Shooting a custom Mauser action .416 Ruger with a 3.5 X 15 50mm Nightforce scope. This rifle shooting 69.6 gr of IMR 4320 powder with 500 gr. North Fork Bullets works great. The darned thing after 30 rounds begins walkies. A clean mount with medium strength Locktite on all pins was coming loose. I have re-assembled cleaning all the pins and have used strong locktite this time. Each pin was torqued properly with a Wheeler torque driver.

Has anyone had problems of this nature and been able to solve the problem? Any suggestions if this comes loose again?

Are the rings or bases coming loose? Or is the scope sliding within the rings under recoil?


Degrease the screws, screw holes, rings, mounts, and top of receiver.

I presume you will use Loc-Tite on the screws for the bases when you attach them to the receiver.


You don't say what types of rings you are using, or whether you have lapped them.

If you are not using Burris Signature or vertically split rings, put a strip of friction tape on the inside diameter of each of the top and bottom rings.

Install the scope and tighten the rings as per the instructions for the rings. Do not over-tighten.

That is a large, heavy scope and it will want to move under the recoil of a .416.

George

P.S. The image in your signature is not viewable.

quote:

That is a large, heavy scope and it will want to move under the recoil of a .416

I thought this too.

GOB: how are getting 500 gr bullets in a .416? Perhaps you meant 400 gr or if it is 500 gr those must be mighty long bullets!

Lacking integral bases on your Mauser .416 Ruger, and even if you had integral bases:

Yes, you really should consider a smaller and lighter scope.

8x40 instead of 6x48 screws are a must for the bases, especially if you do not want to epoxy (JB Weld) the bases to the receiver bridges.
I prefer to do both.
Removing the bases can be done later with a torch if ever required,
with barreled action removed from stock and wrapped in wet towels.

My M70 49-10 has had over 50 rounds through it, some loads delivering over 7000 ft-lbs at the muzzle.
No scope loosening.
The ring screws and levers were frequently checked, and never found loosened.
The target below was shot near the end of the 50 rounds.
New load, after testing other loads, rifle already on paper, 2 shots to zero at 50 yards:



The scope is a 2.5X-8X Leupold in Leupold QRW rings with Warne bases.
The 1.5X-5X Leupold is good too.
2.5X fixed Ultralight Leupold would be best for prevention of recoil loosening of scope mounts.

I have the scopes glued into the rings with RTV silicone adhesive.
The Winchester M70 scope bases are 8x40-screwed and JB Welded to rifle.
The scope is oldest 2.5x-8x Leupold I have.
It started off on a .358 STA Mauser.
I spray painted it to hide the scratches .
Still works great: Leupold
Weight of rifle without the scope and rings: 9 pounds 3 ounces

Use a little acraglass to glue,then tighten really tight with a ratchet and use red loctite after degreasing.

Shootaway

You really don't understand english do you---



SSR

Do Not Overtighten Screws! They have a specific torque requirement and over-torquing can cause them to shear.

+1 on RIP's methods. I've had a number of hard recoiling rifles redrilled to 8x40 screws and it really helps.

If I was convinced I wanted to use that scope on that gun, I would get a Farrell Picatinny rail installed with at least 8/40 screws or better yet soldered in place. Get top quality military style rings like Badgers and mount it. If you have room use three rings.

GOB,

You've a number of issues going on...beginning with your 30oz rifle scope. DG riles typically use scopes weighing 16oz or less because it is very hard to keep heavier scopes from walking during recoil. You note the screws working themselves loose but didn't specify whether they were the base screws or rings screws. Best solution is to install your bases per RIP's instruction with JB Weld and follow GeorgeS' advise regarding the rings. Finally as has already been noted...use a rifle scope that is in the range of a 1.5-8 or 2-10 power if you need magnification and keep the scope weight in the 10oz-16oz range as it will live much happier on your 416.

I have multiple variable power scopes to use on my .423/338 Lapua Mag and .500/338 Lapua Mag chambered custom M98 Mauser rifles and all weigh in at 13.2 to 13.5oz in weight...with thw 13.2oz 1.5-8 power scopes being the permanent use scopes backed up by the 13.5oz 1-4 power scopes.

Good luck.

Hell of a varmint rig you've got there, GOB.

The ground hogs must be TOUGH in your neighborhood!

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
If I was convinced I wanted to use that scope on that gun, I would get a Farrell Picatinny rail installed with at least 8/40 screws or better yet soldered in place. Get top quality military style rings like Badgers and mount it. If you have room use three rings.

No, 4 rings!

I have a 500 A2 Ruger No.1 that has a Picatinny rail on the barrel.
It is 8x40-screwed and soldered to the long, straight-cylinder barrel shank.
I use a Sightron 4X-16X, 1"-tubed/50mm objective, mildot-reticled scope with 4 rings.
Silicone adhesive in rings (Better than any friction tape or "rosin" or what-not.).

I also have a Schmidt&Bender P&M 4X-16X 34mm-tubed scope that I would never dream of fitting on a hard kicker.
Unless I can get SIX RINGS on the Picatinny ... ... Nah, that scope and ring combo is well over 48 oz.
Badger rings are heavy!!!

Any ring without a trace of RTV silicone adhesive between it and the scope is bad ju-ju, IMHO.

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Shootaway

You really don't understand english do you---



SSR

Say it in any language you want but the stocks are not cracking on me and neither are my screws loose!

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Shootaway

You really don't understand english do you---



SSR

Say it in any language you want but the stocks are not cracking on me and neither are my screws loose!

Thats what I mean--we are talking about scopes and rings, not stocks that crack--so yes you do have several screws loose.



SSR

RIP nailed it. Get a smaller scope and bigger screws.

Hello,

I would like to seriously thank everyone who came up with some really great advice to which I listened and did as instructed.

As much as the Nightforce was fantastic to work with, it obviously had to move to another rifle.

I settled on the new Leupold Big Bore VX6 2 X 12 illuminated LR Duplex scope which weighs 1 pound 4 ounces less than the Nightforce. I JB Welded the bases. I am still using the Warne QD mounts secured with black locktite and rosin.

It has some great eye relief, the rifle is a heck of a lot easier to manuver. I am just waiting for the latest blast of rain and cold to pass.

I shall post how this works out.

That seems like a good choice. Good luck!

Just received the Leoupold VX6 scope which appears good, I did nit think that it operated on a battery but - WRONG - uses battery. We shall see how it forks out.