Rimfire scope slippage

T

theplague42

New member
I'm fairly new to rifles, and I'm having issues with my new .22's scope. The rings keep sliding oh so slightly on the dovetail rails. I've tightened them as hard as I can using a quarter, as it fits the screw slot quite nicely.

Is there a way to keep the scope from creeping up the rail aside from excessive tightening with a big screwdriver?
 
I’ve got real cheap small rail scope rings on my Ruger 10/22. I mean real cheap. They slid when I first installed them. What I did was make a couple dimples on the inside of the scope ring where it pinches up to the rail. Make the dimples with a center punch, tap lightly with a small hammer. Put it on with a small amount of blue loctite on the screw threads, and it’s held for over ten years.
 
@mals9
Unfortunately, it's a dovetailed rail, not Weaver. Or does Picatinny=dovetailed?

Although that does make me think about the rings. The scope was very inexpensive/cheap, but it seems like an ok 4x32 scope. (to me at least :D) Maybe Bushnell skimped on the rings. I'll look into that.

@Mike38
I'm confused. You mean where the rings touch the dovetail rail? Also, wouldn't that make it permanent?
 
He means raise a few burrs on the rings so they bite into the rail and don't slide when you tighten the screws. Blue loctite is removable.
 
What gun is this? Is it one where the rails are built onto the gun, or is it just a base that you could change? If it's a base I'd change it out for the Weaver style. I absolutely hate the small rails for the .22 rings. IMO it's what ruins the Marlin 60. I'm not sure why anyone would make those crappy rails onto a gun.

That being said, if you are stuck with them, I'd try the B Square mounts that have two screws on the sides.
 
The rails are built into the gun, unfortunately.

Option 1. The burrs: Sorry for being stupid, but I don't completely understand the burrs. Do I just make a divet/dimple in the ring base in the V where it grips the rails, then put loctite in them and attach? Both sides of each ring or just one?

Option 2. The B square mounts: I'm going to google those right now. If I do get them, is it difficult to line up the scope in them?

Sorry for being a pain. I'm bring a lot more questions than answers to this forum :(
 
As for the B-Square mounts I've personally never installed a scope in them so I can't help you there, but I've talked to lots of guys that have used them and say they are the solution for the scope slipping.

As for making the dimples like he is talking about, once you have the rings mounted where you want take a punch and peen the metal on the dovetail on both sides right up against the ring so that the ring's can't slide.
 
Alright thanks very much to all of you.

I think I'm going to try the new scope mounts first. Better go the temporary route before denting any metal ;)
 
Ditto getting the long, full length mount, especially for dovetails.
A couple of companies make them for built in dovetails, either straight or with a dovetail to weaver adapter, like BLK and BSquare.
Lots more to hold on with, than the typical short two piece versions.
The short two piece ones can actually break off some of the dovetail, on aluminum receivers, if they are overtightened.
 
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I think I'm going to try the new scope mounts first. Better go the temporary route before denting any metal
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A good plan I think. The minimal recoil posed by the .22rf cartridge shouldn't be causing much ring slippage in the first place. I'm thinking that the rings themselves might be a little out of spec (too wide) and trying a new/different ring/mount set-up is a better idea than marring the receiver of your rifle (even if the dimples are well hidden after the scope is installed) if you don't have to. Also, I'd keep any lube away from the rings/scope when installing them.
 
I'll probably look on OpticsPlanet for new rings before I do anything else.

As for the Weaver adapter, how expensive are the scopes? The rails themselves seem fairly inexpensive, but I'd rather not invest a ton for a rifle that will only be shot 100 yards.
 
rimfire rings

I suggest you get Leupold rimfire rings. BKL also has very good rings if they are still in business. I have a very large assortment of many different makes in my shop and when you trial fit them on a variety of guns it is easy too see how much they vary. In some cases the grooves, widths, angles, etc of the parts just don't work. To me it sounds like you have a perfect example of one combo I have seen before. The ring fits but you can't tighten it. Some dovetails are cut as 11mm while many more are 13mm. CZ makes rings that will bite a narrower dovetail. The Leupold and the BKL's will also grab a narrower dovetail. Loctite purple #222 is very good for small threads. Leupold rimfire rings are not cheap, but in my case, I had two applications where they were the only rings that gave the best results. Sometimes a little more torque is needed for certain combos. With quality hardware, a larger screwdriver should not be a problem. Overtightening can be a problem if you're not careful. Cheap hardware often will not take the added torque sometimes needed to hold rings securely. Lastly, take a real good magnified look at the fit. Is the geometry really good? Do the rings really fit in the dovetail or do they just butt up along side of it and leave a gap of light between the parts?
 
Yes. It was originally designed for air rifles which have a lot more recoil than a .22. They are made to fit dovetails. "Weaver" refers to rail on top of the mount.
 
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