I've had some errant shots with my Ruger American, in 450 Bushmaster, here lately. After a couple of hunts, I took it back to the rifle range and rechecked it. Everything seemed to be okay. I've never had an issue with scope rings rattling loose, so I never checked them. 
I've never been real fond of the Vortex scope that I've had on it, but it was getting the job done, so I let it go. After a couple of times of going back to the range, I decided to just replace the scope with an upgrade and install new rings while I was at it. 
After talking with a couple of gun shop owners, I decided to purchase a Wheeler Fat Wrench, for torquing down the screws on the scope, scope bases and picatinny rail. I added a small drop of Loc-tite to the thread too. The Vortex torque spec is 18 inch pounds. After it was installed and I was looking it over, I suppose I got lucky for as long as I did, considering there was no Loc-tite on the previous rings or bases and the previous rings had single screws on each ring...2 per ring.
The 450 BM is a beast and I should've considered this before. This new set of rings are twice as heavy and have 6 screws, 3 per ring. 
I just finished up reloading a full box of ammo, so I'll be heading back to the rifle range with this new setup and having a better feeling about it staying in place. Lesson learned.
I've never been real fond of the Vortex scope that I've had on it, but it was getting the job done, so I let it go. After a couple of times of going back to the range, I decided to just replace the scope with an upgrade and install new rings while I was at it. After talking with a couple of gun shop owners, I decided to purchase a Wheeler Fat Wrench, for torquing down the screws on the scope, scope bases and picatinny rail. I added a small drop of Loc-tite to the thread too. The Vortex torque spec is 18 inch pounds. After it was installed and I was looking it over, I suppose I got lucky for as long as I did, considering there was no Loc-tite on the previous rings or bases and the previous rings had single screws on each ring...2 per ring.
The 450 BM is a beast and I should've considered this before. This new set of rings are twice as heavy and have 6 screws, 3 per ring. I just finished up reloading a full box of ammo, so I'll be heading back to the rifle range with this new setup and having a better feeling about it staying in place. Lesson learned.
I guess it pays to hold on to things, cause you never know when you might need it later.