My first attempt at a scope mount with a couple of questions

[JasonH]

This is my first deer rifle (Weatherby Vanguard 7mm Rem Mag) and after a lot of looking around I picked up the Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 TR20g for it with the corresponding Leupold dual dovetail mount and medium 1" rings. My scope experience involves slapping an ACOG on an AR-15 with a picatinny rail so I haven't exactly done this before.

Here's a little picture of it. Click the link below to see the big one where you can see the detail:



Click this for the big picture: http://www.easyscreens.info/gallery/20090828/2.jpg

Where it's at if I shoulder it naturally the eye relief feels about perfect. I don't have to push forward or pull back to get a full view. So I assume the placement is fine.

My question is, is that about right as far as the mounting side of things? I kind of assumed being a one inch tube with one inch rings those screws would all go in evenly and flush but it's pretty tight right now and I don't want to force anything. All four screws in the rings are close in regards to how deep they are into the threading, but it's not identical.

I assume this is normal and it's a stupid question but I'd just like to be sure that mounting job looks.. like it should.

My only concern is maybe those rings should be flush with one another and they're not because the angle of the rings isn't right. I had to use a broom handle to twist the dovetails into place but they look about perfect when I eyeball them. That was a learning experience. I tried to use my hands at first. Ow.

Otherwise.. eh? Good to go assuming I didn't totally screw up the mounting part? I have no real way to measure the torque on the screws so I just kind of did it by feel. Pretty tight but I didn't lay into the thing, either. Leupold seems to think the torx screws are pretty reliable. I dunno. Seems okay.

Leupold told me to buy the low rings, by the way, which left the adjustment dials and scope resting against the barrel and receiver. I made a last minute trip to get the mediums and it clears by a quarter of an inch or so. I assume that's about right, too? The bolt clears it just fine.

Otherwise.. am I good to go? I assume at this point I just need to bore sight it so I can get bullets on paper and then throw her in the lead sled at the range and tweak from there.

[gemini]

Yes, it looks OK. I always prefer low mount rings. As long as the cross hairs are level/perpendicular,
the eye relief is good (for you), and everything is snugged down.... sounds like you're good to go.
You can bore sight at the range old school style and get on the paper pretty quick. Simply remove the
bolt, sand bag the gun, sight directly through the rifle bore, when the bore is on target carefully move the
crosshairs to match. Your first shot will be on the paper if done correctly.(100yd range) Fine tune from there.
If you find you don't have enough verticle or horizontal adjustment in the scope, don't panic and force
the adjustment. You might need to use shims to bring the scope into correct alignment. Good luck.
A 7mag is more than adequate for anything you might want to shoot in Tx.

[HankB]

When I'm mounting a 'scope, there are a couple of things I do which you didn't mention . . .

1. Thoroughly degrease all screws and threaded holes; oily threads won't stay tight. Degrease the inside of the rings, too, as well as the 'scope tube where the rings will contact it.

2. Use a little Loctite on the threads. Prefer the "Blue" which is removable. "Red" Loctite is virtually permanent, and may require heat (300F) to remove.

3. I dissolve a little rosin in alcohol, and "paint" the insides of the rings. Many will say this is not needed, but I find that despite the miniscule thickness, it gives the rings a better "grip" on the 'scope by greatly increasing the sliding friction.

Optional step:

4. Lap the rings.

I like Leupold rings . . . but I found out that the Torx wrench they supplied was soft, and didn't even fit the Torx socket very well. I ended up using the one from my Wheeler gunsmithing screwdrive set instead.

Oh . . . be sure that the base screws didn't "bottom out" in the tapped holes in the rifle receiver. Sometimes the supplied screws are just a tad too long. (This is actually a benefit, since you can then file them down to the proper length to get full engagement.)

Should all work out well for you - the 7mm Mag isn't a heavy kicker, so the double-dovetail rings provide more strength than necessary . . . which isn't a bad thing, as long as the tapped receiver holes line up with the barrel, so you don't run out of windage adjustment in the 'scope.

Good luck - post a range report after you give the rifle it's "baptism of fire."