Choosing the best torque wrench for scope mounting can make your rifle safer and more accurate.
Guns are precise tools, so it is vital that every fastener on them should be torqued to the right force. If you do not do that, you will affect your aim greatly and ruin your hunting experience.
A scope does much more than magnify distant objects. It also has a reticle that shows you where the bullet should hit if you aim correctly. If the scope is not mounted right, it will give you the wrong “data” and you will waste your shot.
Knowing how to use a torque wrench to mount your gun scope will save you money that you would have used to pay a gunsmith to do the job.
It is simple, so you can learn how to do it. In any case, not all gunsmiths will use a torque wrench or a FAT wrench. So there is no guarantee that the scope is set right.
Another important consideration is cost. Your rifle is expensive and your scope is too. Therefore, to get the best value for money from the two, you had better do the scope mounting job in the right way. The best tool for the job will help you.
Why you need to torque the gun scope fasteners
The importance of tightening scope fasteners with a torque wrench is to protect the mounts (base and rings), the gun and the scope from damage.
It also protects the fasteners themselves from damage. When you use a regular wrench (spanner) or screwdriver to tighten the fasteners, you might under-tighten or over-tighten them.
The former would leave your scope loose and ruin your aim. The latter will strip the threads and you will have to buy new ones.
In this blog, we have always insisted that if there is a torque rating for your fasteners; use a torque wrench to tighten them. Thank us later!
As you will find out, a rifle has many fasteners. The more advanced it is, the more the fasteners. You will not only use a torque wrench on the scope, but on pretty much other fasteners as well.
If you take your gun apart (which is a skill every gun owner should have), you should use a torque wrench on bolt carrier keys, barrel nuts and action screws to name but just a few of them.
Recommended torque for various fasteners in a gun
We would like to mention here that most of the fasteners in a gun are small. They mostly require minimal torque, you know, as compared to motorcycle torque requirements, or car fasteners.
Therefore, when applying torque, you should measure it in inch-pound (in-lb) units, as opposed to NM or foot-pounds.
You could always check with the manufacturer of your gun, but the following are enough guidelines for you:
- Bolt retention screws require the most torque of 80 inch-pounds
- Scope ring cross bolts need torque level of 65 inch-pounds
- Action screws require torque of 30 to 65 inch-pounds
- The scope ring screws require 17 to 25 inch-pounds
- Scope base requires to be torqued to 15 to 25 inch-pounds
- M-LOK Accessories made of polymer – 15 inch-pounds
- M-LOKA accessories- metal – 35-inch-pounds
Check with the manufacturer of your gun to find out whether they give the order in which you should tighten the fasteners. It is vital to follow that order so that you don’t void the warranty on the gun or on the scope.
Now that you have an idea of what a torque wrench is important for when assembling your rifle, well, we can move onto other aspects of mounting your scope correctly.
What torque should scope mounts be?
Mounting the scope should be done in such a way that it is as close as possible to the barrel, but the two (scope and barrel) should never touch.
To do this, you have to tighten the scope mounts to the right torque so that the stresses of the bush do not cause dislocations.
A scope mount is big (especially for the ones that come in the one-piece design), so it is important that all the fasteners are tightened to the right torque. The torque level for most of them starts at 15 to 18 inch-pounds.
Torque specs for different types of scopes
Scope mounts come in different designs. Some come in a few pieces, say, about two rings and some come in one-piece design. This affects the torque level you need to apply on them.
One-piece scope mount
A one-piece scope mount from AI (Accuracy International) has ring cap screws with a torque rating of 18 inch-pound. The scope mount clamp screws have a torque level of 31 inch-pounds.
A scope mount has two types of screws. The base screws might require you to torque them to 80 inch-pounds, depending on the rifle.
The scope mount also comes with ring screws that need to be torqued to 15 inch-pounds. Cross bolts need a torque of 65 inch-pounds.
Some scopes also come with score clamp screws that have a torque rating of 50 inch-pounds. If it comes with Rail clamp thumbscrews, they will need to be torqued to a different force.
The torque that you apply on the one-piece scope mount is different from what you would apply on the scope rings.
Scope rings
As their name suggests, scope rings are just that – two rings that you attach to different parts of the rifle with screws and they hold the rifle.
Weaver scope mounts
There are weaver scope mounts, which are flat and the predecessors to the modern one-piece designs. You attach the weaver scope mount to the rifle and then you attach the scope to the mount. For this kind of scope mount, you would need to torque the screws to 15 inch-lb, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
Picatinny and dovetail scope mounts
For a Picatinny Scope Mount, the torque spec is 15 to 55 inch-lb, depending on the manufacturer recommendation.
A Dovetail scope mount is also very popular. People love it because it is very simple to change the scope since it slides off and on easily.
When the scope is settled where you want it, it locks into place using a mechanism provided for that. Mostly, the torque range for the screws of the Dovetail scope mount is 18 to 31 inch-lb.
Integral mounts
Depending on the type or design of your rifle, it might be compatible with integral mounts. These mounts tend to “integrate” onto the rifle, by mounting it on special mounts made for just that on the rifle.
By integral, it just means that by design, there are two rings and the base of the scope mount. They all come in one piece, hence the name integral.
The recommended torque level for integral scope mount is up to 40 inch-lb for many, but some might require higher torque.
Offset scope mount
By design, this kind of scope mount goes forward, more than other types of mounts. You should use it with AR rifles since it is designed for them.
If you use it with other rifles, it might push the scope too close to your face, in which case you might find it impossible to use. The torque specs for this scope mount is 20 to 25 inch-lb for the base and 18 inch-lb for the rings.
20 MOA Scope Mount
By design, this scope mount slants forward and it allows you to adjust the sights, which is vital when you are shooting long distance. The torque specs for a 20MOA mount is 20 to 30 inch-lb.
Quick detach scope mount
If you have to use more than one sights, you need the quick detach scope mount because you can detach the sights fast and change to others. This gives you a lot of flexibility when you are in action.
As you can see, there are tens of scope mounts. All of them have their torque specifications. It is best to check with the manufacturer or from the user manual to find out what torque you should apply.
What is the torque on Leupold scope rings?
In line with this question, another popular one is: What should I torque my Leupold scope rings to? Before we can learn the torque specs for these rings, let’s look at their design a bit.
These rings are best for rifles made to work with them. So, you cannot use every rifle with these scope rings. The front ring locks into place and stays in one position.
However, the rear of the scope can still move to the left or to the right as you seek to make the necessary adjustments. This kind of base is a bit complex so it is best for professionals. The saving grace is that you can make many adjustments to find your sweet spot.
The torque level that you can apply on these ring screws is 28 inch-lb, and you should not exceed this. You should also not torque it fully all at once. Do it by bits.
How tight should Picatinny rail be?
A Picatinny rail is mostly used to mount the scopes of big caliber rifles. This kind of rail can be used for many things. For instance, you can use it to attach laser modules, tactical devices, bayonets, bipods, night vision aids and so many others.
What is the difference between a Picatinny rail and a Weaver rail? This is a common question. They might look the same, but they are different.
The Picatinny rail has wider and deeper slots as opposed to the Weaver rail. Because of the differences in design, the torque levels you should apply on the screws are different.
To mount the Picatinny rail, torque it to 15 to 55 inch-lb. It is very important you use a torque wrench, because you cannot be able to gauge whether the rail is tight enough.
To mount rings on the Picatinny rail, you should apply torque of 14 to 25 inch-lb.
Mounting a scope without a torque wrench
All fasteners on cars, motorbikes and guns have a torque rating, which you can find out easily, if you want to. By nature and design, guns are precise weapons and for safety, you should ensure they remain so.
If you are intending to attach a scope on the gun, you should have a torque wrench in your tool kit. You also need one if you intend to use sights, night vision aids, laser modules and many other accessories.
In some sources, you will read that using a torque wrench is good, but not necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Using a torque wrench on the action screws and the scope rings will protect them from damage. If you do not use a torque wrench, you might over-tighten the screws and cause them to strip. You could also under-tighten them so that they run loose when you start using the rifle.
Since you now know the danger of over-tightening the screws, you must include a torque wrench (an adjustable one) or a torque driver, or both of them in your collection of tools.
If you can, get a digital torque wrench. It is easy to use, accurate and it gives a buzzer when you have reached the torque level you want.
A scope for the rifle is going to cost you a good amount of money. Some people even spend more than $2000 on a scope.
Now, it would be quite an oversight to gauge the tightness of the scope by hand. Invest in a torque wrench which is way cheaper and save yourself a lot of trouble.
Best Torque Wrench for Scope Mounting
First, we shall give you a glimpse of a few torque wrenches that are popular for mounting gun scopes. Here they are:
WEAVER Gunsmithing Torque Wrench
- It is an 11-piece (with the driver and 10 bits) for different scope mounting screws/fasteners
- All bits have magnetized tips so there is no risk of losing fasteners
- High quality storage case to lock out humidity
- Minimal weight of 2 pounds makes it easy to carry in your backpack
- Wide torque range of 15 in-lbs to 80 in-lbs
NEIKO 10573B 1/4” Torque Screwdriver Set
- The driver has a hex-style head and it comes with 20 hex bits
- Magnetized tips prevent loss of fasteners
- The torque range is 10 to 50 in-lb, adjustable in 5 in-lb increments
- It clicks when you achieve the set torque
- Easy to adjust the torque – just pull, turn handle and lock
Capri Tools CP21075 Certified Limiting Torque Screwdriver Set
- It has a plastic, soft-grip handle for comfort when working long hours
- Has a torque range of 10 to 50 in-lb with 1 in-lb increments
- Package comes with one torque screwdriver, one T bar handle and 20 hex bits
- Torque accuracy is +/-6%
- Easy to use for beginners, sets and locks torque into place to avoid slipping
Mounting a scope onto your rifle can seem like a very simple task. However, without the right tools, so much could go wrong and compromise your aim. You have seen the importance of using a torque wrench for your scope mounts.
If you still need more clarification on some issues, hopefully, this section on frequently asked questions, and their answers, will help you:
Do you need a torque wrench for scope rings?
There are about 11 or more types of scope mounts and rings make a good number of these. Different types of rings for mounting your scope require different torque measures.
It is very important to torque the screws with a torque wrench or a torque driver to make them appropriately tight and prevent them from stripping.
So many things could go wrong including damaging the scope mounting rings themselves. If you are not careful during the mounting, you can also get your scope tube badly marred.
Do you need a torque screwdriver to mount a scope?
Consistency is everything in a rifle, which is a precision weapon. Therefore, get a torque wrench. Torque screwdrivers are different from regular screwdrivers because they can measure the amount of torque being applied on a screw.
So, whether you use a torque wrench or driver will be determined by the types of fasteners you have on the scope mount or ring.
If they are screw-types, you should use a torque screwdriver. If they are in the bolt and nut form, you should use a torque wrench.
What torque wrench do gunsmiths use?
Gunsmiths use the F.A.T or FAT wrench. This is an acronym for Firearms Accurizing Torque wrench. It is the most important tool that you can buy if you are a gun enthusiast.
It is going to help you apply the right torque to various screws used on different parts of the gun. In addition to this torque driver, you should also have a torque wrench. It can be a click torque wrench or another kind that can work in constricted spaces.
Wrapping Up
The debate on whether to use or not to use a torque wrench for a scope mounting is not ending anytime soon.
Most people agree it is vital to use the best torque wrench for scope mounting. There are many of them, as you have seen here.
Choosing the right scope mount is simple. However, you have to attach it in the right way to the rifle. If you do not mount the scope in the right way, you can damage your scope tube.
If you tighten the screws of the scope rings too much, you could strip the threads, which would require you to replace the screws.
Most gunsmiths might not even use a torque wrench to tighten the scope mount screws. If you like to be sure, it is best to do the job yourself. Tighten the screws and torque them to the manufacturer-recommended torque level.