I just got my Talleys and like all rings mounts, they are greased up to protect rust. Should i wipe them off or spray them down with cleaner/degreaser?
Posts: 315 | Location: SOUTHEAST USA | Registered: 26 December 2003
Absolutely degrease the rings. I use acetone on one of those cotton buds you get at chemists. This gives the ring a good grip on the scope tube.
If you have the Talleys QD make sure that you back out the lever or screw into dovetail piece totally out. Then really tighten the 2 bottom screws on the base before putting this screw back in. Otherwise you could strip a thread & won't be able to tighten the dovetail. Found out the hard way!! Do the top screws last after you have set eye relief & squared crosshairs.
Talleys are supposed to have updated their fitting instructions to make this clear but my purchases late last year thru Brownells did not have those instructions. If you don't have the latest instructions contact Talley & they will fax it to you.
Posts: 370 | Location: Sydney, Australia | Registered: 29 December 2003
I'm not familiar with the Talley's, but I would say, not only de-grease, but lap them in, as well.... that procedure by itself will greatly increase the holding power, and decrease the potential for marring or bending the scope body.... in my opinion.
Quote: I just got my Talleys and like all rings mounts, they are greased up to protect rust. Should i wipe them off or spray them down with cleaner/degreaser?
I degrease bases, rings, all screws, and screw holes before installing a mount.
Quote: I just got my Talleys and like all rings mounts, they are greased up to protect rust. Should i wipe them off or spray them down with cleaner/degreaser?
Let me second each of the prior responses, and specifically add that just wiping the rings down is not enough.
I mounted a scope a few months ago, and although I had wiped the inside of the rings until they were dry to the touch I did not degrease them. When I went to sight in the rifle (a mild recoiling 6.5x55) my shots kept moving around. I couldn't figure out why until I realized that the scope had slid forward until the turret was almost touching the front ring. Luckily my wife had left a bottle of fingernail polish remover in the car, and after a quick wipe-down the scope didn't move any more.
...or he could be like the old boy that was changing clothes at the gym, and when he dropped his trousers, his buddy asked him.. "when did you start wearing women's bikini underwear?"... and he replies... "ever since my wife found a pair of them under the front seat of my car"....
...just for those "special" weekends...... 
