Scope mount rear windage screws

[davidehickey]

Guys, I'm pretty new to mounting scopes. I bought my rings and base at a local gun dealer for my Savage 10ml the base they sold me is a 2 piece and the rear base has two screws that adjust the windage and hold the ring on. How tight should these screws be? I paid the gun dealer to mount and bore sight the scope. I took it to the range and at 100 yards could not even hit the target. I had 2 targets set up side by side about 12 inches apart. When I gave up and got my targets during a cease fire, I realized I was aiming at the left target and I had hit the right one 3 or 4 times. "good grouping though it looked like 2 or 3 bullets went thru almost the same hole. Anyhow I got frustrated and checked the tightness of everything. The back screws had at least a 1/4 to 1/2 turn that I could tighten without much effort. Should these screws be as tight as everything else or being they help adjust the scope should they be looser? "which I can't imagine"

[whelenman]

They need to be tight. I've been guilty of overtightening one once and shearing the head off the screw.....so maybe not that tight. He may have tightened the rings on the scope before he tightened the lateral adjustment screws and the ring didn't seat down fully against the base and then loosened up after being shot. Sometimes they will shear the rear of the base loose if on a heavy recoiling rifle when the ring is not fastened to the base before the scope is tightened in the rings. Ideally the rings will be lapped and the scope will sit in them with no force on the rings but that doesn't always happen with a lot of shops. Sounds like if you get that taken care of you'll be in good shape though.

[deadeye]

very tight yes- 1st dial your windage knobs to the middle,place target appox 25yds,shoot,adjust windage screws to center(l&r) & retighten until 1'' or closer,do again @ 100yds,this is to center your scope to the bore approx. good to go! ps-your scope is probably left or right of bore now.