Positioning mounts on a picatiny rail

[homer]

When you put your mounts on a rail, theres obviously that little bit of play. Do you push your mounts forward before tightening, or back before tightening?
I have always pushed forward, my thoughts being that the recoil will want to make the mounts creep forward.
But,
I was watching an American guy on YouTube and he said that mounts will always want to creep backwards, so pushing the mount back before tightening is the correct way!

 

[VSS]

I think you're supposed to push them forward.
If you think about it, the rifle moves backwards under recoil so, relative to the rifle, anything attached to it but slightly moveable is going to move forward.
Therefore, by pushing your mounts forward before tightening you've taken up the slack so the scope shouldn't be able to move relative to the rifle when subjected to recoil.

(Ps, I might have got that all completely wrong!)

 

[HonestJohn]

Forward

 

[homer]

I think you're supposed to push them forward.
If you think about it, the rifle moves backwards under recoil so, relative to the rifle, anything attached to it but slightly moveable is going to move forward.
Therefore, by pushing your mounts forward before tightening you've taken up the slack so the scope shouldn't be able to move relative to the rifle when subjected to recoil.

(Ps, I might have got that all completely wrong!)

Yrs, this is my thinking, just the American guy says mounts will alway creep backwards not forwards!

 

[Ratsbadboy]

I push the front one forwards and the rear one backwards (or vice versa depending on where the mounts sit relative to the turrets).

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Yrs, this is my thinking, just the American guy says mounts will alway creep backwards not forwards!

Not everybody on social media has a clue about anything. Just saying.

 

[SimpleSimon]

the American guy says mounts will alway creep backwards not forwards!

Americans are not bound by the laws of physics

 

[kenbro]

I think the Coriolis effect has deflected his object!
KB.

 

[VSS]

I push the front one forwards and the rear one backwards (or vice versa depending on where the mounts sit relative to the turrets).

So one of them is working, at least!

 

[andy R204]

Just put them on & tighten them up.Never had any life altering issues upto now.

 

[palo]

Normally you would push them forward but if your using a moderator it can cause the rifle to recoil differently.
I have experienced this with sako rifles with the tapered dovetail where the mounts moved rearwards on recoil.
I now usually push one forward and the other back.

 

[kenbro]

Normally you would push them forward but if your using a moderator it can cause the rifle to recoil differently.
I have experienced this with sako rifles with the tapered dovetail where the mounts moved rearwards on recoil.
I now usually push one forward and the other back.

Have you any info to back up the claim that a mod can cause a rifle to recoil differently, please?
KB.

 

[palo]

Have you any info to back up the claim that a mod can cause a rifle to recoil differently, please?
KB.

I remember reading about it before but can't remember where.
I seen it happen on my mates 2 sako 85s.
No matter how much he tightened the base screws they would creep backwards after a few shots with the mod on.
He had to get the receiver drilled and had a pin inserted to cure the problem

 

[palo]

I see sako done away with the tapered dovetail on the new sako 90.
They now come with a picatinny base or straight dovetail.
I know others had this problem as well so maybe thats why they changed it.

 

[nun_hunter]

I see sako done away with the tapered dovetail on the new sako 90.
They now come with a picatinny base or straight dovetail.
I know others had this problem as well so maybe thats why they changed it.

The mounts would struggle to move forwards as the rail gets wider in that direction so much more chance of creeping backwards. Down the rail and not the mod though as you say.

Pushing both mounts forwards also means you have more repeatable accuracy if/when you need to remove them and reinstall in the same manner.

 

[kenbro]

I see sako done away with the tapered dovetail on the new sako 90.
They now come with a picatinny base or straight dovetail.
I know others had this problem as well so maybe thats why they changed it.

Ha, I see my wuestion has been answered by n_h.
Thanks,

Kb.