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Help with ring mount for Ruger American Rimfire

Started by GTEngineer, March 29, 2019, 08:53:29 PM

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GTEngineer

March 29, 2019, 08:53:29 PM
Ok, this is my first time mounting a ring without the Ruger base.  I have a RAR that has the pre-machined in cut in the receiver for a ring mount to clamp into.  According to the Ruger manual, it is a 3/8" dovetail.

So, I went online and bought this (https://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-22-rimfire-no-tap-ring-mounts.html?_iv_code=LU-RR-RING-22RIM-54289), item LU-RR-RING-22RIM-54289 specifically since it is a 3/8" mount.  Thinking that I can just clamp it onto the machined in dovetail in the receiver and I'm GTG.

However now that I have the mount, it doesn't appear to fit at all.  Am I missing something?  Isn't the mount supposed to be able to clamp right into that dovetail without having to buy a base?  I wanted to avoid the base to keep the sight height lower.
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;..."
Ecclesiastes 9:10

1st Appleseed: Nov 16/17, 2013. Gurley, AL
2nd Appleseed IIT0: April 19, 2014.  Rising Fawn, GA

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ArmyVet

#1
March 29, 2019, 10:14:19 PM
I don't mean this to be insulting... but did you try to unscrew it a bit farther? The more that screw comes out, the more space is available to go onto the dovetail. Might have to take it out completely.
The difference between a novice and a master: the novice does it until they get it right. The master does it until they can't get it wrong.

GTEngineer

#2
March 29, 2019, 10:46:50 PM
Quote from: ArmyVet1969 on March 29, 2019, 10:14:19 PM
I don't mean this to be insulting... but did you try to unscrew it a bit farther? The more that screw comes out, the more space is available to go onto the dovetail. Might have to take it out completely.

No worries, I unscrewed it all the way to where the screw would fall out if I went another thread further.  It doesn't look like there is enough depth for it to grab onto the dovetail on both sides.  Like I said, I'm used to using a one piece base mount and mount the rings onto that, but since this thing is already pre-machined with a dovetail I wanted to mount right to that dovetail on the receiver.
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;..."
Ecclesiastes 9:10

1st Appleseed: Nov 16/17, 2013. Gurley, AL
2nd Appleseed IIT0: April 19, 2014.  Rising Fawn, GA

KD:
May 24/25, 2015. Manchester TN

RFKD:
Aug 20/21, 2022. Bothell WA

Requal:
Sept 30, 2017 Custer, WA
Feb 9, 2020 Redmond, WA
Apr 11, 2021 Redmond WA

Pistoleer:
Nov 23, 2019 Eagle Creek, OR

Pistoleer requal:
May 22, 2021 Parma, ID
Mar 12, 2023 Redmond, WA

NRA Rifle Instructor

ArmyVet

#3
March 29, 2019, 10:56:24 PM
I would take the screw all the way out. Then position the ring pieces on the rail and try to insert the screw. If that doesn't work, then the width of the rail exceeds the maximum possible opening of the base on the rings? That is something I would have never even considered to be an issue. I always assumed it was an industry standard.
The difference between a novice and a master: the novice does it until they get it right. The master does it until they can't get it wrong.

Manly Man

#4
March 30, 2019, 12:22:35 AM
Sorry to say, but those rings will NOT work with the Ruger American Rimfire.  The 3/8" groves are cut into a round receiver, but those rings are for a 3/8" grove on a flat surface (like on the old 10/22 style scope mount).

Optics Planet Review about this issue.

Years ago, Ruger said they were going to put out a list of rings that would work with the rifle's dovetail.  I've never seen the list, nor found a link to one.  They probably figured out it would be a nightmare to compile and maintain.

You will need to find rings that will mount to a round receiver.  I've seen this called high crown or arched.  Those are fine rings for a fine rifle, but they aren't going to play nice together.  :-\

Nashville Stage

#5
March 30, 2019, 12:21:01 PM
I can't speak to the issue of the round receiver, but try removing the screw & rotating the clamping piece 180°. The hooked edges appear to be different lengths on each side, and it looks like the longer edge is part of what's holding you up. I've seen that feature on other rings, where it can fit both the wider 3/8" American and narrower 11mm Euro dovetails.
"There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary, and those who don't."

GTEngineer

#6
March 30, 2019, 01:55:33 PM
Quote from: Manly Man on March 30, 2019, 12:22:35 AM
Sorry to say, but those rings will NOT work with the Ruger American Rimfire.  The 3/8" groves are cut into a round receiver, but those rings are for a 3/8" grove on a flat surface (like on the old 10/22 style scope mount).

Optics Planet Review about this issue.

Years ago, Ruger said they were going to put out a list of rings that would work with the rifle's dovetail.  I've never seen the list, nor found a link to one.  They probably figured out it would be a nightmare to compile and maintain.

You will need to find rings that will mount to a round receiver.  I've seen this called high crown or arched.  Those are fine rings for a fine rifle, but they aren't going to play nice together.  :-\

Yea this appears to be the case, guess I'll have to spring for a scope mount base so the rings can clamp onto something without such a large curvature...... was hoping to get it sighted in this weekend, oh well.
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;..."
Ecclesiastes 9:10

1st Appleseed: Nov 16/17, 2013. Gurley, AL
2nd Appleseed IIT0: April 19, 2014.  Rising Fawn, GA

KD:
May 24/25, 2015. Manchester TN

RFKD:
Aug 20/21, 2022. Bothell WA

Requal:
Sept 30, 2017 Custer, WA
Feb 9, 2020 Redmond, WA
Apr 11, 2021 Redmond WA

Pistoleer:
Nov 23, 2019 Eagle Creek, OR

Pistoleer requal:
May 22, 2021 Parma, ID
Mar 12, 2023 Redmond, WA

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GTEngineer

#7
March 30, 2019, 01:56:39 PM
Quote from: Nashville Stage on March 30, 2019, 12:21:01 PM
I can't speak to the issue of the round receiver, but try removing the screw & rotating the clamping piece 180°. The hooked edges appear to be different lengths on each side, and it looks like the longer edge is part of what's holding you up. I've seen that feature on other rings, where it can fit both the wider 3/8" American and narrower 11mm Euro dovetails.

The clamp can be rotated 180 degrees but the dovetail INSIDE the ring base where the top of the clamp would clamp to is actually a slightly smaller dovetail, so flipping it around 180 degrees would've caused the rings to end up crooked.  Thanks for the suggestion though.
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;..."
Ecclesiastes 9:10

1st Appleseed: Nov 16/17, 2013. Gurley, AL
2nd Appleseed IIT0: April 19, 2014.  Rising Fawn, GA

KD:
May 24/25, 2015. Manchester TN

RFKD:
Aug 20/21, 2022. Bothell WA

Requal:
Sept 30, 2017 Custer, WA
Feb 9, 2020 Redmond, WA
Apr 11, 2021 Redmond WA

Pistoleer:
Nov 23, 2019 Eagle Creek, OR

Pistoleer requal:
May 22, 2021 Parma, ID
Mar 12, 2023 Redmond, WA

NRA Rifle Instructor

Charles McKinley

#8
March 31, 2019, 12:29:49 AM
Sorry, not an answer to your question but this is the mount I used for my RAR.

http://egwguns.com/ruger-american-rimfire/
Last evening, it occurred to me that when a defender of Liberty is called home, their load lands upon the shoulders of the defenders left behind. Just as the Founders did their duty for Liberty, every subsequent generation must continue their work lest Liberty perish. As there is no way for the remaining adults to take on the work of those that die, we must pass the ideals and duties on to the children. -PHenery

airplanejoe

#9
March 31, 2019, 09:36:59 AM
GTE, I had a similar situation with a CZ (metric equivalent of a 3/8 in dovetail). The solution was to "slide" the rings onto the dovetail from one of the ends; then mount the scope to the already installed rings. Try it, I think it will work.
aj

airplanejoe

#10
March 31, 2019, 10:09:10 AM
GTE, I just took a look to my rifle. The top of the dovetails are flat, so my fix might not work with your ruger, but its worth a try. If it does work, be careful you don't end with a small built in cant. Good luck!!
aj

MCZplus

#11
April 02, 2019, 01:53:42 PM
Just looked at the pictures. It looks to me like a Weaver dovetail rather than a 3/8"_11mm. I think the Weaver design is a little wider than the 3/8"_11mm on my CZ512
Mike AKA MCZplus
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Tennessee Beast

#12
April 02, 2019, 03:11:20 PM
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GTEngineer

#13
April 02, 2019, 11:14:06 PM
thanks for everyone's feedback, looks like the curvature of the top of the receiver is too much for a standard 3/8" mount to clamp into.  That's very unfortunate since Ruger's literature were pushing the "built in 3/8" dovetail".

I ended up buying a set of weaver #12 mounts and have new rings coming to go with them.  At least I'm able to return the rings back to opticsplanet for store credit towards another set of glass for the future.....
"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;..."
Ecclesiastes 9:10

1st Appleseed: Nov 16/17, 2013. Gurley, AL
2nd Appleseed IIT0: April 19, 2014.  Rising Fawn, GA

KD:
May 24/25, 2015. Manchester TN

RFKD:
Aug 20/21, 2022. Bothell WA

Requal:
Sept 30, 2017 Custer, WA
Feb 9, 2020 Redmond, WA
Apr 11, 2021 Redmond WA

Pistoleer:
Nov 23, 2019 Eagle Creek, OR

Pistoleer requal:
May 22, 2021 Parma, ID
Mar 12, 2023 Redmond, WA

NRA Rifle Instructor
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