Scope glued to the rings, what to do?

[Sideshow]

Your scared of your gunsmith Come to think of it I might be in that club as well

 

[Ontario Hunter]

In my extensive experience I have found gunsmiths to be generally full of themselves and take pride in being unfriendly. There have been exceptions of course. Les Bauska was a wonderful guy. And Duane Weibe. And the Aussie guy up in Red Deer, Alberta who also makes gun barrels. Extremely nice guy to talk to even though he couldn't help me. The list of jerk gunsmiths I've encountered is, however, very long. They are a dying breed and most know it. Greatly impacts their attitude when competition is scarce or nonexistent.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I have a grumpy old gunsmith, my friend, who installed new scope on same rifle, and removed this one with rings attached.

He said: "Keep it as it is, maybe you will need it as a back up or spare for that rifle! Hear me what I say. Keep it on stand by just in case"

Now I am afraid, to go there and ask him to remove the rings! He will yell at me for not following advice, and kick me out of his workshop, on short temper!

So, I have to do this behind his back!
It is special relationship!



Next gunsmith is 200 miles away... Too much!

So, Yes, I thought about it!

Yes, a local good gunsmith in hand is worth two (or more) in the bush (200mi away). DON'T piss him off! LOL

 

[CBH Australia]

+1. Try this first. A freezer is usually around 10F. I've hunted in 0F temps and two years ago my buddy and his son hunted in -16F. Did no harm to their "high dollar" Bushnell scopes. LOL

I like the freezer idea.
The only other option if it’s well stuck and has steel rings is to apply direct heat on the steel rings with a jet lighter.

Protect that older Swarovski it’s still a great scope

 

[HankBuck]

Acetone should loosen the glue but not harm the scope if the tube is blued. Keep acetone away from lenses as it may damage coatings.

@Ontario Hunter - I’ve only used Acetone a couple times but was advised to be “very careful” wear rubber gloves, don’t inhale fumes etc.. (nasty stuff).
It seemed to remove every type of finish but I never tried it on a gun barrel or scope finish — I would not want to risk it but I also can’t think of anything else that would dissolve old glue in a space as tight as between “scope & ring”??

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Ontario Hunter - I’ve only used Acetone a couple times but was advised to be “very careful” wear rubber gloves, don’t inhale fumes etc.. (nasty stuff).
It seemed to remove every type of finish but I never tried it on a gun barrel or scope finish — I would not want to risk it but I also can’t think of anything else that would dissolve old glue in a space as tight as between “scope & ring”??

We use it quite a bit for taxidermy. Yes, it's stinky and caustic (why it dissolves glue and plastic). It shouldn't do anything to bluing since that is essentially coloring the metal by rusting it. Would probably do a number on crekote finish but this scope is too old for that. He could try it on a spot under the scope to be sure but I'm fairly certain acetone won't harm the finish.

 

[gbflyer]

Put it in the freezer overnight.