I've been talking to some guys who build rifles and they have started to silver solder on the scope bases. They say it makes them more stable and with no screws no misalignment from loosening. Any of you do this or heard of others doing it?

I'm not sure I quite agree with firmly fixing the bases on. I always wonder why bases aren't inherently designed into the construction of the action but that is different. I like the flexibility of removing the bases and if I change scopes I may want a different base system.

I'd guess you need steel bases to do that. I personally put RED Loctite between bases and receiver as well as on the screws. This works with either steel or aluminum bases. A heat gun can warm them up enough for (fairly) easy removal when the time comes. If I was still concerned with base movement, and I'm not, I'd epoxy the bases to the receiver. Again, heat will allow for removal. I think silver solder is overkill.

If you silver solder the base on you will have a time if you want to put a different base on or remove it when you sell the gun. I have never had any issues with regular bases and just screwed on. No loctite. Loctite will help, but no need to go to all that trouble. You would be lucky if the base was straight when you got it on if you solder it. Tough to align right, and a scope is much more picky that silver soldering iron sights on. You gat that base on just a hair crooked and it will never be right again.

I've been talking to some guys who build rifles and they have started to silver solder on the scope bases. They say it makes them more stable and with no screws no misalignment from loosening. Any of you do this or heard of others doing it?

I'm not sure I quite agree with firmly fixing the bases on. I always wonder why bases aren't inherently designed into the construction of the action but that is different. I like the flexibility of removing the bases and if I change scopes I may want a different base system.

Several gun makers have made machened in bases part of the action, Sako and Ruger have for years. CZ now also.

I ran a small gunsmith shop for a bunch of years and built custom rifles. I hardly ever saw any problems with screw on bases. Winchester and Remington and Savage have sold litteraly millions of rifles that functioned well with screw on bases.

One thing that will happen is you'll make any rifle that you do solder the bases worth much less when you try to resell it. If that is not a concern then It can be done. rather on not it will make a scope any more solid or work better is pretty debatable considering how well screw on bases and rings have worked over the past 75 years or so.

It is a shame that the manufacturer went to all that trouble heat treating the receiver, just to have some guy come along and heat it up to a dull red for silver soldering, and screw all that up.

It is a shame that the manufacturer went to all that trouble heat treating the receiver, just to have some guy come along and heat it up to a dull red for silver soldering, and screw all that up.

Silver soldering doesn't require that much heat. Put lots of front sights on both revolver and rifles. You won't mess up a reciever silver soldering on a base. Still from a gunsmith's point of view (at least mine) it's one of the sillyist things I've heard of.

When I had a customer whom was concerned about high recoiling rifles shearing off standard scope mounting screws I recommend gong to 8 by 48 screws. Big thing is to get all the screws tight. Of the few screws I've seen sheard off all have come from a loose mount. Boy I hate taking those broken screws out.

One thing to think about, all those high end custom made rifles typically have integral bases with the action, especially the claw mount scope systems. Basically the bases are welded integral with the action.