of the scope, I didnt' shoot it for the rest of the hunt but after checking it much later on that winter I found that the POI had barely moved. This was a Bushnell 3200 in cheap weaver rings on even cheaper weaver mounts.

I woudnt' worry too much about a little bit of bouncing around inside your case, if you're worried about shock or marks buy a scope coat.
 
Your probably fine,you have a good scope and good mounts/rings, but it wouldn't hurt to shoot at some paper to confirm. Loctite blue is cheap insurance and is easily removable if you want to make changes down the road.

Jim
 
I use a plastic case, bungee corded to the front of the 4 wheeler, and have never had a problem. Keep in mind though, I am not going through thick bush where the case will get caught up on branches and stuff.
 
Your probably fine,you have a good scope and good mounts/rings, but it wouldn't hurt to shoot at some paper to confirm. Loctite blue is cheap insurance and is easily removable if you want to make changes down the road.

Jim

X2..You never get a second chance to make a first impression.;)
 
Your probably fine,you have a good scope and good mounts/rings, but it wouldn't hurt to shoot at some paper to confirm. Loctite blue is cheap insurance and is easily removable if you want to make changes down the road.

Jim

If you want to use loctite use purple as it is (made for machine screws blue is considered permanent on screws or bolts under 1/4 inch by some manufactors) then you won't have to try to remove broken screws from scope rings or worse recievers.:eek:
 
If you want to use loctite use purple as it is (made for machine screws blue is considered permanent on screws or bolts under 1/4 inch by some manufactors) then you won't have to try to remove broken screws from scope rings or worse recievers

Blue is removable when used on machine screws.I have used blue(242) for machine screws as well as larger fasteners as part of my job for over 30 years.Red can be difficult to remove without heat.
 
I have taken scopes and rings off guns to work with the iron sights and put the scope back on and it was the same. I also bounce my guns around bungee strapped to the front rack on the quad in a soft case and the zero never moves.

On the other hand, I have a buddy who I moose hunt with and every year at the 1st day of moose hunt gravel pit session the gun is 12 inchs off. Its a crappy tasco, so I am sure its the scope. I usually dial it in for him and it goes unshot for the rest of the week. One of these days I'll snag he gun and throw a VXII on it and send him the bill.
 
Blue is removable when used on machine screws.I have used blue(242) for machine screws as well as larger fasteners as part of my job for over 30 years.Red is considered permanent on small fasteners,and it can be difficult to remove without heat.

I checked into the blue permatex which is supposed to be the equivellent to 242 when screws in at work kept getting broken. The red loctite is removable
with heat blue is removable on fasteners over 1/4 inch, purple is made for machine screws, and is specifically designed for removal on small fasteners. I work on some really exspensive equipment for a living, the parts have to be special ordered mostly from denmark and breaking off screws from using the wrong supplys is something you don't do often or usually you don't stick around to long. Best to use stuff that is made for the application (machine screws = purple loctite).;)
 
I checked into the blue permatex which is supposed to be the equivellent to 242 when screws in at work kept getting broken. The red loctite is removable
with heat blue is removable on fasteners over 1/4 inch, purple is made for machine screws, and is specifically designed for removal on small fasteners. I work on some really exspensive equipment for a living, the parts have to be special ordered mostly from denmark and breaking off screws from using the wrong supplys is something you don't do often or usually you don't stick around to long. Best to use stuff that is made for the application (machine screws = purple loctite).

I work on some pretty high dollar equipment myself at my place of employment,and some of the equipment manufacturers specify blue loctite even on machine screws.In fact some of the manufacturers even supply the blue threadlocker,under their own part number with the replacement parts.I have yet to break any fastener installed with blue loctite,including machine screws.

As far as threadlocker for use on guns goes,have you heard of a product called Guntite?It is made specifically for guns.One of the suggested uses is scope mounting.I have part of a tube left over,guess what color it is?It isn't purple.
 
I work on some pretty high dollar equipment myself at my place of employment,and some of the equipment manufacturers specify blue loctite even on machine screws.In fact some of the manufacturers even supply the blue threadlocker,under their own part number with the replacement parts.I have yet to break any fastener installed with blue loctite,including machine screws.

Not really wanting to argue with anyone on here. I know some manufacturers recomend blue loctite and even supply it but some of our equipment would lock up with the blue loctite checked into it found out about the purple loctite for machine screws and the problem was solved. I have helped people remove broken screws from firearms that were tightened to spec's with blue loctite and have reccomended the purple machine screw loctite, never removed a broken screw yet using that stuff on work equipment or firearms. Just wanting to let people know there is a product made specifically for machine screws so they can avoid potential problems with broken screws. If blue loctite works for you thats good, just wanting to let people know about easier and more forgiving options. Not trying to offend or argue.:)
 
Your scope is very likely just fine.

In my experiences it usually takes a good whack, or gradual loosening of screws over a very long time, for a scope to lose it's zero. Particularly a good Leupold like yours; hard to lose it's zero. Merely bumping along a bit in a hard case would not do it. Being in a hard case, likely a four foot drop onto concrete would not do it actually.
 
If blue loctite works for you thats good, just wanting to let people know about easier and more forgiving options.

And by mentioning Guntite,I was letting people know that there is a product specifically recommended for use on firearms.Scope mounting is specifically listed as one of the uses.And as I previously mentioned,it isn't purple.:D
You might want to look it up for your own information.
 
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