Scope Ring Screw Rust

[brolo]

I just finished a week in the woods, and my rifle came back with rust in the scope ring screws. The rings are Nightforce XTRM Ultralite Uni-Mount with stock screws degreased and loctite applied. The rest of the rings, mount, scope, and rifle are fine.

-how do I fix it?
-do I need new screws?
-how do I prevent it from happening again?

 

[ljalberta]

Looks extra secure to me now. You could always do a bit of nail polish on top and the bottom if you’re concerned about water and rust.

 

[Rokways023]

Since it's just a little rust, you can easily clean and prevent them from water to avoid rust again. Changing the screws is not needed

 

[Koda_]

-how do I fix it?
-do I need new screws?
-how do I prevent it from happening again?

Ive had this same exact issue with ring screws a few years ago. I read to use stainless screws if going into aluminum.
I ended up emailing Warne with a pic and they sent me replacement screws, free. No rust since. Screws are mass produced so sometimes we end up with some with weak plating, most likely replacing them with the same will stop it.

 

[brolo]

@Koda_ , i took your idea and sent a message with pic to Nightforce…they put replacement screws in the mail with an hour. Awesome customer service!

 

[IdahoBeav]

Corroseal would probably work very well.

 

[ssimo]

That’s why i neve chemically degrease screws before mounting a scope but just wife them down accurate lot with a cotton patch, same for female threads. I don’t like the idea to have one day a nasty surprise like this. I just check screws for torque now and then and i have never had issues

 

[brolo]

That’s why i neve chemically degrease screws before mounting a scope but just wife them down accurate lot with a cotton patch, same for female threads. I don’t like the idea to have one day a nasty surprise like this. I just check screws for torque now and then and i have never had issues

I got a new set from NF, degreased them, then took it back out on a wet coastal hunt with zero corrosion

 

[ssimo]

I got a new set from NF, degreased them, then took it back out on a wet coastal hunt with zero corrosion

The fact that one time it didn’t happen doesn’t mean that totally chemically degreasing rings doesn’t make corrosion more likely, which of course does. actually without any protection even steel with rust protective finish, treated, inox or blued steel will oxydize at least to a degree. I just toque to spec (adjusting for not completely dry torque when needed) and check torque once a year for hunting RIfles.

I don’t see a major advantage in degreasing chemically.. maybe more reliable torque (if the two dry surfaces doesn’t grit, which can give much less reliable toque values) and less chance to loosening (but at this point just use loctite).
I personality contacted Aimpoint and NF and the tech support told me in both cases that degreasing is NOT necessary for a reliable and solid mounting.

 

[brolo]

Agree, single trip is a very small sample size. NF said the same thing to me as well regarding degreasing.

Thread 'Scope mounting to maintain zero'

Sep 29, 2017

After multiple requests for an explanation of how to mount a scope in order to have the lowest possibility of loss of zero, a discussion of a scope mounting video, and the latest thread about scope bases and action screw coming loose, I took some pics of what I do with a rifle when I get it and how I mount scopes (or anything with screws).

To start- a bit of background of why I say what I say.

I am a backpack hunter. What I write below is tailored to hunting.

Having sid that, I work at a place that fires a lot of ammo. I see over half a million rounds a year on average get fired...

• Formidilosus
• Replies: 245
• Forum: Firearms

• 

 

[ssimo]

Agree, single trip is a very small sample size. NF said the same thing to me as well regarding degreasing.

Thread 'Scope mounting to maintain zero'

Sep 29, 2017

After multiple requests for an explanation of how to mount a scope in order to have the lowest possibility of loss of zero, a discussion of a scope mounting video, and the latest thread about scope bases and action screw coming loose, I took some pics of what I do with a rifle when I get it and how I mount scopes (or anything with screws).

To start- a bit of background of why I say what I say.

I am a backpack hunter. What I write below is tailored to hunting.

Having sid that, I work at a place that fires a lot of ammo. I see over half a million rounds a year on average get fired...

• Formidilosus
• Replies: 245
• Forum: Firearms

• 

I have seen that thread and for sure Formidolosus knows better than most people here so if you plan to use a gun intensively (like at a shooting class) degreasing is a good idea, especially if you don’t care much about very long term conservation of the rifle. Unless the manufacturer suggests against it, which sometimes happens. If i had to do an international competition or go to war with the rifle, i would degrease. That said, i want my hunting RIfles to last a lot of time and to me is very important that nothing rusts and i know i can check torque regularly, especially after shooting many rounds.
especially with my collectibles i would never degrease every screw and screw hole. I think wiping the screws down with a clean cotton patch is a good compromise in this case.

I think it is a matter of usa of the rifle.

I will always follow what manufactorers say on this specific technical aspects because materials and torque values are different and only they know if the specs are for dry or “not chemically cleaned” threads. Also torquing without any trace of oil can be less reliable of the two dry surfaces have some inconsistent contact and the torque wrench snaps too early because of it.

That said, i think that this subject is vastly overthinked on. if the rifle keeping zero was so dependent on drying everything up with degreasers, there wouldn’t be contrasting opinions in the shooter community and among manufacturers. It would be clear what is the right thing to do..

Most people will never have a rifle lose zero with normal use even if they don’t degrease, as long as they torque everything more or less to specs. I am pretty sure about this