Mauser M03 Double Square Mounts - Tips for Installing

[Rick - Mauser M03 Blog author]

Hello all. Rick here. I'm copying to here a comment from Mark in Canada on the Mauser M03 Blog, on the subject of installing the Mauser Double Square Mounts. My reply follows. Later this morning I'll start writing a new post on the things I learnt setting up four scopes with the Double Square Mounts. I found there's a right way and a not-so-right way to do it. Best to get it right first time!

Regards, Rick.

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Hey everyone!

New to this forum and soon to join the Mauser M03 club. I live in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada and soon expecting delivery of my Mauser M03 Solid with a grade 5 walnut stock. I have ordered it with two barrels - one in 30-06 Sprg. and the second in 6.5x55SE. I have a set of the Mauser M03 30mm Low Mount Rings coming as well to mount a Schmidt & Bender - Exos 1-8x24 BDC FD9 rifle scope. FIrst of all, I have searched the web to find the best way to install the scope on the mounts along with torque setting for the ring screw and ring cap screws. Haven't had any luck with my search, but I found this awesome Mauser M03 Blog and forum (Great job Rick!) and hoping someone is able to help or guide me in the right direction. Much appreciated!

Thanks, Mark

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Hi Mark. Congratulations on your new Mauser M03! I can imagine how excited you are about meeting your new Grade 5 walnut stock, just as I was with the Grade 5 that came with my M03 Deluxe. I'm wondering if you had the opportunity to nominate a preference for the wood, or even make a selection from a shortlist of finalists? A bit like a beauty competition. :-) Either way, it'll be very nice wood.

I will be able to provide advice on the scope mounting process, having learnt a few things when I was doing mine. A quick question first - do you have a nice torque screwdriver, one that can be fitted with Torx bits? Something like this would be ideal. I should get one too.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wera-074739-0-3-6-Nm-Adjustable-Torque-Screwdriver-Set-/162023808158?hash=item25b95f1c9e:g:olUAAOSwB-1Y46dl

I'll check on the two Torx bit sizes needed and get back soon. Hang on, I'll go and grab a scope and my driver set. Right, I've got the Zeiss 1.5-6x42 Victory HT on the desk now, with a M03 Double Square Mount installed on it. Yep, there are two sizes of screws. The rings are fitted around the 30mm scope tube with eight screws with Torx size 10 heads. Then, the base of the rings are fitted to the Double Square Mount's bridge piece with two screws with Torx size 20 heads. So those are the two bit sizes needed. I used a small in/lb torque wrench, but a screwdriver would have been better. Or better still, just do it by feel with a small hand tool. It's too easy to go too tight with a torque wrench, if it doesn't release properly at the low settings you'll be working at. The good thing about doing small screws up with just your fingers is that they have a pretty reliable biological torque wrench built in. :-) You can just tell when it's tight enough.

I'll write a new post to the blog today with some tips on fitting scope mounts. I've been meaning to do this for ages.

I'll also copy your comment and this reply over to the actual Mauser M03 Blog Discussion Forum, where to and fro discussion is easier. See you there. :-) Link at top of page, or below.

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/mauser-m03-blog-discussion-forum

[Rick - Mauser M03 Blog author]

Hi Mark. I've published a post on the Mauser M03 Blog on installing scopes to Mauser M03 Double Square Mounts. Here's the link. I'll take some photos tomorrow and add them to the post. Going to bed now. My eyes are square!

Regards, Rick.

Mauser M03 - Installing Riflescopes to Double Square Mounts

[Mark]

RIck,

Thanks for your quick reply and allowing me to join this forum. I have already posted a comment on your Blog and really appreciate your insight and direction on how to properly install my scope. Great information.

Yes, I am looking forward to the arrival of my Mauser M03 Solid and the grade 5 walnut stock. Unfortunately, I did not have an opportunity to choose my walnut "blank", so it will be a surprise when it arrives. In fact, I have had this rifle on order since April 6, 2016, but due to some errors made with my order in the "supply chain" there has been a major delay in delivery. Hopefully everything has been corrected and the rifle, along with the spare barrel and accessories, will arrive shortly. In the meantime the Canadian distributor has "loaned" me a Mauser M03 Basic in 30-06 to use until my rifle is delivered. That is why I was wondering if I mount my scope on the double square mounts to this particular receiver, will it be interchangeable to the receiver of my Solid M03 when it finally arrives?

WIth regards to torque wrenches, I do have one that is made by Vortex Optics and is of excellent quality and has been calibrated to tight tolerances. I am a big fan of Wera and have quite a few of their tools and screwdrivers in my workshop. I do all my own "basic" gunsmithing and take great care in making sure I do things properly. (I have a feeling that we might have a lot in common.) That is why I really appreciate your help and all the work you put into your Blog, you are doing a great job.

Tried to post a picture / link for the Vortex Torque Wrench Kit, but was unable or just don't know how.

Anyway, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Take care,

Mark

[Rick - Mauser M03 Blog author]

Hi Mark. 

I'm sorry to hear about the delivery glitch you've experienced. That would be annoying. Still, getting the loaner 30-06 is pretty handy in the meantime. Yes, your scope and Double Square Mounts will be interchangeable and ready to go when you get your Solid M03. You will need to adjust the sighting to match the new receiver and barrels. An idea would be to map the scope to each barrel and load, so you can just dial in the adjustments when you change barrels. I do this with a pair of barrels in 243 Win and 6.5x55, which I swap back on forth on an M03 Deluxe stock and receiver, sharing the scope between the barrels as well. Works a treat.

I'll be sure to look for the Vortex Torque Wrench Kit you mention. I do like quality tools!

A few of us have posted pictures in these discussions. I'll quickly add one now to refresh my memory of how it's done. I don't think there's too much to it.

I clicked the 'Insert Image' button just above this 'Reply' box, which brought up a drag and drop upload GUI, which worked a treat. :-) Let's see that Vortex kit.

[Mark]

Hi Rick,

Good to hear that once the scope is mounted in it's rings that it can be interchanged on any Mauser M03 receiver. I know that the scope will have to be "sighted in" for each and every receiver/barrel combination, but that is fun part, and besides that is why I made sure my scope was ordered with the BDC turrets for quick and easy adjustments for each cartridge load. Actually, with the 30-06 Sprg. and the 6.5x55SE barrel combo, there are a couple loads that have almost identical trajectories which would make turret adjustments not necessary (at least on paper it looks good, I guess I will find out the truth at the range :-)). Ha Ha! 1) 30-06, Nosler Trophy Grade - 180 grain Accubond & 6.5x55, Hornady Superformance - 140 grain SST. Also on the "heavy" for cartridge side would be 2) 30-06, Federal Premium - 200 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw & 6.5x55, Norma - 156 grain Oryx. Here in British Columbia, I will be soon out Spring hunting for Black Bear, so the 200 grain 30-06 would be ideal. WInter has been long, so I looking forward to getting back up into the mountains. Spring is truly a magical time (especially in the mountains).

I have attached a link for the Vortex Optics Torque Wrench Kit. For the price it is an excellent torque screwdriver set and very accurate, although the bit set is quite basic and additional bits need to be purchased to make it complete. If you like, check out the reviews, and for the price, it's a great value. The Wera Kit you have shown above is awesome and would be the ultimate kit to own, unfortunately I already own the Vortex and can't afford the upgrade.........yet! Ha Ha!

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-torque-wrench#.WRh80MRR6IJ.mailto

Any thoughts about using thread locking compound on the screws during installation? Interested in your opinion and eager to learn from your experiences.
Looking forward to using your instructions and working on my scope mounts this week.

Thanks again.

Mark

[Rick - Mauser M03 Blog author]

Hi Mark.

Ah, the joy of using good factory ammo. Those are some really nice selections you've listed. They tend to be super pricey over here. I guess the good ones are pricey there too. The problem with going down the hand loading route is, once you've experienced the cost saving (which is debatable actually, all things considered) and the accuracy benefits, it's difficult to step away from. But I watch videos of guys loading up nice shiny factory ammo and getting great results and think, 'Hmmm??.  :-)  I particularly like the Nosler projectiles. I've had great results from Ballistic Tips over the years, and with Accubonds more recently. However, as you might have noticed, it's the Berger bullets I'm using these days, mostly. They are super accurate and reasonably priced. Work well on game too. It's nice to have these choices.

Thanks for the Vortex link. The Wera kit is quite expensive and it won't get a great deal of use by me, which is why I haven't bought it yet, or any torque screwdriver. I always look at the value proposition. I had no trouble at all with the value proposition when buying my Mauser M03s, once I'd done my research.

You might have seen my reply over on the blog, on the scope mounting post, addressing the Locktite question. I'll copy it here.

1. Hi Mark. 
   
   I had a discussion on using Locktite with a gunsmith last year and we found ourselves in agreement on a few points. It has its uses, such as with grub screws down in a threaded shaft, i.e. the old Remington 700 trigger adjustment screws. However, where delicate screws or fittings are involved, or the object being fastened is itself delicate, and where over tightening could therefore be a problem, the lubricating effect of Locktite in its initial liquid state could make detection of the right torque difficult. The tendency will be to over tighten.
   
   I've not ever used Locktite with my scope mounting and I've never had a problem with scopes coming loose or with the mounts causing inaccuracy. However, if you do use Locktite and similarly have never had a problem, there doesn't appear to be a need to change your approach. You've got the right torque screwdriver and will have a good feel for whether it should've clicked already. I can't see you wrecking a scope, snapping a ring or shearing a screw, just because of the Locktite.
   
   Mauser M03 Double Square Mounts (including with mounted scopes) can certainly be swapped between receivers, however, it will be necessary to re-zero, which could be easy if the combination has been mapped and recorded. 
   
   It would be nice to think that swapping a barrel and the scope used with it to a second receiver would result in the retention of accuracy that was experienced with the first receiver, but no, this is unlikely. Each combination needs to be mapped.
   
   I think I've zeroed in on your questions. Let me know if not. :-)

   
   

   Hi again Mark. I'm going to augment my first reply at 18:07, with a clarifying point, that relates to your thought on whether following the installation process in this post means that the mounts and scope can only be used on the original receiver. Well, the object of the process is to ensure that the way the rings are tightened on the scope tubes does not end up twisting the Double Square Mount's bridge, which can happen. I proved it, when I went too quickly with setting up my third scope and mounts one afternoon! If the job is done carefully, the bridge will be tension free and flat and should mount nicely on any M03 receiver.
   
   Fact is, even if the bridge is slightly twisted, it will attach to the receiver, without any air gaps once locked. Again, I proved it. It's not how I like things done though, so I quickly pulled that setup apart and started again, paying particular attention as I went, which led to the procedure I've posted. :-) 
   

[Rick - Mauser M03 Blog author]

Henry chimed in with a question:

Rick, what torque did you set the ring-to-bridge screws to? Thanks!

And the answer is:

Hi Henry. As per this post

http://mauserm03blog.blogspot.com/2017/05/mauser-m03-installing-riflescopes-to.html?m=1

I used 4Nm or about 35in/lb for the bridge to ring screws. 

Edit: And half that for the ring screws, i.e. 2Nm or 18in/lb.