my ruger ranch rifle wont stay at zero

[yongxingfreesty]

i'm having trouble making my ranch rifle stay on zero. after about 60rounds it becomes loose and I have to tighten it. but during the first 50 shots, it is very accurate at 100yds.

the mounds are glossy black, i think they are OEM ruger. they were on the rifle when I bought it. It has a 3-9x40 leupold scope on there.

any suggestions? Any good scope mounts?

 

[CavalryJim]

How about a drop of Loctite Blue ?

 

[rockstar.esq]

Order a set from Ruger, I'm not sure how much they cost but after trying the locktite and checking that the tapped holes in the receiver aren't stripped, it's your next best option. I'm no Ruger fan but the Ruger scope system doesn't elicit too many complaints. Once you get it sorted out, it'll stay put long term.

 

[George S.]

I agree with a drop of Loctite Blue on the threads. But if there is any indication of the threads in the mounts being stripped, then you should toss them and get a replacement set. Ruger sells them from their website or you should be able to find them thru Midway or another catalog source.

An alternative is to get a rail mount from Weigand Combat. The rail mounts to the receiver and then you use the Weaver-style rings of your choice.

Anther thing to try is adding a recoil buffer on the op-rod. When the rod slams back it's an metal-to-metal contact and that may be part of the problem. You can also slow the spped of the rod by replacing the OEM gas port bushing with one with a smaller hole. It reduces the recoil and the speed of the op-rod. There is lots of information about these items (and sources) over on the Perfect Union Forum.

 

[ArmedBear]

Do the mounts fit into curved slots in the top of the receiver? Those are standard on the Ranch Rifle. There aren't any tapped holes on a stock Ranch Rifle.

I'd do the Loc-Tite thing first and foremost.

A semiauto has a lot of vibration that a bolt gun doesn't have. Even my 10/22 shoot its scope mount loose. Loc-tite solved that, permanently.

We're not talking about a lot of force, just a lot of vibration.

 

[Titan6]

+1 on the 10/22 but the rancher should not come loose that easily.
Get some scope loctite. Problem solved.

 

[def4pos8]

Ditto the Locktite and screw check comments. The polymer recoil buffer won't work on late-production, "round receiver" Minis. I tried -- and failed. I use a Weigand rail for a red dot optic. I had to relieve some metal to permit bolt extraction for cleaning but it works. An adjustable gas block is available from Accuracy Systems. This helps with "tuning" op rod function. Welcome to the developmental test department of Sturm, Ruger!

 

[dasanii19]

BLK rings are top notch, maybe give them a try.. I have heard nothing but great stuff and I have a pair on my Marlin model 60

 

[yongxingfreesty]

tried the loctite blue, will shoot 100rnds through it next range trip and give an update.

where can i get the buffer for the op rod?

 

[DWARREN123]

If they do not fit in the slots perfectly they will come loose. The screw head should be on the left side. Put the rings on before putting the scope in them and use a small amount of blue Loc-Tite on the threads. Make sure they are tightened properly, I use a quarter.
I have put in a extra power recoil spring, smaller gas tube and a buffer, they do seem to help quite abit.
Good luck on getting it squared away.

 

[Bwana John]

my ruger ranch rifle wont stay at zero

(in best Gomer Pyle voice )
Surprise, surprise, surprise!

 

[BigG]

my ruger ranch rifle wont stay at zero

Ruger? - oh that's easy. First you replace the barrel. Then you replace the sights. Then you replace the stock. Then you replace the...

Kidding aside, there is an element of truth in what I say, however.

 

[benEzra]

The Ranch Rifle comes from the factory with a recoil buffer of sorts (at least that's what Ruger calls it). I do know the op rod stop is different in the Ranch Rifle from the regular mini-14.