Best way to attach a scope mount to a gun barrel? Solder? Weld?

[iroc]

I have a friend who has a shotgun and would like to put a scope mount on the barrel. They do not make a mount for this gun so he bought a mount that will accept his scope and now he would like to attach the mount to the barrel. The barrel is to thin to tap so it needs to be welded to the barrel. The mount is aluminum and the barrel steel. Would you silver solder it? tig it, mig it, what would be the best process to do? I appreciate your thoughts!!!

[MAC702]

Well, you can't weld aluminum to steel, so that's out.

Why is he putting a scope on a shotgun? Using slugs or something? Is this going on the receiver or on the barrel? Does the scope have the appropriate eye-relief for the mounting location?

Why get an aluminum mount? Is he cheap?

What's the current finish on the gun's wannabe mounting location? Blued, parkarized, rusted?

What is the contact profile? It'd have to be perfect for a soldering of any kind, even then I don't have any experience in whether or not that would work.

[iroc]

He would like to put the scope mount on the barrel. Don't have to worry about eye relief because he is using a red dot scope so there is no eye relief. The barrel finish is blued. Maybe I will try to talk him into a metal mount instead of aluminum. makes things more simple. Right? I appreciate your thoughts...

[wizard]

My take is that if there is no provision for screws he is out of luck with this mount. There are a couple of reasons. #1 You can't weld aluminum to steel for sure and I believe brazing or soldering is out to the question to. #2 Unless you really know what you are doing you do not want to impact the heat treat on a shotgoun barrel - in any way shape or form. Especialy a thin barrel.

That takes care of the welding issue but I have to ask what type of shotgun is this and what is the goal? That is; is the gun being set up for dear hunting as a slug gun? The reason I ask is that there seems to be a scope mount for just about any gun out there that can pass as a decent slug gun. Maybe a wider search would turn something up.

Then there is the reality that some shotguns will never mount a scope well. If you have one of these it might be better to trade or buy something newer that has the capability. It is a big enough problem keeping a scope solidly mounted on a shotgun as it is.

Thanks
Dave

[TxRedneck]

Ive never seen any method except tapping. YOu cant weld the barrel even with similar metals without risking warpage, or weak spots in the barrell

[Sandy]

I'm 100% the wizard here. Sometimes you just have to accept reality. What a guy wants doesn't always win out. Take it to a gunsmith and be satisfied with what he says. You could easily screw up a good shotgun.

There is a good reason those red dots aren't real popular anyway.

[76GMC1500]

You're gonna bend the barrel. Who knows how the barrel will react metalurgy wise to the heating, too. Your best bet is to get a steel mount and silver solder it because of the low heat input, but better yet is to buy a new shotgun with a rail for a scope. You can buy a real nice Benelli Nova pump 12 ga for $385. You can even shoot the newer 3 1/2 inch magnum load through it if you feel like knocking things over.

[iroc]

I appreicate all the info. Guess it was a bad idea from the beginning. But hey, thats what these posts are all about, right? Thanks everyone sooo much.

[RubenZ]

I am very glad you decided not to go through with this. And yes it was a VERY BAD idea from beginning LOL..

Shotguns can be found fewer than 300.00 and when it comes to around 300.00 or my face or a friends or family members face being blown up I'd pick 300.00. Shotgun barrels are very thin to begin with and most GOOD shotgun barrels have a heat sink system to dissipate the heat faster.

I'm surprised no one mentioned taking it a gunsmith. They can tap the receiver and put a rail on it or there are also PLENTY of SCOPE mounts available for shotguns. Example: http://www.gunaccessories.com/Aimtec...ardshotgun.asp

[scsmith42]

If your buddy wants to add a scope to his shotgun, advise him to put the mount on the RECEIVER by drilling/tapping, or better yet - have a competant gunsmith do it for him.

[chicksdigwagons]

Since it sounds like your friend probably only wants the optics mount for 'bling' why not just fabricate a clamp to hold it to the barrel? It will likely walk after so many rounds, but shotguns /= long gun, even with slugs

[TEK]

I know this is a WELDING forum but if you look close at the package it says "JB Weld"-------What the heck,they glue F-16 wings,don't they?

[welderjim]

being ignorant of guns here but i would suggest JB Weld or a good strong tape like duck tape, look out the Brits are coming

[standles]

IROC

What gun are you talking about? If it is a remmie 1100 or 11-87 take a look at jpoints. www.jprifles.com (They also mount on alot of other styles) They meld into the bbl and are light and rugged. They are small and unobtrusive and do not force you to change your head position as aimpoints and such due since thiey are so far above bore sight.

We use them often in 3 gun shooting where the shotguns are using birdshot and slugs. They hold up extremely well.

Let me know whay ya think.

Steven

[Roy Hodges]

phooey on the suggestion of " J B weld". But, In my opinion, something similar; Marine Tex - its probably the strongest thing you can easily buy . And, i am sure it is the best. I get so irritated , these people (customers) come in to have me weld something they already tried J B WELD on, & it failed - then i have a mess , to try to get rid of all that J B weld crap on it, so it can be welded. Usually , i tell them "you put the J B weld on it , YOU get it off. "( they don't want to pay me for the cleanup&prep) .

[Sandy]

But, In my opinion, something similar; Marine Tex - its probably the strongest thing you can easily buy . And, i am sure it is the best.

Sorta getting off track here on the 'how to ruin a shotgun' thread , but where do you get this Marine-Tex at. I don't recall seeing it anywhere but then again I'm not a big fan of glues and such so I don't really have an eye out. I usually reserve them for projects where you just don't know what else to do like $200.00 grills with a cracked mounting and such. It would be nice to have something like that marine-tex around.

[Roy Hodges]

its a 2 part epoxy . ( thick , like putty) get it at places that sell marine supplys . Boat shops , etc. it comes in grey or white colors. guys fix leaky boat Or car fuel tanks , sometimes seal up leaking water jackets on outboard motors that are so corroded from salt water , that they're not weldable , fix cracked leaky wood, or glass boats . it's good stuff, not to say it's perfect , nothing is .

[Sandy]

Thanks Roy,

We've got a couple of marine supplies here. Next time I'm close I'll swing by, see what they've got. Be nice to have something around for unknowns that's also reliable. If they use it for marine applications I'd call that both harsh environment and critical applications .

[kenfusion]

[There is a good reason those red dots aren't real popular anyway.[/quote]

Reddot scopes are the most popular scopes on the market these days.

[Snakeoil]

" B Square" makes a mount that you don't have to weld or screw to the receiver. I use one on my Rem 870 for scope mount. Bass Pro or Cabela's both carry it.

[Sandy]

Originally Posted by kenfusion

Reddot scopes are the most popular scopes on the market these days.

Reddots are the most popular scopes on the market for those few who are buying or have purchased red dot scopes for rifles and shotguns. Of the few hundred people I know who have more than a few rifles and shotguns each as well as pistols, I am the only one I know who has ever had one.

[alan waters]

What is the make and model?

[Jay_]

There are many adhesives available. I was an "Adhesives Expert" in the 1970-1980 time frame.
3M had a family of one-part adhesives that cured at about 240 degrees F, that were structural adhesives. Some were designed to be more flexible, some were aluminum filled, etc.

The 2-part room temperature curing adhesives can be filled with many different things to match the thermal coefficent of the materials being bonded, or match color, etc. This is how JB weld and simlilar adhesives are made.

Proper surface cleaning and treatments are critical to obtain the best bonds. Slightly abrading a surface can improve the bond strength.

The recommendations on alternative guns and scopes and mechanical mounting methods, and especially talking to a gunsmith sound good to me.

Jay

[standles]

Me thinks IROC has left the building