No worries at all! I was just ... muttering my assumptions going in, was all. I should have thought something was up when the screws just kept going and going. I'd heard a story before about a gunsmith ruining a scope tube, but I guess somehow I just didn't really believe it. Now that I've done it myself it's a lesson I won't soon forget!

FWIW, the scope seemed to be perfectly positioned for my viewing pleasure before I noticed I'd ruined it.

I'm still looking for a replacement scope... in the meantime I picked up this little consolation prize (although this sort of thing isn't most of your cup 'o tea):