I've never done this but it seems reasonable.

For those who do this, what's your method?

Obviously release agent must be liberally applied to the screws and threads!

Thanks for any input...

Brad Amundson

Just clean and degrease everything. I wouldn't fool around with release agents, to get the mount off you are going to need heat anyway so just tighten them down, either with locktite or a trace of epoxy. This is a good reason not to go cheap on the mount so you won't be unhappy with it in the years to come and want to replace it with something nicer.

From the 'It Worked For Me' department here is the method that I borrowed from others on this site. Clean/degrease all, lightly sand under the base just to give epoxy something to grab on to. I waxed the top of the receiver and the screws. I applied JB Weld to bases and tightened them to 'just snug'. Have some acetone and q-tips handy to clean around base perimeter. I let it set for two days, removed screws, clean in acetone, put on blue locktite and tighten down. Done. Whatever method be sure and wax the hell out of the screws when doing the initial gluing. down

I don't use any release agent. Wouldn't defeat the goal??? I want everything bonded together. If you want it off later use heat. Take the action out of the stock and hit the bases with a propane torch. The epoxy will break down long before the blue or heat treatment is effected.

I'm with the majority that don't use release agent and utilize heat to remove at later time. You don't need much epoxy. Vinegar works best for cleanup before it sets up, for me.

Thanks for the input gentlemen.

I just got a Win 70 stainless 300 WSM and wanted to try the "epoxy mount method." After tuning the trigger, relieving the barrel channel and bedding the action, I used JB-Weld to mount the bases, including epoxying the base screws. Interestingly enough, I had to remove the forward base today (I thought the 3x9 Leupold compact would fit perfectly... it didn't by a "hair"!). I used my Benzomatic torch (low flame) to heat the base... it took VERY little heating to lossen the base screws and remove the entire unit. I cleaned everything (with a little heat, elbow grease and vinegar) and re-mounted the unit, no problem! I'll tell you what, I'm sold on this method! Rock solid, with 100% base-to-reciever contact. I lapped in the rings (Weaver stainless/aluminum) and mounted the scope with the usual rubber-cement used on the lower ring half.

I'm looking forward to wringing out this rifle tomorrow and putting down some game this fall!

Again, thanks for the reply's... you've gotta love this site for the wealth of knowledge available here!

Bob... let us all know how your 338 WSM turns out!

Regards all,

Brad Amundson

Yeah, Bob338 has it right that vinegar (I was told and pretty much always used white vinegar, but any ol' cider vinegar works fine in a pinch) works great for cleaning up uncured epoxy. Of course when you use it on your hands you learn where all of your cuts and nicks are.....