Scope Ring Height Questions

[Dave H]

I may be making this too difficult, but I thought I'd ask you guys anyway. I recently bought a M77 Hawkeye in .308 Winchester from another forum member. It's a left handed version if that makes any difference. Ruger ships #5 and #4 scope rings with the rifle and their online application chart says that these are correct for the rifle for up to a 42mm (44mm maybe...can't remember) objective lens diameter. I'm trying to mount a simple Bushnell Elite 3500 4-12 x 40mm scope with a 1" tube. Mocked up with the factory supplied rings, the scope sat way too high to suit me. I like 'em mounted as low and close to the bore as possible. I ordered a #3 ring to use on the front and moved the #4 ring to the rear. This lowered the objective end of the scope down satisfactorily, but it still seems like the eyepiece end is unnecessarily high. Am I crazy? Too picky? I've got a few other, older, M77s and I don't notice this with any of them. Can the same ring be used on the front and rear positions on a M77 without running out of adjustment? Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks guys!

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Hi that is the correct combination it is as low as you can go the higher ring goes to the rear

Gramps

 

[22/45 Fan]

Unlike all other rifles I've worked on, Ruger requires two different scope ring heights on their M77 actions. If your objective is now at a satisfactory height, using a #3 rear ring will probably make the scope sit too low at the ocular end and be impossible to zero. Try it but don't be surprised if it doesn't work.

 

[rugerjunkie]

If you use same height rings on a 77 and tighten everything down you will at minimum marr up the scope tube. The scope will basically be forced to bend some in order to tighten the rings down and id guess you'll ruin the scope in a few rounds. And as for the running out of adjustment question...probably. Id be suprised if you even got it on paper if using equal hieght rings. If your bell is just off the barrel , the eyepiece is what it is.

Another thought if you say the eyepiece is unusually high...do you have the right rings in the right position to start with??

 

[Dave H]

If you use same height rings on a 77 and tighten everything down you will at minimum marr up the scope tube. The scope will basically be forced to bend some in order to tighten the rings down and id guess you'll ruin the scope in a few rounds. And as for the running out of adjustment question...probably. Id be suprised if you even got it on paper if using equal hieght rings. If your bell is just off the barrel , the eyepiece is what it is.

Thanks. I was fairly confident that I couldn't use the same rings on both ends. I think the eyepiece is just gonna be where the eyepiece is gonna be.

Another thought if you say the eyepiece is unusually high...do you have the right rings in the right position to start with??

Yeah, they're in the right position. I just moved the #4 ring that Ruger ships with the rifle to the rear and bought a #3 ring for the front. If I was using a scope with a 44mm objective, the included rings probably would have been fine. But, with only a 40mm objective, it put it way too high for my taste. The #3 in front drops it down right over the barrel such as it ought to be...at least to my way of thinking. If I had about a #3-1/2 ring for the back...it would be just about perfect!