Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: Crunchy on November 22, 2025, 10:10:19 AM

Title: Spotting scope mounting plate
Post by: Crunchy on November 22, 2025, 10:10:19 AM: Ok what am I doing wrong? This has been driving me nuts for years. Swarovski STM spotter. Gitzo fluid head and mounting plate. The brass stud is too small and for the hole on the bottom of the spotter so eventually the screw will loosen. Do I need a different plate? I would assume the holes are all the same size.
Title: Re: Spotting scope mounting plate
Post by: Stein on November 22, 2025, 10:43:33 AM: One thing I found out is that although they are sold as interchangeable and all the same size from brand to brand and model to model, the dimensions on plates are all slightly different. I've never had a brass button not fit, but certainly the dimensions of Arca plates vary.

Are you sure the brass button is too big and not just slightly off center?

I gave up on cheap arca gear and went with one brand so they are all pretty similar from glass to glass.
Title: Re: Spotting scope mounting plate
Post by: Crunchy on November 22, 2025, 11:24:24 AM: The brass button is too small in diameter. if it were bigger the scope would not be able to wiggle side to side and work the mounting screw out. That button should lock or prevent side to side motion
Title: Re: Spotting scope mounting plate
Post by: elkaholic123 on November 22, 2025, 02:56:32 PM: Quote from: Crunchy on Yesterday at 11:24:24 AM
The brass button is too small in diameter. if it were bigger the scope would not be able to wiggle side to side and work the mounting screw out. That button should lock or prevent side to side motion
How far is pin sticking out? Might need to have it poke out further!
Title: Re: Spotting scope mounting plate
Post by: kentrek on November 22, 2025, 03:26:45 PM: Not a popular opinion but ditch that plate, get a bi directional arca plate from RRS, no rubber just metal on metal and then use the 3/8s stud and then drill and tap your own 1/4-20 and then on top of that use a bit of loctite blackmax 380 between the two surfaces but not in the threads
Title: Re: Spotting scope mounting plate
Post by: Crunchy on November 22, 2025, 04:28:05 PM: Quote from: elkaholic123 on Yesterday at 02:56:32 PM
Quote from: Crunchy on Yesterday at 11:24:24 AM
The brass button is too small in diameter. if it were bigger the scope would not be able to wiggle side to side and work the mounting screw out. That button should lock or prevent side to side motion
How far is pin sticking out? Might need to have it poke out further!

it stick out far enough it is just to small in diameter and that allows the scope to move side to side. Almost needs to be twice as big in diameter.
Title: Re: Spotting scope mounting plate
Post by: Crunchy on November 22, 2025, 04:36:19 PM: Quote from: kentrek on Yesterday at 03:26:45 PM
Not a popular opinion but ditch that plate, get a bi directional arca plate from RRS, no rubber just metal on metal and then use the 3/8s stud and then drill and tap your own 1/4-20 and then on top of that use a bit of loctite blackmax 380 between the two surfaces but not in the threads

I like your thinking. I have sent them an email to see what they suggest. This can't be an unusual problem I am having.