Torquing screws for scope mounts

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Old Goldwing

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I've bought a new scope to mount on my rifle, along with rings. The scope manufacturer says 16in-lb torque on the ring screws and 35in-lb on the screws to the receiver so it doesn't "screw up" the scope or rifle. I don't have a fancy $100+ torque screwdriver. Is there a way to judge the correct amount of torque without it? E.g. 1/4 turn of screw after contact or something like that?

Has anyone ever thought of organizing a "tool co-op" or tool library for loaning/renting portable tools like that?
 
I have mounted several hundred scopes, and developed a habit of overtightening them sometimes putting marks on the scope tube, then I bought a wheeler fat wrench torque driver, it was about 50 bucks and considering how much I spend on my shooting it was the best investment I have made in years.
 
You can get inch pound beam style torque wrenches for around 20$ at princess auto. I use one and have tested it with my snap on digital torque wrench and it’s bang on. Beam style is typically very accurate.
 
Onagoth said:
No...there isn’t

And torque wrenches aren’t terribly expensive. The go on sale all the time
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+1. One time purchase and one of the best additions to my firearms tool bench. When I bought one I pulled out all the scopes I've previously mounted and remounted them. Torques were all over the place and more than one tube showed signs of excessive torque.
 
Proper fine tool is a one-time investment. The fix it sticks torque drivers serves my firearms very well. I believe it is on Black Friday sale now, and they can be shipped to Canada.
 
I Can torque by feel - until you have to re-thread or cross thread a spark plug hole.... then you do things propperly.


Or look at some ads on the EE - I remember a S&B PM2 5-25 with ring gouges a few years ago.... I am still laughing.
 
Hey troops, so for all you DIU gunsmiths, CT has a 1/4 drive torque wrench on for half price so $60, I just got one, and the fit & finish is excellent, 40-200 inch pds. Cheers
40 in/pd is too high for rings, however just get a 25 in/pd T-handle and you are good to go.



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Old Goldwing said:
I've bought a new scope to mount on my rifle, along with rings. The scope manufacturer says 16in-lb torque on the ring screws and 35in-lb on the screws to the receiver so it doesn't "screw up" the scope or rifle. I don't have a fancy $100+ torque screwdriver. Is there a way to judge the correct amount of torque without it? E.g. 1/4 turn of screw after contact or something like that?

Has anyone ever thought of organizing a "tool co-op" or tool library for loaning/renting portable tools like that?
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Finger tight + 1/8"turn is about 20 in lbs.

skwerl said:
I don't lend or borrow tools .
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I lend out my 1911 Plunger tube staker.
 
I did look around for deals on a FAT wrench or something like it, but the best deals come in at 20% the cost of the scope I want to mount. I mount 1 scope every 10 or so years, so this is not a tool I would use very often. Yep, i'm looking for a "frugal" option :)
 
Old Goldwing said:
I did look around for deals on a FAT wrench or something like it, but the best deals come in at 20% the cost of the scope I want to mount. I mount 1 scope every 10 or so years, so this is not a tool I would use very often. Yep, i'm looking for a "frugal" option :)
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Google online, I found something that backs up what I said. I did a test with a scope mount. I did a control, using a torque wrench. I went finger tight till it bottomed out, then placed a scribe mark on the bolt, and the mount, I torqued it, and then measured the movement. I did it again, this time without using the torque wrench, and got the same results.
 
sillymike said:
1. Any tool rental place?
2. Ask your local gunsmith
3. Do you belong to any shooting club?
4. List your location and offer a beer to a local-to-you guy to come and do it...
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Thanks for the ideas. I did check the tool rental places, but they all have 3/4" drive stuff, not the tiny ones. But I found an option at Prin Auto for a low cost so that's what I'll do tomorrow.
 
Old Goldwing said:
Thanks for the ideas. I did check the tool rental places, but they all have 3/4" drive stuff, not the tiny ones. But I found an option at Prin Auto for a low cost so that's what I'll do tomorrow.
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Did you read post #11 ?
He all but gave you one of the best pieces of information.
You'll have a tool that you can use and less money than renting .
You can buy a Snap-On or a MAC for 10 times as much though.
FLHTCUI
 
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