warbirdlover
New member
Hopefully I can save some of you some headaches when mounting a scope on your M77.
I had the original Ruger (medium) rings on for 15 years with my 3-9 X 40 Nikon Monarch. Not once over that did I ever lose zero or have to adjust it (checking it every fall). Not once.
I bought a new scope (4-16AO X 50) which need high rings. The Ruger rings are super expensive so I tried Millett rings. They worked okay but when tightened "tilted" forward (front ring) and dinged my new scope. I tried Redfield rings and the screws broke (made in China) and ditched them. So I still was too cheap and bought Leupold rings which looked identical to the Rugers and were cheaper. I tightened the base screws and wiggled and tightened over and over before mounting the scope to the rings. It seemed really solid. Today I went to finish sighting in after bore sighting and the first two shots were grouped tight above the bull 6". I lowered them down and the next shot went 8" left? I grabbed the scope and it was loose! The front ring loosened from the base from firing (.300 Win Mag)! I tightened it with a quarter and all went back to normal. A guy on the bench next to me had a screwdriver that I borrowed and I got another 1/8 turn tighter on both rings base screws. Then I finished sighting in. My rifle went back to it's tackhammer characteristics and I came home with a sore shoulder from shooting way more rounds then should have been necessary.
Moral of the story. Always buy Ruger rings for M77 rifles and don't be cheap like me. They are FAR superior to even the Leupold rings.
I had the original Ruger (medium) rings on for 15 years with my 3-9 X 40 Nikon Monarch. Not once over that did I ever lose zero or have to adjust it (checking it every fall). Not once.
I bought a new scope (4-16AO X 50) which need high rings. The Ruger rings are super expensive so I tried Millett rings. They worked okay but when tightened "tilted" forward (front ring) and dinged my new scope. I tried Redfield rings and the screws broke (made in China) and ditched them. So I still was too cheap and bought Leupold rings which looked identical to the Rugers and were cheaper. I tightened the base screws and wiggled and tightened over and over before mounting the scope to the rings. It seemed really solid. Today I went to finish sighting in after bore sighting and the first two shots were grouped tight above the bull 6". I lowered them down and the next shot went 8" left? I grabbed the scope and it was loose! The front ring loosened from the base from firing (.300 Win Mag)! I tightened it with a quarter and all went back to normal. A guy on the bench next to me had a screwdriver that I borrowed and I got another 1/8 turn tighter on both rings base screws. Then I finished sighting in. My rifle went back to it's tackhammer characteristics and I came home with a sore shoulder from shooting way more rounds then should have been necessary.
Moral of the story. Always buy Ruger rings for M77 rifles and don't be cheap like me. They are FAR superior to even the Leupold rings.