Calvin,
Most recommended torques I've seen are between 15-25 inch pounds for ring screws, depending on the manufacturer. You should be great at 17 inch pounds if you have oiled the threads and also under the screw heads before torquing. You need to make sure you go around the screw pattern a few times to ensure that things pull down evenly (tighten each screw in turn about 4 times). A nice gentle lap on the rings and a little powdered rosin are also helpful in keeping the scope in place on rifles that kick. Scope screws loosening in use is rare below 10 inch pounds or so. If you decide to use some sort of Loctite on scope screws prepare to pay your smith big bucks when you want to remove it (don't do it).
Scott
