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Scope mount installation tips |
Scope mount mounting tips for Weigand scope mounts
What I am sharing with you on this page is an accumulation of
years of designing, manufacturing and installing scope mounts. The list of tips
and tricks listed below are a series of helpful hints to do a scope mount and
scope installation that will give you years of trouble free service.
Nothing spoils a day of competition, hunting or plain fun shooting like the loss
of your point of aim, the fun is always hitting what you are aiming
for. Following the procedures outlined here will get you close to that goal,
installing a high quality Weigand mount will get you the remainder of the way.
Read the instructions
1. I always suggest opening the scope mount package and to
read the instructions. Please remember the instructions are a guideline and can
not possibly address all situations you might encounter. If something is not
clear stop what you are doing and call or email for assistance. We here at
Weigands' are glad to lend a hand with installation questions, we also use this
input to refine our instructions.
Do your dry run
2. After fully understanding the instructions
move on to installing the scope mount on your firearm. Get the required tools
arranged on a good clean work surface. If you are using a vise be sure to have
padded jaws so you don't scratch the finish of your prized firearm, leather is a
great vise padding but other materials will do. Don't use anything that can be
cut easily or has a abrasive surface.
Remove anything from your firearm
that needs to be removed for the scope mount installation. Use the correct
Gunsmithing type screwdrivers and punches, preferably brass or nylon for the
punches.
Lay the scope mount on your firearm
taking care to be sure all of the holes line up with the mount. Carefully thread
all of the screws in to the holes, this should require very little pressure on
the Allen wrench. A note about Allen wrenches, they are not all created
equal. The trouble we encounter the most is inferior Allen wrenches and
stripping the screw heads. A good deal of the Allen wrenches sold today are from
off shore suppliers and are of poor quality. They are generally undersized and
also tend to be softer than genuine Allen wrenches. These two factors lead to
wrench and head stripping. I always use genuine Allen wrenches when working with
Allen Head Screws that are made in the USA. We use only genuine Allen Head
screws made in the USA for our scope mounts. We also sell only genuine Allen
Wrenches in our scope mounting kit which includes 5 Allen Wrenches and a tube of
small screw Thread Lock.
Clean and degrease the threads
3. Once you are
satisfied everything fits correctly you are ready for the final prep. Generally
our scope mounts use either 6-40 or 6-48 threads. Most often the firearms
manufacturer has dictated the thread size by drilling and tapping the firearm
with that particular thread. Before installing a scope mount I always chase the
threads in the firearm out with a bottoming tap of the correct thread. If you
are not sure what thread you have please contact us for the details. I use tap
lube when doing this but motor oil will suffice because we are not actually
cutting threads just cleaning them out. Use a quality tap handle to drive the
tap after you have started it with your fingers to be sure it has started
straight.
The next step is to degrease the
threads, Thread Lock generally will not adhere to oily surfaces. I use automotive
carburetor cleaner to degrease the threads on the screws and to clean and
degrease the threaded hole in the firearm. After degreasing the threads I blow
them off with compressed air to remove the cleaner. Your threads should look dry
and clean after this operation.
Final assembly and Thread Lock
4. Small screw or service removable should be used on all screws attaching your scope mount to the firearm. These screws will vibrate loose in time if they are not ed properly which can lead to a point of aim change. I coat both the screw threads and the hole threads with a small amount of before assembling the unit. I start all of the screws lightly at first and tighten them evenly using the same pressure on each screw until they are good and tight. Wipe any excess off that you can see so you will end up with a first class job when you are finished.
Drilling and Tapping your firearm
5. This could be a book on it's own but I will give you a few hints that will help in your drilling and tapping operation.
A) We use a new tap and a new Cobalt drill on every firearm I install a mount on. Nothing will spoil your day like a dull drill or tap.
B) We use tapping lube called Tapmagic, it is a MUST on Stainless Steel guns particularly S&W
C) We use a starter tap where ever possible particularly on
through holes where there is no bottom. This cuts down on
friction and tap breakage. High Speed Steel taps are great for our purposes.
D) We use screw machine length Cobalt drill bits, they are shorter
thus stiffer. I also use a spot drill to place the hole in the correct
position so the drill will not walk off location.
E) For 6-40 and 6-48 threads in carbon steel I will use a #32
drill, in stainless steel I will use a #31. This is just a suggestion
but it has worked for us for many years. If you feel the tap has gone bad don't
hesitate to toss it, it is much easier than
extracting it from your firearm after it breaks.
Hopefully you will have found something of interest in the above document. Please, please, please ask for help at the first sign of trouble, we want you to have fun and great results with your scope mount installation.
God Bless
Jack Weigand
President
Weigand C. H. Inc.
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