2 piece base loosening on lead sled

[3006bluffhunter]

I have a savage 111 with a weaver extended set of bases! I tightened them tight ,real tight I thought! tightened the rings real tight also! I Took it out to the range and sighted it in which was going well! Shot 8 to ten rounds then BANG way off target! so I started to check things and my base screws were loosening up like real loose! This was set on a lead sled which had about a 30 pound scuba belt in the tray! That 30-06 shot like a bb gun with all that weight!Down side is I think all the recoil was getting absorbed into every screw on that rifle which loosened up the bases! With my shooting muffs on and squeezing the trigger I could feel a tuning fork type of ring/ping in the butt of that rifle! Do you think taking that much recoil out by that much sled weight could lead to rifle/mount/rings/scope failure? needless to say I lock tightened the screws now! (blue medium strength automotive style) Do You lock tight all your mounts? Thanks Dale

[quickdtoo]

That's what Loctite is for. I shoot chamberings that have twice the recoil of the 30-06 over my Leadsled DFT, never had a problem, but I only use about 20-25lbs of sandbags on the tray, I just want to slow it down, not stop it. 

Tim

[LaOtto222]

I use the "blue" Lock Tight on the base screws. I have not found I need it on the ring screws, but I do not shoot the heavy hitters. I do have a 444 Marlin, but have not squeezed the trigger on it yet. BTW I also have the lead sled DFT, but so far I have not put any weight in it. I suspect that will change when I finally get out the 444.

[Dave in WV]

I use red loctite on my base screws. I know it's there and so does my son (when he inherits them) and a soldering iron will break the bond. I normally don't use any bonding agent on my ring screws but if I do it's green loctite or clear nail polish. I clean my screws and the holes with Ronson or Zippo lighter fluid. If you have problems with a scope slipping in the rings a dab of rubber cement on the lower ring half will cure that.

[eye shot]

I found out that the lead sled type rest is very hard on scopes and mounts. I quit using it and went back to sand bags,but I do use a Sims slip on recoil pad. I haven't had any problems with scopes since.