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You guys using loctite on your ring caps (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 8/14/2026 8:43:51 AM EDT
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Just wondering what you guys are doing? Loctite, vibratite, dry. I'm uncomfortable not using anything. I've just been using purple because it's a little better than nothing. On mounts that don't use helicoils, I run blue. Haven't really had any problems but... Just curious what the hive is doing. . |
I am not an operator nor am I very smart.
Keep that in mind when reading my comments:-)
Keep that in mind when reading my comments:-)
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Originally Posted By wildturl1: I just properly torque the mount and ring screws. Never used a thread locker, never had any issues. Yeah kinda figured dry was good too since so many manufacturers reccomend not using anything on the cap screws. But, I'm just nervous since an optic moving makes for an unusable optic. I always use alcohol on the threads prior to adding loctite. Need to remove any oils left from machining in order to get proper adhesion. Thanks for sharing . |
I am not an operator nor am I very smart.
Keep that in mind when reading my comments:-)
Keep that in mind when reading my comments:-)
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Originally Posted By TGH456E: Ring caps? You mean the turret covers- No, nothing, I need access to them. You mean the rings or mounts? I do what the manufacturer says- which is nothing but I torque them properly. I dont fix things that arent broke. It's funny, you are the 2nd person asking this. No, not the turrets. I mean the top ring half, the thing that you put 4 screws into to secure the scope to the scope ring base. I don't know, I've always called them ring caps. Guess I'm weird, lol. |
I am not an operator nor am I very smart.
Keep that in mind when reading my comments:-)
Keep that in mind when reading my comments:-)
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I put blue threadlocker on all my scope ring screws - the screws that hold it to the receiver/slide, and the screws that hold the two halves together. I guess I thought everyone did? 
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Originally Posted By carholio: It's funny, you are the 2nd person asking this. No, not the turrets. I mean the top ring half, the thing that you put 4 screws into to secure the scope to the scope ring base. I don't know, I've always called them ring caps. Guess I'm weird, lol. Originally Posted By carholio: Originally Posted By TGH456E: Ring caps? You mean the turret covers- No, nothing, I need access to them. You mean the rings or mounts? I do what the manufacturer says- which is nothing but I torque them properly. I dont fix things that arent broke. It's funny, you are the 2nd person asking this. No, not the turrets. I mean the top ring half, the thing that you put 4 screws into to secure the scope to the scope ring base. I don't know, I've always called them ring caps. Guess I'm weird, lol. I thought you meant turret covers as well. No, I don't loctite those. But hell yes, every screw in an optic mount gets blue loctite, always. |
| I started using blue loctite after having a bunch of Bobro ring screws come loose on my Run and Gun rifles after about the 4th one. Had 6 of the 8 screws loose toward the end of a match. Did use a torque wrench set to Bobro's specs and they still loosened. I think other mounts work better. My Badgers are torqued and haven't loosed yet. When unscrewing them, you get a decent snap sound from the screw backing out of torque. |
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I have tried pretty much every thread locker I could find including the red rubber type vibra-tite. I tend to lean towards blue loctite. It just works and is simple to use. I Like the stick form, like kids paste glue. There is also a gel version thats nice. I use red on some things, mainly if I can get a solid tool/screwdriver on it to break it loose down the road. I think red is easier to break loose than people assume. I use it on my glock slide plates. I didn't have good luck with the rubber style vibratite, but I think it seems to work well on parts I buy that already have it on them. Main thing is to clean whatever you want to tighten and degrease it well, let dry, then apply. |
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Originally Posted By carholio: It's funny, you are the 2nd person asking this. No, not the turrets. I mean the top ring half, the thing that you put 4 screws into to secure the scope to the scope ring base. I don't know, I've always called them ring caps. Guess I'm weird, lol. Everybody else calls them 'scope ring screws' which would have been crystal clear. I've had very good results using blue Loctite on anything related to an optic except of course the turrets - 'But I had it sighted-in' LOL |
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I watched a video in which Spuhr said something like: "You do use oil on the [scope ring] screw threads, don't you?" In the 1980s I used a dab of fingernail polish. Then for the next 20 years or so I used Loctite. This year I began to use oil and to wet mount all of my scope mounts with either oil or grease, based upon Spuhr's recommendation. I haven't been doing it this way long enough to see how it will work. It is promising. |
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Never used loctite on mounts, bases or rings or even the adjustment screw caps in about 50 years of rifle shooting. I have used loctite on pistol optice a few times, but I know I haven't used it on every one every time. |
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So I’m not an engineer but I used to just clean and be a stickler about torque specs but have had things loosen on quite a few different optic mounts, acog, scope rings etc But now I clean my screws then put a drop of loctite 242 and then use a torque limiter so I don’t break anything. Cause daily car vibrations(annd probably temperature variations) are a motherfucker. |
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| Degrease all threads and proper torque. Adding a threadlocker can give you false torque values. |
“Necessary? Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? No, but I do it anyway because it’s sterile and I like the taste.” -Patches O’Houlihan
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Originally Posted By carholio: It's funny, you are the 2nd person asking this. No, not the turrets. I mean the top ring half, the thing that you put 4 screws into to secure the scope to the scope ring base. I don't know, I've always called them ring caps. Guess I'm weird, lol. Originally Posted By carholio: Originally Posted By TGH456E: Ring caps? You mean the turret covers- No, nothing, I need access to them. You mean the rings or mounts? I do what the manufacturer says- which is nothing but I torque them properly. I dont fix things that arent broke. It's funny, you are the 2nd person asking this. No, not the turrets. I mean the top ring half, the thing that you put 4 screws into to secure the scope to the scope ring base. I don't know, I've always called them ring caps. Guess I'm weird, lol. Well, yes you are using a weird name for them. :) They are called scope rings and screws. FWIW they come in different designs: some have only two screws and some are - to use my weird name for them- a clam shell design that dont even have a cap like you are used to. Like this: https://www.aeroprecisionusa.com/ultralight-1in-spr-scope-mount-fde Regardless, I do what the manufacturer recommends- never an issue. |
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Yes. Degrease all surfaces and a small drop of loctite 243. All screws get witness marks. Can’t risk a screw backing out on a work gun. For those of you not using loctite on pistol optic screws……yeah, that’s not optional. Every single one someone has brought me without thread locker has backed out. Not a matter of if, but when. |
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Originally Posted By Marksman14: For those of you not using loctite on pistol optic screws……yeah, that’s not optional. Every single one someone has brought me without thread locker has backed out. Not a matter of if, but when. 100% on pistol optics. 243 holds em tight. |
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Originally Posted By carholio: Just wondering what you guys are doing? Loctite, vibratite, dry. I'm uncomfortable not using anything. I've just been using purple because it's a little better than nothing. On mounts that don't use helicoils, I run blue. Haven't really had any problems but... Just curious what the hive is doing. . I used to, but after contacting multiple people who have been part of proofing programs for optics/mounts, as well as the engineers that design the mounts used for .mil contracts on SCAR 17, etc. I do not. |
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Originally Posted By carholio: It's funny, you are the 2nd person asking this. No, not the turrets. I mean the top ring half, the thing that you put 4 screws into to secure the scope to the scope ring base. I don't know, I've always called them ring caps. Guess I'm weird, lol. Its not wierd. Its precise. That is what they are called. |
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Originally Posted By Inverted_Polarity: I like to use Rockset. On the ring screws? That’s bold… |
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Originally Posted By Luny421: On the ring screws? That’s bold… Isn't Rocksett actually weaker than even blue Loctite? Rocksett's superpower is temperature resistance. I just follow the manual. Some manufacturers say use threadlocker, most don't. Always use a torque wrench and follow the correct tightening pattern. |
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Originally Posted By voyager3: Isn't Rocksett actually weaker than even blue Loctite? Rocksett's superpower is temperature resistance. I just follow the manual. Some manufacturers say use threadlocker, most don't. Always use a torque wrench and follow the correct tightening pattern. Yes. Its not nearly the death sentence some think it would be. |
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Originally Posted By Marksman14: Yes. Its not nearly the death sentence some think it would be. Tell that to my muzzle devices that required an overnight soak in water to be removed. |
“Necessary? Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? No, but I do it anyway because it’s sterile and I like the taste.” -Patches O’Houlihan
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
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Originally Posted By Luny421: Tell that to my muzzle devices that required an overnight soak in water to be removed. I’ve had those too. Big difference between coating every thread on a 1/2x28 muzzle device vs a small dab…. I’d still not use that for that application, but it would break apart just fine. |
You guys using loctite on your ring caps (Page 1 of 2)
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