HELP: Scope removal question

[BigAl]

I've got a scope on a gun with Leupold mounts. The screws are on so tight its actually twisting the metal on the torx tool but will not break free. Any ideas?

 

[deerslayeror2]

put some heat to it

 

[LY]

I had one strip out on me two years ago. Gunsmith took care of it for me pretty cheap.

 

[paincave_2000]

Heat or maybe a good soaking with some penetrating oil.

 

[BigAl]

Heat as in a hair dryer?

 

[megalomaniac]

Drill the sucker out... get a bit small enough to fit into the torx head, drill down 3/16 inch or so into the body of the screw, then try the torx wrench again. That's what the gunsmith will do. Of course you'll need a new screw to remount.

 

[bonekelektr]

If Lock-Tite was used the only way to break it down is with heat..as in Torch(mini pen torch or propane set low) or maybe a cigarette lighter

 

[BucknBass]

Bet they used red locktite. Blue is OK on mount screws, red is never a good idea as you can't remove the screw w/o heat. Not supposed to use any on ring screws. Previous owner evidently didn't know that...

 

[.444 Marlin]

BFH.

 

[BigAl]

I'm the one that mounted the scope and used the blue lock tite. I might not use that stuff again. I'll probably try the drill option, as so far I've tried 3 screws and none of them will budge.

 

[Tnyoteboy]

Put some heat to it Al. Heat will cause the loc-tite to turn to liquid and you should be able to move it then. Cig lighter or a propane torch, just don't try to discolor the metal.

 

[comprifleshooter]

I knew of one guy who used Gorilla Glue. What a mess.

 

[RUGER]

Easiest way is to drill it out.
Use a bit just a little bit bigger than the threaded portion of the screw.
When you drill down just far enough the head will pop off.
Then you can remove the rings then you will have a little bit of the screw sticking up to get ahold of with some pliers and get it out.
If that don't work, you will have to heat it up as has been said.

 

[Whelen Man]

Sometimes screws like that will loosen up if you will use an appropriate sized torx head and tap it several times on the head before trying to loosen it up. It breaks the seal a little and many times only a few taps will make a world of difference. Then try the heat. It would be a whole lot cheaper to buy an appropriate torx head you can hammer on and if that don't work try a little heat also. You could try a flat ended punch of the correct size and go that route also. Some of the high carbon torx heads will shatter if you try this so buy a good one for loosening it up and a cheapie one for hammering on.

 

[Cull Buck Hunter]

Make sure that you have a clearance on both sides of the rings after they are tightened down. I have ran into a few that were metal to metal, that makes it hard to remove the rings. Drill it out, and take your time and do it right.

GOOD LUCK