Scope Mounting Tools

[JW@TRACT]

When mounting a scope on your rifle, what are your go-to tools?
Level, alignment/ lapping bars, a torque wrench? Are there any tools that aren't often used or included in kits that should be?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Feeler gauges to the rail or mount (except Spuhr, use their wedge) to level turret housing to the rifle, orange loctite, good torque wrench. Quality level and plumb bob to verify reticle is level to the turret housing after mounting. In reality though as long as the level on the rifle is level to the turret housing and crosshairs and you're leveling the rifle to the level every shot, a little cant of the optic is a non issue. It has to be several degrees canted before it can actually cause a problem. I'm OCD though and like my shit lined up.

Good mounts shouldn't need to be lapped. If they do there's other problems.

 

[nobody]

Degreaser (I use nail polish remover), nail polish/loctite, torque wrench, small spirit levels from Amazon, and a straight edge.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Degreaser, blue loctite, fix-it-sticks with the all-in-one torque head, and a wheeler scope leveling kit

 

[Schism]

Brake cleaner to degrease. I use Wiha or Snap-On torque indicators to tighten fasteners.

Torque rings to rail using manufacturer torque spec. I don't add any loctite or other unless specified by the manufacturer. While in a comfortable prone position I line the reticle plumb using a large silo about a mile away from my house. Torque rings to spec.

I've been using ARC (my favorite) or NF rings. I don't lap any of them or use any sort of level kit to align the reticle.

 

[morgaj1]

Single best thing to add to a kit IMO is a bottle of degreaser. You'd be surprised how many folks don't know to degrease the screws before installing.

 

[sndmn11]

Borka torque thing and arisaka leveling wedge thingies.

 

[Mag_7s]

Does anyone bed their rings? I've been following Stratton Custom Rifles, and he's got me thinking I'm doing life wrong.

 

[MattB]

Acetone, torque wrench, blue loc-tite, level.

 

[Tremain4414]

I use a plumb line to verify the scope is level and the reticle is aligned

 

[SwiftShot]

When mounting a scope on your rifle, what are your go-to tools?
Level, alignment/ lapping bars, a torque wrench? Are there any tools that aren't often used or included in kits that should be?

Plum level and flash light. After rifle is leveled gently set scope in rings. Tape the plum level to the wall behind scope. Shine light through front projecting reticle on wall over top of plum level. This will show if scope is level. It will exacerbate any cant to the scope by enlarging the reticle.

Torque screw driver and locktite.

 

[JGRaider]

Besides the obvious degreaser and a torque wrench, the Reticle Tru alignment device is quick, easy, and foolproof. I don't trust cheap bubble levels necessarily.