TSOB Base Necessary?

[tipiguy]

I am thinking about getting my 35 Rem carbine changed into a 358 JDJ.  Someone recommended that I also get the TSOB base/rings.  I am, however, having a hard time justifying another $90 to get that base.  The rechamber and dies from SSK is going to run around $180 without the TSOB.

Is it really necessary?  Don't encores with the heavy calibers just have 4 screws?  What if I used blue loctite on the threads and maybe Loctite metal epoxy under the base itself.  (http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/13/7/epxy_metal_s/overview/Loctite-Epoxy-Metal-Concrete.htm)

Has anyone had one come loose?  I understand that the scope is going to really hurt if it does but how likely is that?

Thaanks.
Tipiguy

[Delkal]

Not the answer you wanted but I will say it depends.  If you are going on safari and only have one barrel I will say yes,  its extra insurance.  And yes, it will make you look like you are a Bad MFTSOB!

Ordinarily I would say no because:

1) I never had a properly installed scope fall off due to recoil
2)  A factory 45/70 will recoil more and 4 screws are OK.
3)  I only buy scopes with a lifetime warranty so I can always send it back.
4) Its only marketing to say your wildcat is so awesome you need it.

I would not use Blue locktite you might want to remove the base to remount, green is fine to stop the screws from backing off.   

[Ladobe]

A significant advantage of the T'SOB base and rings to consider, besides more secure mounting, are they are aluminum instead of steel.   The advantage being that they don't add to the recoil subjected to the scope as much as steel rings do. 

The 358JDJ deserves at least a 3 ring mount, 4 is better, and a 6-hole base does add security.   I'd use solid rings instead of those with inserts as well, and the rings lapped for maximum contact with the scope.     Nothing worse than being on a hunt and having a failure because a scope is not properly mounted.   Yeah I know, some folks love the insert rings (too lazy to use the others I guess), but the inserts add another possible failure point on any of the heavier hitting TC's.      A shot loose scope or mount will soon become a damaged scope and possibly a lost hunt though.   

Cost wise the T'SOB may be $90, but that includes 3 rings - which you can probably get by with using them for a 358JDJ.   By the time you buy a quality 6-hole base and 4 rings you'll be pretty close to the same though.   Cheap gets what cheap deserves sooner or later, so don't scrimp on the mounts or the scope, especially for any hunting firearm.    I owned a lot of SSK JDJ's over the years, and most of them wore T'SOB mounts, probably because most were stainless or hard chrome barrels.   But I also owned JDJ's and SB's that didn't get T'SOB because they were chrome moly barrels.   With the little extra work to install the scopes properly, 3 & 4 steel rings and 6-hole bases also held up just fine on my heaviest recoiling handcannons that were well beyond a 358JDJ.   

Just my opinions, but the above worked on my TC's all of the years I scoped them out of the 43 years I used TC's with no scopes broken (except one Leupold on a 375JDJ), and no lost hunts because of scopes or mounts.   That was worth the price of addmission to me.

FWIW - YMMV

L.

[dant]

One thing to consider with the Encore four screw versus the Contender four screw is that the Encores normally have more thread engagement ( deeper hole ) than the Contender. In the larger diameter cases ( 444 based rounds, 45-70, etc ) the holes for base mounting just aren't that deep on a Contender ( barrel is smaller dia. ) Another option is to buy a Weaver base that's been altered to six screws and buy Leupold split rings ( that's what I got with my T'SOB and they're cheap, I think I paid 12 bucks a pair at Walmart )

[Grumulkin]

For your purposes, 4 screws in the base should work fine.  Also, ONLY use low or medium strength Lock Tite in the base screws; that's all I used on barrels with much more recoil than you're going to have and I haven't had a base come loose yet.  I do use T'SOB bases and rings on my heavy hitters; you may get by with 2 rings but 3 or 4 rings would give you extra insurance against scope slippage under recoil.

[jjvw]

I had a 4 hole mount pull out on a 444 encore and one 209x50 that broke the screws. Both had blue loctite.  A leupold scope was bent by a 3 ring TSOB(3rd ring was taller). I now use 6 hole bases and Burris rings with the inserts on all my big stuff.  The inserts resist slipping, cushions recoil and compensates for misalignment of rings.

[Dezynco]

I figure that a good Leupold dual dovetail base and ring set is all you need.  I've got one on my 8" 45-70 Contender pistol.  The recoil if violent, but the base has not let go so far!  I just snug each screw down a little at a time, starting with the two in the center then working my way to the outside ones.  Repeat until the base is good and tight.  Much like installing a cylynder head on an engine......

I also check my mounts occaisionally by removing the scope and retightening.  Yes that means I have to re-check the zero, but it's a small price to pay to make sure everything is still tight.  Most of the time when a gun breaks the screws on a scope mount, it's because things have gotten a little loose and has given the scope a running start against the screws, causing them to shear off.

I don't use Locktight.

[Grumulkin]

If you use low or medium strength Lock Tite on the screws and tighten them appropriately in the first place, they are highly unlikely to EVER come lose if the base is a good one in the first place.  The only base I ever had come loose with this technique was T/C's Duo Ring base.  For my heavy hitters I use either SSK's T'SOB bases or Control bases and I've never had one of the come loose even on such stuff as a 460 S&W, 500 S&W, 375 H&H Magnum, 357 Herrett, etc.  If you don't use Lock Tite, it's highly likely the base will come loose; just don't use the high strength stuff if you may ever wish to remove the base.