Posted: 4/12/2004 8:10:45 PM EDT
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I have an Enfield that has a strange, two piece scope mount. One half, the base, is firmly mounted to the rifle. The second piece, with the rail, is detachable. It affixes to the base with a pair of knurled screws. You don't use allen wrenches or a screwdriver to twist the screws, you use your thumb and index finger. When the sight rail is attached, you can't use the Enfield's flip-up vernier rear sights, just the scope. Firing the gun, and sighting it in, I've found the recoil shakes the knurled screws free, and the sight rail half wobbles loosely on the base. So I was thinking about using Loctite to secure it more firmly. How strong of an adhesive is Loctite? If I put it on the screws, would I ever be able to detach the scope and use the flip-up rear sights again? I've never used Loctite before. |
| It comes in different grades.... Loctite is good stuff, but, if you use the wrong kind you may never be able to break it free and use the screws again. I doubt you could find Loctite that you could break free with your thumb. If there's anyway to use any kind of tool without ruining your screws go for it.... They won't back out. |
| There's two (or more?) types--blue and red. Try the blue first, as it can be removed without adding heat. Completely degrease all contact areas (I use brake cleaner), and use a small amount. If it doesn't work, then move up to the red. Be warned it usually requires heat to remove, and heating any part of a rifle's receiver is not a good idea, though not fatal, if done carefully with a pin-point torch. |
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Uncle Mike's sells 'gun-tite' made by Loctite, it's in a green tube. Says; "use for mounting scope rings, seating scope mount screws...specially formulated adhesive holds gun parts securely against recoil, shock and vibration.... can be taken apart with screwdriver or rubber mallet....etc.." #1631-0 Gun-Tite e-mail: [email protected] |
| Like these guys have said there are a number of diffrent strengths of locktite. For what you are describing I recomend the blue but apply it to the screw then wipe it around the threads with a cloth and allow it to dry. This will make it slightly weaker so it will remove easier,but still hold against vibration. |
| I like to use #271 on relatively permenant applications. This is 'semi-permenant', meaning it returns to liquid state at 400 degreed farenheit (Use a propane torch lightly to remove with ease, won't harm metal. OR, use a screw-driver/wrench with some force. It's perfectly fine for guns, Bushmaster uses it on M17s barrel nuts, BTW). |
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Quoted: We used Loctite on some bolts when I worked F-15's and some bolts we safty-wired. We always heard that the Loctite was stronger but the Quality Asurance guys couldn't prove we put Loctite on a nut.... but they could see the Safty-wire. I don't know what safety wire you were using, but stainless .032 saftey wire (most common)would be a lot stronger than locktite, as long as it is installed correctly |