Scope mount ? for old Ruger M77 Varmint

[gregp74]

I picked up a neat old Ruger M77 made in 1990 with the heavy varmint barrel in 220 Swift today.

I've got a Leupold VX3i 30mm 50mm objective scope I plan to put on it, but I don't know what my best option is.

I see Leupold makes some direct bolt on rings, but they've only got 2 screws holding the top of the ring on. Will that be sufficient for a 220 Swift?

Otherwise I see there's Ruger branded ones that look a little more solid. Either way I go I'm wondering what height I'm going to need for this. Medium? High? Extra-High?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I like the Ruger rings. I have a M77 Target in .22-250 that is about the same age as yours. It had seen a lot of use and spent a lot of time riding barrel down in the seat of a farm truck. That rifle hasn't needed a scope adjustment in nearly 20 years....it just plain works.

 

[243winxb]

http://shopruger.com/searchscopering.asp Do a search for your model.

Scope rings are sold individually and not in pairs unless otherwise stated.

Or other Ruger products. http://shopruger.com/

 

[Varminterror]

The pre-1991 tang safety Ruger M77 doesn't use the same rings as the integrated mount M77MkII's.

However, the tang safety 77's do use Rem 700 pattern mounts, so the world is your oyster when it comes to picking mounts and rings. Talley, seekins, EGW, Warne, are the brands which get my money for mounts and bases in the 700 pattern.

 

[gregp74]

I looked the other day and based on the serial number (772-960xx) it appears to be from 1990.

Hopefully the rings I ordered will fit it.

30MM High Scope Ring with Blued Finish
Blued
Item :90274 Price : $39.95
1 30MM X-High Scope Ring with Blued Finish
Blued
Item :90275 Price : $39.95

 

[gregp74]

I'm actually going back and forth deciding on optics for this and my CZ 455 Varmint in 17 hmr.

I've got 3 scopes that could go on either one. A Leupold 30mm VX3i 4-14x50, a Vortex Diamondback HP 4-16x42, and a Leupold Vx2 3-12x40 (I think it goes to 12)

My first thought is to put the big Leupold on the Ruger and the Vortex on the CZ, but the other way around probably wouldn't be bad either. I have to run kind of tall rings on the CZ to keep the bolt from hitting the back of the scope, so a bigger objective looks more natural. If I stuck some medium rings on the Vortex the Vortex would probably fit it just fine too.

I'm thinking my Leupold VX2 may just go on ebay.

 

[Varminterror]

I'd personally flip a coin between the Vortex and the VX2 on the 17HMR, then put the VX3 on the Ruger. I've noted the VX2 to be better class than the Diamondbacks, so despite the advantage of side focus on the Vortex, for a 17HMR, that parallax isn't much of an issue, but the glass quality may be. The VX3 I can be certain is better quality than the Diamondback, as the 4-14x50 VX3 has been a favorite scope of mine for hunting for a few years, so that would take the spot on the centerfire varmint rifle if this list were the only populace of my safe.

 

[gregp74]

Yeah I am leaning towards the VX3I on the Ruger.

I can't really complain about the VX2 or the Diamondback HP. Neither one is perfect but they're good enough. I do like the extra power and the side focus on the Vortex, but I think the Leupold's glass may be a little better. (It's been a while since I've used the Vortex. I really need to look at them side by side.)

I suppose another option is to just sell off both of them and put the money towards something a little better.

 

[cdb1]

Leupold Ruger rings are good to go, so are Ruger OEM rings. I've found the Ruger OEM rings to be a little rougher in the finish dept but it doesn't affect function.

 

[gregp74]

Leupold Ruger rings are good to go, so are Ruger OEM rings. I've found the Ruger OEM rings to be a little rougher in the finish dept but it doesn't affect function.

I ordered both. The Leupolds came the other day and I think the Rugers will be here Thursday. The Leupolds would probably be fine but they only have 2 screws per ring, whereas the Rugers have four. They just seem a little more sturdy.

 

[gregp74]

So I finally got my Ruger mounts today and put my Leupold VX3i on there. Ran into a small problem: I'd like to move the scope back a little bit for correct eye relief, but the front mount is already just about at the end of the tube. Guess I'll be in the market for a longer scope?

 

[Varminterror]

Just get a set of offset Ruger rings. A lot cheaper than a new optic.

I know Leupold makes a 30mm set, not sure if Ruger makes a 30mm set, but I know they make a 1" set, so I'd be prone to bet they make 30's too.

 

[gregp74]

Thanks I'll look into that. I hope I can get Ruger ones. I am sure the Leupolds are good, but only having 1 screw on each side kinda worries me.

 

[Varminterror]

#onescrewringhater #metoo

I'm never a fan of single screw rings. I'm not really a fan of Leupold mounting systems or rings in general either - pretty sure they're a contributor to the arthritis in my elbow from so much lapping! But for the Ruger integral mounts, they're an option. Alaska Arms tends to get my money for Ruger rings.

 

[gregp74]

Agreed not a real big fan of the Leupolds. Great scopes, not so great rings and mounts.

 

[cdb1]

I'm not a fan of Leupold mounts. They do have a legion of fans though. I've mounted more Leupold bases and rings for customers than any other brand. They do work, I've never had a customer with issues that I'm aware of. I also used a set of Leupold Std. on a 30-30 of mine because I needed the coarse windage adjustment to be able to align the scope. In fact if the holes for the bases are drilled off center on a receiver, the Leupold Std. setup is one of the easiest ways to fix the problem.

I have no rational reason for not liking Leupold mounts just like I have no logical reason for not liking the .308 cartridge but I don't. After mounting 20-30 scopes a week for two years I believe the major brands are all good. Talley, Leupold, DNZ, Burris, Weaver, Warne, EGW and I'm sure I've forgotten some. I've settled on EGW bases and Warne rings for my rifles. That doesn't infer they are better, it's just what I like. And though I prefer the look of two piece bases on a bolt action rifle, a one piece picatinny eliminates most mounting problems.

 

[gregp74]

I'm not a fan of Leupold mounts. They do have a legion of fans though. I've mounted more Leupold bases and rings for customers than any other brand. They do work, I've never had a customer with issues that I'm aware of. I also used a set of Leupold Std. on a 30-30 of mine because I needed the coarse windage adjustment to be able to align the scope. In fact if the holes for the bases are drilled off center on a receiver, the Leupold Std. setup is one of the easiest ways to fix the problem.

I have no rational reason for not liking Leupold mounts just like I have no logical reason for not liking the .308 cartridge but I don't. After mounting 20-30 scopes a week for two years I believe the major brands are all good. Talley, Leupold, DNZ, Burris, Weaver, Warne, EGW and I'm sure I've forgotten some. I've settled on EGW bases and Warne rings for my rifles. That doesn't infer they are better, it's just what I like. And though I prefer the look of two piece bases on a bolt action rifle, a one piece picatinny eliminates most mounting problems.

I seem to never be able to hold on to guns. I'll see one in the gun store that catches my eye and I'll end up selling something to make room (and funds) for what I've decided I just have to have. For that reason my scopes end up getting moved around a lot. Most of my rifles now have a picatinny rail. Even if it's not as aesthetically pleasing it's a while lot easer for moving things around.