Scope Mount curse

[Guest Longshot1]

Posted up a problem the other day around stuck bolt on The Mini 30. Excellent response and problem cured. Another problem. I seem to be cursed when it comes to scope mounting. I mounted a 40MM scope on the Mini 30 using new Ruger factory high rings. Had to go to the high rings to get front end of scope high enough to clear heat shield. Thought I would have problems with enough elevation adjustment but it hit spot on right in the middle of the adjustment range. Not true with the windage. I am out of adjustment and still way left of center of cross hair at 50 yds. Probably 6-8 MOA. The factory Ruger rings have the cam lobe arrangement so all I can do is switch rings front to back and tried that, no difference. The scope is a Simmons 4x12x40mm ProSport. Not high dollar but decent. I had it on a .22 and did not have problems getting it dialed in. makes me think it is not the scope. Any suggestions?

[DaveTN]

Is the mini 30 receiver slotted with the rings clamping directly to It., or are you using a mount attached to the receiver?

If you swapped the rings front to back without rotating them and it still shot left, then the rings are not in line with the barrel. If one of the rings was off center it would switch directions when you swapped them.

If it has a mount; I would say the mount is not straight. Assuming of course it’s not the scope.

[mikegideon]

Posted up a problem the other day around stuck bolt on The Mini 30. Excellent response and problem cured. Another problem. I seem to be cursed when it comes to scope mounting. I mounted a 40MM scope on the Mini 30 using new Ruger factory high rings. Had to go to the high rings to get front end of scope high enough to clear heat shield. Thought I would have problems with enough elevation adjustment but it hit spot on right in the middle of the adjustment range. Not true with the windage. I am out of adjustment and still way left of center of cross hair at 50 yds. Probably 6-8 MOA. The factory Ruger rings have the cam lobe arrangement so all I can do is switch rings front to back and tried that, no difference. The scope is a Simmons 4x12x40mm ProSport. Not high dollar but decent. I had it on a .22 and did not have problems getting it dialed in. makes me think it is not the scope. Any suggestions?

I would bounce this one off the guys at Ruger. I'm not a fan of the Ruger rings, but haven't had a problem dialing a scope in. You need to make sure that you mount the rings on the rifle first, and make sure they're seated on both sides of the clamp when you tighten them. Then, lock the threads with loctite or clear nail polish. I had one shake loose.

Since the clamp part is rounded, it's possible to really mess up the windage if the rings are already on the scope.

[Guest Longshot1]

I am using the Ruger factory rings with integral bases. The scope mounts are the factory pads milled into the receiver. I did not use a rail mounted to the receiver as that was just another bolted joint that I tried to avoid. I mounted the rings to the gun first then the scope to the rings. You can't rotate the rings due to the half moon locating cam but I did swap front to back. Same result. I have cleaned the milled indentions in the receiver where the clamps seat and I have loosened up all the connections and re-tightened in reverse and random pattern with no luck. The gun had low rings and a cheapie scope when I got it and it was dead nuts! I will keep noodling on it.

[mikegideon]

I am using the Ruger factory rings with integral bases. The scope mounts are the factory pads milled into the receiver. I did not use a rail mounted to the receiver as that was just another bolted joint that I tried to avoid. I mounted the rings to the gun first then the scope to the rings. You can't rotate the rings due to the half moon locating cam but I did swap front to back. Same result. I have cleaned the milled indentions in the receiver where the clamps seat and I have loosened up all the connections and re-tightened in reverse and random pattern with no luck. The gun had low rings and a cheapie scope when I got it and it was dead nuts! I will keep noodling on it.

I'm using the same setup with the rings that came with the rifle. If you still have the cheesey scope, can you stick it in the new rings and see if it dials in? How does it look on a bore sighter?

[Guest Longshot1]

I am using the laser cartridge. I have used it with my AK47 and this gun with good results before. I gave the old scope away but will wait and borrow something decent to try. I think changing scopes is the best suggestion. The only thing I haven't doneis rotate the scope in the saddles 90 and 180 degrees to see if the sight point and laser point change relationship. Got to mow now so will try that later. Could use this as an excuse to go to the gun(candy) shop but wife says MOW!!!

[mikegideon]

I am using the laser cartridge. I have used it with my AK47 and this gun with good results before. I gave the old scope away but will wait and borrow something decent to try. I think changing scopes is the best suggestion. The only thing I haven't doneis rotate the scope in the saddles 90 and 180 degrees to see if the sight point and laser point change relationship. Got to mow now so will try that later. Could use this as an excuse to go to the gun(candy) shop but wife says MOW!!!

Hard to believe it's the scope, but swapping glass would isolate the problem to the rings. Simmons scopes aren't the best, but they usually work.

[Oh Shoot]

Hard to believe it's the scope, but swapping glass would isolate the problem to the rings. Simmons scopes aren't the best, but they usually work.

Yeah, dunno what's up with your prob. High rise shouldn't have anything to do with windage limitation, wouldn't think.

I've been using a no name (too cheap to even say "made in China") 3-9x40 on my Mini 14, seems to do okay, although I think the reticule may actually be losing index sometimes.

Anyway, these are just the standard Ruger rings shipped with the Mini, not high rise AFAIK, and yet the 40mm objective end clears everything.

One thing with cheap scopes you probably have noticed - you can get either adjustment turned too far for it to actually work logically anymore and you have to go back the opposite way you want to adjust for it to "catch up".

I don't know beans about all this like MikeGideon does, but I sure would borrow a scope before I went further with diagnostics, myself.

- OS

Edited May 29, 2010 by OhShoot

[Guest Longshot1]

I appreciate all the advice. Nothing has worked yet. I turned the scope in the rings just to see if relationship between objective and crosshairs changed but it didn't. The rings are the 1.062" that come standard on the new Mini 30's I have seen. I went to them because the POS scope has the big rubber ring around the objective lense for the distance adjustment. I am beginning to believe the bores of the rings are off center from the mounts on the rifle. It's all Ruger stuff and they were sure proud of the rings! Probably will just go back to the orignal rings and a 3x9x30mm. Would like to have a Leupold Rifleman or similar. been looking at the Redfield anyway. One more thing, Mike or others who might have a Mini 30. I know the rifle is not touted as being real accurate and the round is not either, what kind of 100yd group have you seen and what mfg. has been better? I am shooting the cheap Chinese stuff now but will be looking for something other than FMJ for coyotes.

[mikegideon]

I appreciate all the advice. Nothing has worked yet. I turned the scope in the rings just to see if relationship between objective and crosshairs changed but it didn't. The rings are the 1.062" that come standard on the new Mini 30's I have seen. I went to them because the POS scope has the big rubber ring around the objective lense for the distance adjustment. I am beginning to believe the bores of the rings are off center from the mounts on the rifle. It's all Ruger stuff and they were sure proud of the rings! Probably will just go back to the orignal rings and a 3x9x30mm. Would like to have a Leupold Rifleman or similar. been looking at the Redfield anyway. One more thing, Mike or others who might have a Mini 30. I know the rifle is not touted as being real accurate and the round is not either, what kind of 100yd group have you seen and what mfg. has been better? I am shooting the cheap Chinese stuff now but will be looking for something other than FMJ for coyotes.

I would hit Ruger up for replacement rings. They're good folks.

I have a Mini14 with a 16" barrel and an Accustrut. I'm getting 1.5" groups at 100 yards right now. Not sure how the mini 30 measures up to that. The late generation Minis are pretty decent, but you need to put yours in a rest and see how it does.

I have a Leupold VX-1 2-7 power on my mini right now, and have been kicking myself for not getting a 3-9. I have a Rifleman 3-9 sitting on another rifle, and will probably swap it to the Mini. I like the Rifleman scopes.

I would think even an FMJ in that caliber would blow a serious hole in a yote. You must hate those things more than I do

The Mini fanatics hang out on perfectunion.com. All the art, science, voodoo, and bs you can stand

[Guest Longshot1]

Thanks Mike. I would say the .223 is a bit more accurate. When I hit a yote i want explosions. They killed one of my Plott's a couple of weeks ago. Getting bad when you can't let your animals out of your sight. Do I need to just contact Ruger off their webiste?

[mikegideon]

Thanks Mike. I would say the .223 is a bit more accurate. When I hit a yote i want explosions. They killed one of my Plott's a couple of weeks ago. Getting bad when you can't let your animals out of your sight. Do I need to just contact Ruger off their webiste?

I think so. I've never had to use their customer service, but have never heard anything but good

[Guest Longshot1]

Thanks much for the feedback and i will post up any results of the contact with Ruger.

[Guest Longshot1]

Took me a while to get back to working on the problem. Called Ruger and they were nice but had very little to add to what the replies to the thread suggested. They did offer to replace the high rings all I need to do is ship them back. Wanted to try the gun this weekend so I bought another scope. 3x9x40mm Bushnell Trophy that was marked down at Dick's and i had a 10 buck off coupon so i left with it. This scope clears the gun with the lower rings so i went back to them. Same issue. All the windage adjusted out and the gun shoots 6" to the left at 50 yards. I need the name and number of a reliable gunsmith in the Maryville area to take it to. I have spent $180 on it and I need a pro. Thanks for any replies.

[Oh Shoot]

One more thought.

There was a run of bad scope base milling at some point. The "scallops" that are cut out. Are they consistent on front and back mounts?

I've seen a pic of the bade ones, but can't find the thread on perfectunion.com.

The bad ones weren't perfect "half moon" shapes, but were sort of incomplete on one side of the arch.

Remember reading that quite a few had to go back to Ruger to get them recut.

- OS

[Guest Longshot1]

I hate to be whipped by one of these gremlin type problems. Burned some more powder working with it last night. I removed scope and rings. Sighted in at 50 yds. with the iron sights. My old eyes are paying for that this morning. The front sight doesn't really have a good reference on it, i guess these rifles are more lead slingers than anything, but using the lead sled I was able to get on the paper and in the bull with decent consistency. I have not measured the offset I had to dial in the rear sight but it is skewed to the right by a good bit which is consistent in my mind with the problem in the scope running out of windage adjustment and still shooting to the left. The rear sight is set to the last increment line above center which seems to take up for shooting low?? While still aimed at center of target with iron sights I sand bagged the gun and set the scope rings back on and lightly snugged them down and layed the scope in the rings without tightening. Low and behold with all scope adjustments centered it was way low and way right. I am talking 16-18 MOA at 50yds!. I can't get that kind of adjustment out of the scope. Granted tightening everything down would change it some but I think it is safe to say I have a problem with the gun or I am just running out of talent trying to get it to sight in. OhShoot I am going to go over to the website you mentioned and throw this out. Thanks for the reply.

[mikegideon]

I hate to be whipped by one of these gremlin type problems. Burned some more powder working with it last night. I removed scope and rings. Sighted in at 50 yds. with the iron sights. My old eyes are paying for that this morning. The front sight doesn't really have a good reference on it, i guess these rifles are more lead slingers than anything, but using the lead sled I was able to get on the paper and in the bull with decent consistency. I have not measured the offset I had to dial in the rear sight but it is skewed to the right by a good bit which is consistent in my mind with the problem in the scope running out of windage adjustment and still shooting to the left. The rear sight is set to the last increment line above center which seems to take up for shooting low?? While still aimed at center of target with iron sights I sand bagged the gun and set the scope rings back on and lightly snugged them down and layed the scope in the rings without tightening. Low and behold with all scope adjustments centered it was way low and way right. I am talking 16-18 MOA at 50yds!. I can't get that kind of adjustment out of the scope. Granted tightening everything down would change it some but I think it is safe to say I have a problem with the gun or I am just running out of talent trying to get it to sight in. OhShoot I am going to go over to the website you mentioned and throw this out. Thanks for the reply.

Wow. I would be inclined to ship that thing to Ruger.

[Guest Longshot1]

It has definitely tried my patience. I am thinking the worst and hoping that i am just missing something.

[mikegideon]

It has definitely tried my patience. I am thinking the worst and hoping that i am just missing something.

I think you've narrowed it down to the gun. Ruger is probably going to be easier on your wallet, especially if it requires a barrel.

[Alleycat72]

Burris 1" Signature Zee Weaver-Style Rings Matte High - MidwayUSA

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MidwayUSA - Advanced Search

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Ruger to weaver conversion.

[Oh Shoot]

As per my previous post, I found the links to the (possible) problem:

41 Days later... - PerfectUnion BBS

Got an E Mail From The Head Ruger Engineer - PerfectUnion BBS

Something to check.

Seems the front one is usually the bad one, and yeah folks first noticed the prob when they couldn't zero their scopes.

- OS

[mikegideon]

As per my previous post, I found the links to the (possible) problem:

41 Days later... - PerfectUnion BBS

Got an E Mail From The Head Ruger Engineer - PerfectUnion BBS

Something to check.

Seems the front one is usually the bad one, and yeah folks first noticed the prob when they couldn't zero their scopes.

- OS

Your noggin OK?

[Oh Shoot]

Your noggin OK?

Yeah, thanks...outside ok, quite minor wound, probably not even leave a scar.

Inside was already scrambled.

- OS

[Guest Longshot1]

OhShoot, Thanks for the links. The milling for the ring clamp on my receiver looks exactly like the "before pics". The depth of the end mill plunge is way to shallow which isn't allowing the scope ring to pull down all the way. It leaves it skewed to the left hence making me run out of windage adjustment to the right. I am going to e-mail Ruger but I think some light massaging of the ring and mount I can get mine straightened out myself. I did not buy the gun new so i don't know what their policy will be on making it right at the factory.

[mikegideon]

I would bet money that they will fix it at no cost. It's worth a call to them. I would rather eat sand than send any of my guns off, but I would in this case.