How important is a torque wrench for scope mounting?

[Eurodriver]

Putting together my Savage MkII FVSR .22LR, and I had a Harbor Freight inch lb torque wrench. I actually returned the thing because it sucked so bad.

The rub lies with me not knowing exactly how much torque is on my base screws. It's either 20 or 30 inch lbs. Is this acceptable for mounting the picatinny base to the receiver? Can any harm come to the gun/accuracy from overtightening the base? Can one get away with using an L shaped hex key to tighten the rings? Neither the rings (1" Vortex) nor the base (Savage) came with any torque value instructions.

This is on a .22LR with a $150 scope, not a competition bench gun, but I still don't want to be chasing my zero or having enormous groups. I'm about to buy the $110 kit from Midway and just do it all correctly, however I'd like to shoot this tomorrow and there certainly has to be a way to mount a scope without a torque wrench that still results in acceptable accuracy.

[Robb Jensen]

Scope bases are torqued in INCH LBS...usually under 25in lbs.

[Eurodriver]

Sorry, just a bad habit but I meant inch pounds.

[GH41]

Putting together my Savage MkII FVSR .22LR, and I had a Harbor Freight in lb torque wrench.

I removed the picatinny base that came on the rifle, degreased the threads and screws and remounted the base with blue Loctite. I had the torque wrench set at 20, but the settings were so out of whack I couldn't even tell if I was at 20 or 30. These are 6-48 screws.

I ended up rounding out the inside of one of the screws, which seems to confirm my theory that the torque wrench was garbage.

I guess I'm wondering if 20 (or 30) ft lbs of torque is acceptable for mounting the picatinny base to the receiver, can any harm come to the gun/accuracy from overtightening the base, and if I can get away with using an L shaped hex key to tighten the rings. This is on a .22LR with a $150 scope, not a competition bench gun, but I still don't want to be chasing my zero or having enormous groups.

Put some blue Loc-Tite on it, snug it up and turn it another 1/4 turn. It will be OK.

[Hot Holster]

I bought torx drivers to use for the ring screws and generally use handled hex or allen wrenches for the base screws. I use blue loctite on the base screws, nothing on the ring screws. Everything is tightened by hand, no torque wrench. All screws are tightened in an alternate pattern.

[Ryno12]

This doesn't answer your question but I piss shivered when I read "torque wrench" & "Harbor Freight" in the same sentence. People need to realize that the vast majority of the products they sell are absolute garbage. Precision tools especially need to be of good quality. Sure, there are people that say "I've never had an issue with my [insert tool] that I bought from Harbor Freight." I'd wager that they either used it in a light duty application or so infrequently that the lack of quality hasn't yet reared its ugly head. There might be things like jack stands that work fine but I've seen simplest HF tools fail so often under the easiest conditions that I don't think I'd crawl under a car supported by them.

That's my tool snob rant for the day. Good luck with your scope.

[SpeedRacer]

I've used a Wheeler Fat Wrench for scope mounting with good results. You can occasionally find them on sale for $30ish, probably not a necessity on anything less than a precision rig, but still money well spent to *know* it was done right.

[Kain]

This doesn't answer your question but I piss shivered when I read "torque wrench" & "Harbor Freight" in the same sentence. People need to realize that the vast majority of the products they sell are absolute garbage. Precision tools especially need to be of good quality. Sure, there are people that say "I've never had an issue with my [insert tool] that I bought from Harbor Freight." I'd wager that they either used it in a light duty application or so infrequently that the lack of quality hasn't yet reared its ugly head. There might be things like jack stands that work fine but I've seen simplest HF tools fail so often under the easiest conditions that I don't think I'd crawl under a car supported by them.

That's my tool snob rant for the day. Good luck with your scope.

The only thing I can say in regards to precision and Habor Frieght and tool is the number of times I have been in their store. Precisely once! Most everything in there is junk pot metal that I would not want for serious work or use. The only thing that was good was the light that I got there, because I paid nothing for it ,since I had a coupon that got it to me for free.

[davidz71]

I have never used a torque wrench. I usually tighten screws equally and do it by feel by snuggling it up.
Never had a problem.

[MBtech]

You guys beat me to it on the Harbor Freight tools, especially a torque wrench. Better off to just use the "goodNtight" method, probably be more accurate. But sounds like OP found that out by rounding out a screw. Craftsman is the lowest I'd stoop, I use Snap-On, and Matco. My theory is if you know what the torque spec is and have the right tool for the job why not do it properly..... But, "goodNtight" works just fine from my experience of scope mounting also.