The often over-looked component of a rifle platform

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  • Ritten

    SSST Mad Scientist
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    44   0   0
    Dec 8, 2007
    3,786
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    Thibodaux, Louisiana
    It seems more often than not when someone wants to set themselves up with a really nice rifle to either hunt, target shoot, or even compete with they focus 75% of their research into a rifle, 20% into a scope, and the base and rings set up is an after-thought that ends up being purchased when they realize the gun didn't come with any.

    I know a lot of guys like the plastic "see through" rings, but if you're going to drop any amount of money on a good gun and scope, then get something substantial to hold them together. The first time you drop your rifle, the first big bump you hit while it's strapped to your 4 wheeler, or the first time it falls off of the wall it's propped against, you're going to wonder how far off it's shooting, or worse, did you crack your rings? Did you damage your scope?

    A lot of people ask what's good and ever since I got my first set, I've always recommended Badger Ordinance or Seekins Precision mounts and rings. I received a set of the later in the mail today for my hunting rifle and figured I'd post up what a SOLID platform can be. They're aluminum so they're much lighter than they look.

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    noob

    enthusiast
    Silver Member
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    41   0   0
    Mar 18, 2008
    4,284
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    New Orleans
    quality mounts are very expensive. i prefer quick disconnect myself, just b/c sometimes i like to store the rifles w/o the optics or try them on another rifle. i have American Defense, LaRue, and ARMS qd mounts. i like them all. i do have a CAA mount on my dedicated .22, and i know that does not hold zero, so i keep it on there all the time.
     

    kz45

    1911 cool-aid drinker
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    Jun 8, 2008
    4,303
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    Baton Rouge
    I agree, scope and rings make the rifle, I like the QD myself, LaRue and NF 1x4 NXS sit on top of Competition AR
     

    tactical723

    3 Gun / F Class Player
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    41   0   0
    Feb 16, 2008
    1,577
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    Northshore - Covington, LA
    I totally agree with the importance of a strong and well made mount, but I tend to disagree with most of you on the type. I shoot 3 gun competition with my AR and drag my rifle all around while in transport and in some rough terrain from stage to stage. I use only heavy all aluminium 1 piece mounts such as the JP mount that I currently use. It uses a solid lock in bar against the picatinny rail with 5 heavy duty torx screws that I loctite down to the correct torque. I have carried this rifle through mud, rain, dropped it several times, thrown in in dozens and dozens of staged barrels on stages and it has never loss zero with my Leupold Mark AR scope. I just don't trust or see the need for the tacticool quick mount, I have seen too many shooters looses zero with them, even the high dollar ones. I will post a photo of my scope and mount setup later today
     
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    Tulse Luper

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    Oct 29, 2008
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    Metairie
    Anyone use a torque wrench to match specs on each screw? Or use a cross hatch patter or anything like that?

    There's a lot of claims that equal torque and equally applied torque during installation is just as important as quality mounts.
     

    Ritten

    SSST Mad Scientist
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    44   0   0
    Dec 8, 2007
    3,786
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    Thibodaux, Louisiana
    Anyone use a torque wrench to match specs on each screw? Or use a cross hatch patter or anything like that?

    There's a lot of claims that equal torque and equally applied torque during installation is just as important as quality mounts.


    DEFINITELY!! I don't use lock-tite though and never had a screw back out on my bolt guns, but if I were using my rifle as a life protecting weapon I'd probably would. Every screw is tightened with a torque wrench though. 20 in/lbs for the base screws, 45 in/lbs for the ring mount screws, and 20 in/lbs for the ring cap screws......which is slightly higher than the manufacture recommendations.
     

    artabr

    Well-Known Member
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    1   0   0
    Mar 24, 2008
    2,623
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    New Iberia , Louisiana
    Anyone use a torque wrench to match specs on each screw? Or use a cross hatch patter or anything like that?

    There's a lot of claims that equal torque and equally applied torque during installation is just as important as quality mounts.

    Yep, every screw on the gun gets torqued (other than recoil pad). No Loc-tite here either.


    Art
     
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    tactical723

    3 Gun / F Class Player
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    41   0   0
    Feb 16, 2008
    1,577
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    Northshore - Covington, LA
    We 3 gunners, use a small drop of Loctite because we crawl, jump, roll, run, drive, shoot from helo, and throw our rifles into the stage props (barrels, boxes, etc), , among any other course of fire that the match organizer can dream up. They have and will come loose if not loctited down. We also place very small reference marks with off color paint so we can see if the screws have shifted or moved since installation and zeroing. Yes, I know, we beat the crap out of our very expensive weapons. But it just goes to show you, if you buy top shelf optics with top shelf mounting hardware, it will last and can keep zero. I can see where the F class, some sniper, and hunting applications would not need the extra preventative that we have to put into our mounts. Here is the photo of my near indestructible setup. I have shot 2 major matches, 8 local matches in probably a 9 month period, and have transported this rifle all over the country in a Bulldog soft case and have not adjusted the zero at all.

     
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