Hawke SW Side Focus Issue Problem/Resolution

[Jking]

Wow! you can teach an old dog new tricks. I recently bought a like new but used Hawke SW Tactical and mounted it on my AA S510 Carbine. I had issues with the side focus knob rotating maybe an 1/8 or less of a turn but the actual focus not happening. Today I called Hawke and talked to Mike. He suggested that I try loosening the scope rings and retightening them. WHAT! seriously do you think I'm so incompetent that I don't know how to mount a scope. Let me also include that I have SW's on my Regal and Cricket and a Eclipse's on a 22LR, so yea, I know how to mount a scope.  When I got home I thought I'd humor Mike and go ahead and retighten the scope rings. His suggestion was to insert only the long side of the hex wrench into the hex screws and use the short side to do the tightening. He said the correct torgue was 12inlbs and that's what using the short side of the hex wrench would yield. Well KMB that did the trick. It turns easier and doesn't have any slack in the rotation. Mike said just slightly over tightening cam actually egg the scope tube and make it hard for the lenses to move.

 I'd always thought the Eclipse scope was hard to turn so I re-torqued the screws on it as well and it really seems like it made it easier to rotate. Maybe just my mind playing tricks by now though. Anyway I know how many of us shoot Hawkes so keep this in mind if you've noticed something similar.
Jimmy

[robertr]

 Have not had that problem with my SF but thanks for passing that along just in case.

[Motorhead]

Wow ! ... talk about odd.
But then again if fix worked, guess not so odd after all 

[nielsenammo]

I use, and love my Hawke scopes and have not had that problem.  However, I mount all my scopes with the long side into the rings so I do not over tighten.  Good tip for future in case I do over tighten.  Thanks for the tip.

[Jking]

Oh, I'm sure I used the long side for better grip but I never thought I over tightened. Maybe just an isolated instance and a quirky scope but I'm glad I learned something new anyway.
Jimmy

[Geoff]

good to hear, thanks for sharing

[Joekrooz]

Interesting, I always finish off tightening with the long side for more leverage. I'm sure I'm over tightening.

[Methuselah]

I've got a Simmons that the SF is hard to turn and focus dial goes down to 10 but it won't focus closer than 12.  Maybe loosening the rings might help - no alas I haven't put the rings on it yet.  Oh woe is me 

On a more serious note, some of my PB friends at work lap the rings.  Maybe assuring they are round would alleviate the issue?  Now where did I put that Prozac