Accu

Quick Reference Guide

Sadlak scope mounts

In 2002, the Marine Corps Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, VA evaluated our titanium scope mount and spring guide. The NCO in Charge, at that time, SSgt Raymond A. Conrad wrote, “Both pieces showed a good finished product. The spring guide fit our springs and positively held the magazines. The overall tolerances of the scope rail were good and we did not have a problem adjusting to zero.”

Our Brookfield-type scope mounts are a positive 3-point design that allows removal and re-assembly without losing zero. The Picatinny-style rail is machined to Mil. Spec 1913 and provides universal scope mounting. Our titanium mounts are made from an aerospace-quality hot-forged billet (limited production), not from a casting or plate. It is tougher and stronger, yet weighs 40% less than steel. It has a 26-30 Hardness Rockwell C (HRc) and has been surface coated for a non-glare, matte-black finish. This coating increases the surface hardness to approximately 80 HRc, adding to its corrosive and abrasive resistance.

The steel mounts are made from stress-relieved 4142 bar stock with a hardness of 28-32 Rc. The finish is Mil. Spec. black manganese phosphate. All mounting hardware, fasteners, and hex wrenches and detailed instructions are included. Scope rings not included.

How this new model came to be…

It was inspired by the Brookfield Precision Tool special production run of light weight steel mounts for the special forces in the 1980’s

We had been loaned an originalBrookfield Light-weight mount several weeks before the 101st Airborne called expressing their interest in a lighter steel mount. We had the interest and now they had an urgent need so we rose to the challenge to expedite it since their unit was about to deploy in a few weeks and we didn’t want to let our brave troops down.

We did our initial design overnight and had the first prototypes for heat-treat and testing in 2 days. We were cautious in where and how much material to remove to avoid compromising the over-all strength of the new light-weight mount. After many design revisions and prototypes and a few 18hr work days, we had the right balance and production began. Mike Sadlak and his dedicated precision tool-makers worked tirelessly through many nights to deliver the finished mounts to the 101st Airborne on time.

It was a proud day for the employees at Sadlak Industries LLC. We thank the 101st and our military for the opportunity to serve them for a change!

Using Iron Sights with a
Sadlak Scope Mount
Similar to the original
Brookfield Precision Tool
mount, the Sadlak mount
also has a U-shaped channel
thru the precision machined
Picatinny rail that provides
an opening under the rings
to use the iron sights with
the scope and rings attached.

Brookfield Precision Tool was the original designer and manufacturer for this type of mount known in the industry as a 3-point contact M14 scope mount. When it was first developed, it was a significant improvement over the original aluminum mounts developed by the military and has served them well since the late 1980’s. While Brookfield Precision Tool ceased operations in the mid-1990's, the military continues to use the original Brookfield mounts, from stock still remaining in their inventory, in addition to the Sadlak Industries LLC mounts and other scope mount manufacturers. At Sadlak Industries LLC we believed there was still some room to make a few small but useful improvements and have listed them below.

Sadlak Industries LLC makes six improvements to the original design.

Sadlak Industries and Brookfield Scope Mounts

Increased length and added two outboard set screws to the Clip Guide Key.

The outboard setscrews wedge the key into the dovetail groove of the stripper clip guide for maximum surface contact and holding power. The “locked-in” key acts as a immobile stationary “threaded nut” rather than a “floating nut” as used in the Brookfield design. This more secure “nut” allows for a better anchoring point for the mount at the stripper clip guide area that is better able to withstand the recoil forces without loosening

Sadlak Industries

Brookfield Precision Tool

Slotted hole in mount for Clip Guide Screw

With the Clip Guide Key now securely wedged and locked into the dovetail groove, the elongated slotted hole allows more adjustability without sacrificing holding power and allows the screw to “find” the stationary “nut”. With the Brookfield design, it’s the other way around. The screw is confined in its hole thru the mount and the Clip Guide Key has to “rock” to properly align with the screw. The cocking of the key to align with the screw does not provide maximum surface contact with the receiver and is prone to loosening. The Brookfield design demands too much from such a small #10 socket head cap screw. It must: 1) Hold the Clip Guide Key in the receiver groove from moving AND 2) Securely hold the mount against the receiver’s angled face. One screw cannot do both reliably which is one reason for some of improvements.

Bottom view shown without socket screw
Sadlak Industries LLC	Brookfield Precision Tool

Top view shown with socket screw
Sadlak Industries Slotted Hole

Sadlak Industries LLC

Brookfield Precision Tool Slotted Hole

Brookfield Precision Tool

Added 5 degree case deflection angle on underside of mount.

This feature allows deflection of spent cartridges caused by a worn ejector spring. With worn parts, the ejected case can be thrown vertically hitting the underside of the mount and deflect directly back down into the bolt which can result in the case being jammed between the bolt and the chamber. With this feature the chances of this occurring is greatly reduced.

Sadlak Indsutries LLC

Brookfield Precision Tool

Added semi-circle notches to access set screws on Clip Guide Key.

These two notches on either side of the mount allows the Clip Guide Key to be tightened in the receiver groove while the mount is attached making it a faster and a more convenient installation.

Sadlak Industries LLC

Brookfield Precision Tool

Increased screw size of third contact point.

The size of the screw that contacts the top front of the receiver was increased from 1/4-28 to 5/16-24 half-dog flat point setscrew. This gives a greater contact surface with the receiver

Sadlak Industries LLC

Bottom View,
flat point diameter .196

Brookfield Precision Tool

Bottom View,
flat point diameter .150

Sadlak Industries LLC

Top View
Hex Key size 5/32

Brookfield Precision Tool

Top View
Hex Key size 1/8

Eliminate One Service Tool

Now only two hex wrenches are required, not three, to service the mount. By increasing the size of the flat point screw, described in #5 above, it eliminated one hex wrench to make it a little more convenient for the user. One less tool to worry about. Note: a 3/8 box wrench is still required for the left-side Hex Screw.

Tools required for the Sadlak Scope Mount

Brookfield Tools

Tools required for the Brookfield Scope Mount

Iron sight use with a Brookfield Style Scope Mount

Similiar to the original Brookfield Precision Tool mount, the Sadlak Indust. LLC mount also has a U-shaped channel thru the precision machined Picatinny rail that provides an opening under the rings to use the iron sights with the scope and rings attached (see photo to left). This feature aids in the initial zeroing of the scope plus is an alternate aiming option should the scope malfunction. The U-channel is machined with a downwards slope to provide a clear view even when the rear sight is elevated for longer distances.

Sadlak Titanium Scope Mount with Prototype Titanium Ring

Other Benefits of a SADLAK INDUSTRIES LLC Scope Mount

In addition to the six physical improvements above, we are the first M14 scope mount manufacturer to offer an optional custom fitting service for your Sadlak Industries LLC mount to your out-of-spec. M1A receiver. You do not have to ship us your rifle because by using our precision ground pins contained in our Inspection Kit, you can properly inspect the receiver at home. With the data from you inspection, either faxed or emailed to us, we can modify your mount to fit your receiver perfectly just like on a real M14 government issued receiver.
So just as our military doesn’t compromise on their equipment, you won’t have to either!

A NOTE ABOUT M1A RECEIVERS

Sadlak Industries LLC takes pride in the precision and workmanship of the products we sell. These scope mounts are based on the original Brookfield Precision Tool mounts previously purchased by the military. They are precision machined to fit on any M14(military) or M1A(civilian version of the M14) rifle that has been machined to the original GI specifications. Unfortunately, not all current M1A receiver manufacturers adhere to the GI specifications particularly in the area’s of the stripper clip guide and left side surface and the left side horizontal groove. Older receivers have a better track record. If your M1A receiver is made correctly, this scope mount will fit against your receivers left side perfectly. The key on the inside of the mount will seat into the horizontal groove with only a small amount of play and the inside surface of the mount will rest flush, with no gap or visible light showing, against the machined surfaces on the left side of the receiver. If your mount does not fit this way then your receiver is not within GI specifications.

According to the GI receiver drawing #7790189 the 60 degree groove on the left side should be .070/.078” (per blueprint) wide at the bottom and .149/.153” (calculated from gage point) wide at the top. Our study shows that the GI groove is tightly machined with a tolerance or play of only .004 in the vertical movement. If your mount does not fit correctly, it’s most likely this groove is not within GI specifications and is cut too shallow resulting in a groove that is too narrow. To get your scope mount to fit perfectly with assured zeroing, Sadlak Industries LLC can machine the inside key of your scope mount for an additional charge. Please call for pricing and shipping procedures and to check if we have in inventory (non0GI spec.) mounts that have been specially machined with a left side key which is narrower to fit "out -of-spec" M1A receivers.

IMPROVEMENT TO THE BROOKFIELD DESIGN

While the original Brookfield mount was an excellent design and served our troops well, we have made some small but useful improvements. To prevent the Clip Guide Screw(5) from loosening we have adding two set screws to the Clip Guide Key(4) to positively lock the key into the dovetail slot. To give greater mounting flexibility on M1A receivers manufactured by other companies, we have slotted the hole for the Clip Guide Screw(5) and added a larger counterbore. This prevents the dovetail slot and angled face for the stripper clip guide from influencing the positive and higher priority mounting to the left side of the receiver. The Front Post Screw(6) has been increased for a larger contact point in the front. This resulted in an added benefit by reducing the number of hex key wrenches required for servicing from three to two.

We are the first M14/M1A scope mount manufacturer to offer a custom fitting service so you won’t have to compromise on your scope mount fit when your M1A receiver is out-of-spec.

Now, with our new custom fitting service, every M1A owner can have the same perfect fitting scope mount as the military has on their USGI government inspected “original” forged M14 receivers. It won’t matter if your M1A receiver was made to USGI specifications we’ll do the modification to the mount and make it fit perfectly.

We’ve taken the trial and error out of the mounting process by developing an Inspection Kit that includes a detailed colored instruction sheets with diagrams plus two sizes of precision ground inspection pins. The simple, at home, self-inspection procedure allows the M1A owner to verify if their M1A receiver’s left side groove is made to USGI specifications. If it is not, you can easily provide us with your receivers exact left-side groove dimensions without having to ship us your rifle. We will then custom fit your Sadlak Industries LLC scope mount for a service fee of $45.00 and guarantee the fit.

WHY OFFER THIS CUSTOM SERVICE?

Our scope mounts are precision made to fit on M14 USGI receivers. However, not all M1A receivers are made to these same tight specifications.

Because the left side groove depth and width vary greatly between manufacturers, date of manufacture and because of the demands from our military, we cannot realistically make our mounts with a “one-size-fits-all” specification. If we reduce the dimensions on our mounts to fit the worst-case M1A receiver, they will be too loose for the military and will not repeat zero. We do not want to compromise the fit, reliability, rigidity and accuracy that prolonged use demand (ex. military). Instead we make all of our mounts to fit precisely onto receivers that have been built to the original USGI blueprint specifications as most older M1A receivers were. This way when our military requires the use of our scope mounts, we have available the quality product they demand.

Until now, the M1A rifle owner was the one who had to compromise. In too many cases, we have seen the horizontal groove on M1A receivers not machined deep enough and the left side threaded hole not located correctly. The result is a compromised fit between your receiver and the scope mount.

In the past, the solution from other scope mount manufacturers was “Our mounts are made to fit on military M14 receivers. We’re sorry they don’t fit your civilian M1A receiver. There is nothing we can do but you can return the mount for a refund if you like.”

The Inspection kit is supplied free with any purchase of a Sadlak Industries LLC scope mount or, upon request, with any order over $50.00. It is the simplest trouble-shooting tool available if you have misalignment problems when attempting to install a mount on an out-of-spec receiver. These problems have occurred more often on newly manufactured M1A receivers. Older M1A receivers have a better track record. If you’re not yet ready to purchase one of our scope mounts but want to determine your receiver’s groove specifications, the Instruction Kit is available for $5.00 plus shipping. We will credit you the kit’s cost toward any future purchase of a Sadlak Industries LLC scope mount - so you can’t lose.

When you buy a scope mount from Sadlak Industries you not only get a precision product but the service to back it up. Our military doesn’t compromise, neither should you!

Custom Fitting Service	$45
Inspection Kit	$ 5 (free with scope mount purchase or orders over $50.00)

Note: Click on thumbnail for full size image

We are the first M14/M1A scope mount manufacturer to offer a custom fitting service so you won’t have to compromise on your scope mount fit when your M1A receiver is out-of-spec.

Now, with our new custom fitting service, every M1A owner can have the same perfect fitting scope mount as the military has on their USGI government inspected “original” forged M14 receivers. It won’t matter if your M1A receiver was made to USGI specifications we’ll do the modification to the mount and make it fit perfectly.

We’ve taken the trial and error out of the mounting process by developing an Inspection Kit that includes a detailed colored instruction sheets with diagrams plus two sizes of precision ground inspection pins. The simple, at home, self-inspection procedure allows the M1A owner to verify if their M1A receiver’s left side groove is made to USGI specifications. If it is not, you can easily provide us with your receivers exact left-side groove dimensions without having to ship us your rifle.

PREPARATION Remove stripper clip guide from receiver (see below). Inspect for burrs and remove with file or stone. Instructions for properly removing stripper clip guide,

i. Remove receiver from stock. From the inside of the receiver, insert a 3/32 diameter or slightly smaller punch and gently tap the spring pin out. Do not attempt to remove pin by pushing it into the receiver because of possible burrs on the inside. Next, support the left side of the receiver with a block of wood. Gently tap the stripper guide on the right side only. Stripper guide is removed from right to left.

ii. CAUTION: Care should be taken not to use excessive force to remove pin or stripper clip guide. It may cause the receiver to crack or other damage to occur.

PREPARATION 2: Remove white square packaging cardboard from Hex Screw(3). Remove and temporarily place screw and Cam Washer(2) on bench.

INSPECTION: Check if the tapped hole in the receiver has good threads by manually threading the Hex Screw(3) into the hole (do not use a wrench). Damage to receiver or Hex Screw(3) may occur if threads in the receiver are dirty or damaged. If threads are good and clean, the screw will easily thread into it. If it does not thread easily by hand, first clean with solvent and small brush then, if required, chase thread with a special #12-32 UNEF (Extra-Fine) screw. A chase tap is available from Sadlak Industries LLC for a small fee or the special extra fine tap can be purchased at an industrial supply company (Home Depot, etc. will not carry this special extra fine tap).

INSTALL SCOPE MOUNT(1): Place scope mount in the Receiver Groove on the left side(see Fig.4, Drawing 2). Slide mount toward barrel then back several times to check surface contact between the inside surface of mount and the receiver's left side. To help see actual contact between the mount and receiver, it is best to use Prussian Blue Paste (also called high-spot marking paste). The paste is non-drying, non-staining, and water soluble for easy cleanup (available through Sadlak Industries LLC - see price list.) The Left Side Key (see Fig.3) on the mount should fit completely into the Receiver Groove and when pressed firmly against the receiver, no light should be visible between the mount and receiver. A positive full contact between the mount and the receiver left side will help assure maximum reliability, will help maintain zero when the mount is removed and re-installed, and will prevent loosening of mount due to the heavy recoil forces.

NOTE: Manufacturers of receivers for civilian use (M1A) do not have to adhere to the government GI blueprint specifications and are not inspected using government gages. This has sometimes resulted in poor out-of-spec. machining of the left side Receiver Groove. The groove could be too deep resulting in a looser fitting scope mount or too shallow resulting in left side key on the mount not being able to be fully seated into the groove causing the mount to not rest flush (slightly cocked) against the receiver's left side. A poorly machined receiver groove may or may not work with the scope mount. It depends on the degree the receiver is out-of-spec. If the groove is slightly undersize, the mount will fit poorly, make it difficult to adjust scope to zero, amy cause loss of zero should the mount be removed, and may cause the mount to loosen more easilt. The Left Side Key on the Sadlak Scope Mount is precision machined to just fit into the smallest groove tolerance on a GI M14 rifle. They are machined this precisely for reliable zeroing and positive mounting when purchased by the US Military.

INSTALL CAM WASHER(2): Insert Cam Washer(2) into elongated slot in left side of the mount. Position tab at twelve o’clock as shown in Fig.2 (Drawing 1).

INSTALL HEX SCREW(3): Apply Loctite threadlocker #222MS to Hex Screw(3) and insert thru Cam Washer(2) then carefully hand start screw into receiver. Partially tighten screw with 3/8 box wrench approx. 1/8 turn past hand-tight to allow mount to make full contact with receiver yet still be able to slide towards the stripper clip guide angle face. Note: it is important, at this stage, for the mount not to have contact with the receiver Angled Face (see Fig.2 and Fig. 4). A small light gap should be visible. This assures the Angled Face does not influence the positive contact on the left side between the mount and receiver. This positive contact is very important for long-term reliability.

CAM MOUNT TOWARD ANGLED FACE: Lightly tap the tab on the Cam Washer(2) with a plastic mallet clockwise until the above-mentioned light gap (step 6) at the angled face is reduced as the mount contacts the receiver. Keep tapping to allow the mount to ride up the angled face while the Hex Screw(3) remains moderately tight. You may notice the mount only contacts the angled face at a couple high points. This is often normal and caused by the variation in the manufacturing process and tolerances of the Angled Face. The original GI blueprint did not hold this angled feature very accurately because the only function, at the time, was to mount the stripper clip guide. Civilian M1A manufactures often hold this feature even less accurately.

PREPARE CLIP GUIDE KEY(4): Remove two small set screws in the key (see Fig.1) and apply Loctite #222MS threadlocker. Re-install into key until flush.

INSTALL CLIP GUIDE KEY(4): Slide key into Dovetail Slot (see Fig. 2 & Fig. 4) in receiver. Visually align center-threaded hole in key with hole in mount.

INSTALL CLIP GUIDE SCREW(5): Thread screw into the Clip Guide Key(4). Partially tighten ¼ turn past hand-tight.

LOCK KEY INTO DOVETAIL SLOT: Screw both set screws in the Clip Guide Key(4) until contact is made with bottom of the dovetail slot in the receiver. Partially tighten 3/4 turns past hand-tight.

FINAL TIGHTEN SCREWS: Using an inch-lbs torque wrench, final tighten the screws to the following specifications in the order listed:

1) Hex Screw(3): 65-70 inch-lbs,

2) Two set screws in the Clip Guide Key(4): 30-40 inch-lbs

   Warning: Use caution when tightening setscrews.
    DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN. Receiver may crack if
    excessive force is used.

3) Clip Guide Screw(5): 30-40 inch lbs

FRONT POST SUPPORT: Screw down Fr. Post Screw(6) (see Fig.1) until contact is made with the top of the receiver. Turn 1/8 max. past contact point.

LOCK FRONT POST SCREW: Remove Fr. Post Set Screw(7), apply Loctite #222MS threadlocker and re-install. Tighten to ½ turn past hand-tight.

INSTALL RINGS AND SCOPE: The scope mount installation is complete and you are ready to install the rings and scope. Note: It is recommended checking and re-torqueing scope mount screws after the first 1000 round fired.

Remember to apply Loctite threadlocker #222MS or equiv. on all screws.

We will then custom fit your Sadlak Industries LLC scope mount for a service fee of $45.00 and guarantee the fit.

When you buy a scope mount from Sadlak Industries you not only get a precision product but the service to back it up. Our military doesn’t compromise, neither should you!