PSA: Torque values, witness marks, and Loctite

[JAG2955]

Use them.

I just wasted far too much ammo trying to re-sight in the M1A Socom for the big game hunt. Things were going well, I got a good grouping with the new Warne ring, so I moved on to field firing positions like standing, supported standing, rice paddy prone (it's neat and stable, look it up), kneeling, and I never even got to sitting. I was doing good, calling my shots and nailing the range's 150yd steel target. I was feeling really good, but then during kneeling, I wound up missing a lot. Even when I knew that I was on target and called my shot as a hit, I was still off.

I let the M1A cool, as I figured it was just too hot, and shot my bastard PredatOBR/Seekins AR-15.

When I went back to it, I decided to re-confirm my zero at 100yds, just to make sure. I was over 30 MOA low. Hitting the ground well before the target stand. I nearly shit my pants as I'm trying to decide if I'm buying a new rifle that day, or what. I went over the Ultimak mount and the Aimpoint, trying to figure out what the hell went wrong. Then I realized that the gas plug was less than finger-tight. I tightened it as much as possible with my fingers, then a bit more with a Leatherman.

Back on target, more or less. Of course, I had to re-check it every few rounds.

As soon as I got back, I grabbed the torque wrench, wrenched it to 23 ft-lbs, and made a witness mark with both a red sharpie as well as a carbide scribe. I feel like an idiot, and now I've got to make at least one more range trip to see where this thing is hitting. I was just feeling really good and very confident in my abilities, and now I know that my zero may be completely off again.

Also, Loctite your picatinny rail sections on your ARs. Those will also work loose.

Looks like back to the range tomorrow again...

[PawPaw]

As bad as it sucks, it's better that it happens to you on the range rather than in the field

[Cobar]

You learned, hence you succeeded. Now we all get to learn from your error that was corrected. Good work.

[toad]

I've used Teflon tape on two part 1911 recoil spring guides to keep it from unscrewing. It might work on the Springfield M1A gas tube bolt.
I've been entering that contest Springfield Armory Duel 3 contest for a Springfield Scout Squad
http://duel.springfield-armory.com/voteM1a.

[First Shirt]

Grandpa always said that a day you learn something new is not wasted.

So, you may have wasted some ammo, but at least you didn't waste the day.

[JAG2955]

[toad]

I just got through watching a 7,000 round test video on a Squad Scout Rifle. It was done by a young guy who fell in love with the iron sights on the rifle. He tried a T-1 aim point which worked find but he just preferred the iron sights. His finances were limited so he mostly used Wolf Ammo. His biggest problem was that he had never used it with gloves until a recent trip to a shooting school. His glove lightly drug on the edge of the operating rod and he'd get failures to feed. He was going WTF 'til he figured it out. He ran grease on the bolt.
No problems with the ejector. It threw the brass out low and to the 1:00 position.

[Netpackrat]

The gunsmith who threaded my CZ earlier this year gave me a small amount of shit about having used loctite on the scope mount screws. Not necessary with proper torque, blah, blah, blah... I have no plans to discontinue use of blue loctite on optics mounts. I've had too many come loose without. Maybe next time I will drill the screws and safety wire them; that ought to shut him up.

[HTRN]

Not necessary with proper torque, blah, blah, blah...

Your smith is an idiot.

[Aesop]

Not necessary with proper torque, blah, blah, blah...

Your smith is an idiot.

I second that motion.