Unkel Gilbey
New member
I recently was able to score my 'dream' rifle (circa 1976 M77 STD in 30-06) and finally got around to getting a scope. I won't go into details about what kinda scope it is, other than I consider it a 'starter'.
Anyway, I loose fitted the bottom parts of the scope rings onto the receiver, and then laid the scope down on top of them. Then I positioned the tops of the rings in place and started the screws. Of course I'm using the Ruger rings - why not?
I thought to loose fit everything, and then slowly draw every screw tight in stages. This way, I wouldn't put any undue stress on the scope tube before everything was properly lined up.
Everything looked good, or at least I thought so, but I noticed that before I put the top caps in place that the scope 'rocked' on the ring bottoms. "Perhaps this is normal for this sort of setup" I thought to myself.
Well, the screws were just snug, and I thought to check the scope for eye relief by throwing it up to my shoulder. This done, and noting that I needed to move the scope back a smidgen, I then proceeded to work the bolt. At least, I tried to work the bolt! The bolt contacted the scope as it traveled backward - completely impeding it's rearward travel. Sh*&@#%t!!!
Well, I tried to see if there was something wrong with the screws, if the mount hadn't become mis-aligned somehow, every thing that I tried and thought of didn't cure my ills. So I started pricing aftermarket Ruger scope mounts of the 'high' variety, and thinking of ways to sell this 'new' purchase to the chief finances officer (wife!)
At any rate, I went to sleep on it, and as it usually happens, the answer came to me at about zero dark thirty - with no more sleep to be had!
Ruger rings are different heights!!! The rear ring is a tad longer than the front ring. Reversing the rings, I got rid of the strange 'rocking' and the bolt functioned flawlessly. Are the rings marked to differentiate between front and back? Not that I could tell, but by mocking them up to each other, you can see the difference in height.
So! Learn from my miscue and don't pitch that rifle into the dust bin just because things didn't work out perfectly the first time!
Ooh Rah!
Unkel Gilbey
Anyway, I loose fitted the bottom parts of the scope rings onto the receiver, and then laid the scope down on top of them. Then I positioned the tops of the rings in place and started the screws. Of course I'm using the Ruger rings - why not?
I thought to loose fit everything, and then slowly draw every screw tight in stages. This way, I wouldn't put any undue stress on the scope tube before everything was properly lined up.
Everything looked good, or at least I thought so, but I noticed that before I put the top caps in place that the scope 'rocked' on the ring bottoms. "Perhaps this is normal for this sort of setup" I thought to myself.
Well, the screws were just snug, and I thought to check the scope for eye relief by throwing it up to my shoulder. This done, and noting that I needed to move the scope back a smidgen, I then proceeded to work the bolt. At least, I tried to work the bolt! The bolt contacted the scope as it traveled backward - completely impeding it's rearward travel. Sh*&@#%t!!!
Well, I tried to see if there was something wrong with the screws, if the mount hadn't become mis-aligned somehow, every thing that I tried and thought of didn't cure my ills. So I started pricing aftermarket Ruger scope mounts of the 'high' variety, and thinking of ways to sell this 'new' purchase to the chief finances officer (wife!)
At any rate, I went to sleep on it, and as it usually happens, the answer came to me at about zero dark thirty - with no more sleep to be had!
Ruger rings are different heights!!! The rear ring is a tad longer than the front ring. Reversing the rings, I got rid of the strange 'rocking' and the bolt functioned flawlessly. Are the rings marked to differentiate between front and back? Not that I could tell, but by mocking them up to each other, you can see the difference in height.
So! Learn from my miscue and don't pitch that rifle into the dust bin just because things didn't work out perfectly the first time!
Ooh Rah!
Unkel Gilbey