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Sadlak Scope Mount Installation Pictures

62K views 62 replies 44 participants last post by  Walnut and Steel 
#1 ·
I've debated for quite some time concerning what brand of scope mount I wanted for my Springfield Armory M1a Loaded and finally decided on the Sadlak mount. Just about anyone can install this mount if you follow the instructions, but you know what they say...a picture is worth a thousand words. Hopefully this will help some of you with the installation or decision towards a future purchase of the Sadlak Mount.

1. Disassemble the rifle. The instructions only state to remove the reciever from the stock. I found it a lot easier to field strip the weapon. This gives you more room to work.

The next step requires you to use a 3/32 diameter punch to tap out the spring pin that holds the stripper clip guide. I suggest that you take it slowly and work the punch in and out as you tap the pin out. It's a tight fit and you don't want to get your punch stuck. It's also important that you maintain the same angle as you remove your punch. You don't want to break it off and cause yourself a headache. If it's too tight, use a smaller punch as suggested. If you look under the 250 mark stamped on the reciever you can see where to remove the pin.



Next remove the stripper clip guide. It is removed from Right to Left. I've left it partially removed to illustrate the direction to remove the guide.


Next, make sure that the threads on your rifle are ok. Manually thread the hex screw into your recieved threads to make sure everything is ok.


This next picture is of the reciever groove on the left side. The groove on top of the screw hole for the scope mount isn't important, it's the lower horizontal groove that you are concerned about. If all goes well, the scope mount will mate into this groove with no problems. SA owners, here is where you will hold your breath. If all goes well, the scope mount will mate solidly. If not, then you will have to use the supplied inspection kit.


Test fitting the scope mount.



Install the cam washer at the 9:00 position. Notice that the mount does not make contact with the the angled face. Note...Angled Face is the name of the area where you removed the stripper clip guide.



After inserting the cam washer, install the hex screw. Hand tighten the screw and tighten just a tad bit more with a wrench. The instructions call for box end wrench, however, I used a socket wrench just fine. The turning of the cam washer requires some finesse as well as using a non marring punch or similar object. Preferably plastic. I used metal and now have the addition of some sharpie blueing. Your goal is to have the mount make contact with the angled face. You can see the mount actually move into position when you move the cam.



This next picture is of the clip guide key. This part will slide into the area between the mount and angled face..where you stripper clip guide used to be.



Picture of the clip guide key partially inserted.



Tightening the clip guide screw 1/4 turn past hand tight.



Locking the key into the dovetail slot. This is accomplished by tightening the key set screws located on both sides of the mount. After this step, torque all screws as recommended.


Tightening the front post support. Sadlak suggests you only scew it down until contact is made with the top of the reciever and turn a max of 1/16 past the contact point. This is important since you can actually see the mount flex slightly if you overtighten.



Locking the front post support screw.



Installed mount, right side view.



Installed mount, left side view.



Mount with scope installed.
Scope: Leupold VXII 3x9 40mm.
Rings: Weaver Grand Slam. High. All steel construction.

As you can see, there is good clearance with these rings installed. No, these are not $100 "super tactical operator "rings, but for less than $15.00 they will work nicely.



Needless to say, I'm a happy camper. An added bonus that I've found is that the scope mount aids in maintaining a consistent ejection pattern. Prior to adding the scope mount, the ejection pattern was slightly erratic.

Good Luck and Good Shooting!
 
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#33 ·
When I installed my mount, I followed their instructions and allowed a small gap between the mount and the angled face once I had hand tightened the side bolt. When everything was finished, there is no gap. The mount touches the angled face. The wedge touches at the top of the dovetail cut and that pulls the mount against the angled face.

I've found that it helps get the mount properly tightened if you tighten the side bolt and the two screws in the wedge alternately, just a little at a time and wiggle the mount a little between each time that you tighten them. This helps ensure that the mount is settled tightly against the side of the receiver and on the angled face.
 
#37 ·
Thank You to Redleg155:

Your thread was excellent and the write with photos helped me install the mount with confidence.

Sidenote:

Sadlak should also have something similar on their website as it would increase sales dramatically.

Also I had another scope mount and it was garbage compared to the Sadlak 101 Airborne model. I also used the inspection kit supplied with the unit and found my Springfield M1A Scout to be within USGI specs.

Once again Thank you for a great how to thread.

Sincerely,

KAP
 
#42 ·
Picked up a Sadlak steel mount at the local gun show (West Springfield MA) yesterday. Later this week I plan on disassembling my M1A and working on installing this mount.

The guy suggested the Leupold Mk IV (4) scope mounts as the best to use. I will be mounting a Springfield Armory 6x40 Government Model 7.62mm that they (SA) had offered as a special a number of years ago.
 
#45 ·
sadlak mount question

I'm getting my SA9121 shortly and it has the receiver glass-bedded in, am I going to be able to put on the sadlak steel mount ?
 
#46 ·
#47 ·
Nice instructions you posted, great pictures too. I used my I-phone hot spot and went on line and used Sadlak's instructions to do all mine while in my shop.
All my Sadlaks fit perfect on my Polytech ,LRB ,Rock Ola and even on the Armscorp.
The two M1A's weren't even close. Could have sent the mounts to Sadlak to have them modified, but I ended selling the M1A's .
 
#48 ·
i think i have the same rings set up on my mount!!!. they were cheap but i haven't had accuracy issues AFTER i installed my Sadlak mount. i had a springfield armory mount that kept shifting. finally broke down and bought a mount that WORKS!!!! it's easy to install. Thanks for the pics that'll help future shooters.
 
#52 ·
Thankyou Reiles, i think i'm going to try to remove the stripper clip with the rifle in the stock. i could be wrong but it seem's the resaon most people drive out the pin from the bottom is they don't want to mare the clip on the top where it would be visible. well i could careless about the clip. it's got to go, mared or not. i will be careful but i don't plan on useing it again.
 
#53 ·
Your gun, your choice, but trust me, pushing from the inside is not done to avoid marring the finish. Too many people assume that things are recommended for unimportant reasons but in this case it ain't so.

The proper process is to push the pin from the inside of the receiver out toward the top of the rifle, this is because the inside end of the hole is sometimes burred or smaller because of how they assemble the rifle (and in some cases because the bolt smears the metal in that area). If the pin sticks then you will be pounding pretty hard from the top and you might crack the receiver.
 
#54 ·
thankyou RAMMAC for the heads up, i will be careful and take it slow, and if i run into any snaggs i guess i will be driving to kerrville soon and see one of the top smiths.

when i sent it back to sai for the adjustable stock i asked them to install the airborne mount and they said we no longer offer that service, wish i knew or they would have offered to remove said clip, oh well leason learned
 
#55 ·
Scope Rings to Use

I have a NM on the way and want to scope it.

I am leaning towards the Sadlak Airborne for the mount.

I know that I need to use care in separating the action from the glass bed.

I will put a Leupold Mark 4 LT/T 6.5 - 20 x 50 on it also.

Can anyone suggest the best rings to use with this setup?

Thank You
 
#56 ·
The stripper clip is a wedge shaped item and can only be removed from one side. I suggest you call Springfield to find the direction it comes out ( unless Sadlak includes that in its directions) , I think it is from left to right but that is just a guess. Call first, you do not want to break it or the mount will not work.
 
#57 ·
Incorrect.. if you had read the original post and looked at the pictures provided.. the stripper clip guide is removed from Right to Left and it's retaining pin is driven from inside to out.. the original post is excellent and clearly walks you step by step through the process with pictures.
 
#60 ·
This is a good post IMO. The Brookfield style mount has the three-point system and is common to many brands. I think a critical aspect is when to tighten the rear screw (into the stripper clip wedge) relative to when to tighten the cam. I always have slight torque on the cam bolt then pull the mount back against the rear angled surface, then tighten the cam clockwise until firm. Hopefully it doesn’t rotate past 2:00 o’clock or your receiver is out of spec. Probably the most critical thing I find when installing these mounts is holding upward pressure on the mount because the horizontal rib doesn’t fit tightly in the receiver groove. The angle of the mount one would think is critical yet it can actually vary within the guidelines of the instructions. Some people have the mount installed by a gunsmith to be parallel to the bore. Thx
 
#61 ·
Does anyone know the diameter of the two receiver inspection pins Sadlak provides with their mounts? I am getting a M1A with a Sadlak mount installed and want to redo the installation and do not have the inspection pins. I can use gauge pins but need to know the diameters. Thanks
 
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