Close Menu
Firearms Forever
  • Home
  • Hunting
  • Guns
  • Defense
  • Videos
Trending Now

Mountain Readiness: A New Approach to Preparedness

July 8, 2025

Plan to slash DHS intel office faces multi-front pushback

July 7, 2025

Pentagon gets millions for cyber in GOP reconciliation act

July 7, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Firearms Forever
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Hunting
  • Guns
  • Defense
  • Videos
Firearms Forever
Home»Guns»How to Tighten Attachments Properly
Guns

How to Tighten Attachments Properly

Tim HuntBy Tim HuntJune 17, 20254 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
How to Tighten Attachments Properly

Vibration, improper installation, pounding recoil and hard use conspire to rattle mounted gun accessories loose. It can be disastrous, so Shooting Illustrated consulted with some of the industry’s foremost experts. 

The polymers in today’s firearms and accessories provide long-lasting service and deliver combat-proven performance. Run a Google search to discover if thread-locking compound should be used on plastic parts, however, and the AI-generated response warns against doing so—a caution largely fueled by radio-control hobbyists.

Gun owners can ignore that answer, according to Jon Canipe, director of Product Management of Firearm Accessories at Magpul. “We always recommend the use of a thread-locking compound; either the included thread-locking patch on our Magpul hardware, or something similar like blue Loctite will work if using another manufacturer’s hardware,” he said.

“I’ve found it easiest with the patched screws to run the nut all the way down and back out with a 7 mm wrench … this ‘breaks in’ the polymer patch and makes it much easier to adjust the nut depth,” Canipe said. “The critical part of the assembly is getting the nut depth right for your mounting surface. Once it’s set, it is set for that surface forever and you’re just a quarter-turn of the screw from installing and removing the accessory.”

He said 15 inch-pounds is the proper torque value for polymer-on-polymer and recommends a torque wrench because, “…‘snug’ to some people will be 5 inch-pounds and to some gorillas it will be 150 inch-pounds.”

Suppressors and Muzzle Devices
Silencer Central has detailed tips for properly installing  suppressors on firearms on the company’s website—silencercentral.com. Ensuring threads are clean before starting is critical, according to Joe Kurtenbach, the company’s senior manager for Media and Relationships, who explained, “You want the suppressor to be installed snug, but be careful to not overtighten. Typically, a firm hand-tight is sufficient.”   

“It’s suggested to use a locking compound for muzzle devices, but not suppressors,” he added. “Rocksett is a water-soluble option that can be removed easier. Red Loctite is a high-temp option that is more permanent.”   

Then, “… if using a direct-thread-mount suppressor, the tightness should be checked after the first five rounds and then after any consecutive shots, as the heating up of the silencer can cause the threads to loosen—high rates of fire should be checked more often. If using a quick-detach, semi-periodic checks should be done just to be safe … to prevent loosening and possible baffle/end-cap strikes.”

“You really need a vice,” Dave Edelman, vice president at Mission First Tactical commented about installing non-NFA muzzle devices. “If you don’t have a great wrench, use a cloth or sponge in between your tool and firearm to protect the finish. Make sure you have a good crush washer … they can only be used once. When timing is required, pick a reference point on your upper or barrel. If [you] overshoot the timing, get a new crush washer and start over.”

Optics
It’s all for naught if point-of-impact wanders from point-of-aim. “One of the most important things when mounting optics is to make sure screws are tightened evenly and not over tightened,” according to Jon LaCorte, co-founder of Tract Optics. “If ring screws are too tight, they can compress the internal erector tube, which can affect the scope’s ability to hold zero and track properly. Always check with the scope manufacturer for proper torque values and use a quality torque wrench.”

“Another thing I always try to do is mount the rings as far apart from each other as possible, without the ring touching the flare of the eyepiece or objective,” he added. “This provides the most stability as the scope ‘flexes’ during recoil. I also never position a ring close to the turret.”

As for locking compounds, “Only on the mount’s base screws,” he advised. “I use Blue Loctite. I do not use locking compound on the rings, as it can throw off the torque value.”

Read the full article here

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Telegram Reddit Email
Previous ArticleDelta Force Operator’s SIMPLE Response To Critics
Next Article Delta Force, CIA HATED Infamous Iraq Road

Related Posts

Mountain Readiness: A New Approach to Preparedness

July 8, 2025

First Look: Steelhead Outdoors Undercover Gun Safe

July 7, 2025

First Look: Mesa Tactical Pro Packages

July 7, 2025

Compressed Time

July 7, 2025

Tim Kennedy LIES About Getting Shot, Claims He Sniped Kid At 600 Yards

July 7, 2025

Review: Savage 110 Magpul Scout Rifle In 6.5 Creedmoor

July 7, 2025
Don't Miss

Plan to slash DHS intel office faces multi-front pushback

By Tim HuntJuly 7, 2025

The Trump administration’s plans to terminate most employees inside the Department of Homeland Security’s main…

Pentagon gets millions for cyber in GOP reconciliation act

July 7, 2025

Competition AR Platform: Balancing Performance and Practicality

July 7, 2025

Can This $700 Kimber Really Replace My $3000 Staccato

July 7, 2025

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest firearms news and updates directly to your inbox.

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Contact
© 2025 Firearms Forever. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.