Windage Adjustable Scope Rings

[MuttCat]

I have a 22 cal rifle that was drilled and tapped for a scope mount. It turns out that the drilling was a small bit off...I ran out of windage adjustment on the scope. I messed around with it for a while and no doubt about it, the mount is not completely parallel to the axis of the bore. Rather than shimming anything, or plugging and redrilling, I ordered a set of Weaver windage adjustable rings that should do the job. Anybody have any experience with these things?

 

[tony]

No experience with those rings. In theory they should work. Probably more than adequate for a .22. However, I would think once zeroed if you wanted to remove scope from bases you would need to make sure you loosen only one side clamp of each ring. If you loosened both side clamps your zero would be lost and you would have to start from scratch.

I like the looks of the Grand Slam although a little more money. Give us a report on what you purchased.

 

[northny]

I have twice used windage adjustable rings in situation similar to yours. One was a savage 99 in 300 savage that was home drilled and tapped a bit off ( not by me).

Two things I did to make that one come out right. First I used a six foot piece of straight 1/2” aluminum rod to get the rings adjusted right. I put the rings on (no scope) and put the rod thru the rings (balanced for and aft) and let the rod settle in the rings. Looking at the rifle from behind (ignore the stock as it is likely offset) I could see how I needed to adjust rings to get aluminum rod to line up over the barrel.

That done it is really important to lap the scope rings so the rings don’t pinch the tube of the scope.

I won’t take credit for the solution. I read it in Brownells GunSmith Kinks book in the 80s. I believe the gunsmith was Rus(?) Carpenter who had a shop 10 or 15 miles outside Newburgh. I only remember as I had been in the shop as a young man.

 

[Tisto]

I used a set of Millett adjustable rings in a similar situation. It's important to get the alignment set right and to lap the rings as stated above. It's a must to entirely degrease the rings and screws, and then use a high quality permanent thread lock when you assemble everything.

 

[MuttCat]

Shopping around, I found Weaver, Millet, and Burris make rings that are adjustable. The Weaver rings were the least expensive...not Grand Slam though. And it turned out I had a set of the Millet Angle Locs, but they are some kind of weird silver color. The Burris rings use plastic inserts which have to be purchased separately. Nice but pricey.

So apparently the Weavers need to be adjusted by tightening or loosening the base screws, side to side. I've got a laser boresighter that sticks to the end of the muzzle, and it will have to be turned on and sighted through the scope.

The rifle has been a bit of project. It was a CMP purchase, kind of a mess, didn't eject, and it's been years since I fooled with it. Supposedly there will be no lapping involved as the adjustment looks like it should be minimal.

 

[northny]

If you are not going to lap rings I wouldn’t put an expensive scope on it.

 

[MuttCat]

The rings arrived, they do not qualify as "pretty" but it seems that they will do the job. One good thing so far is that the scope sits a little bit lower now. I didn't get to boresight the rig as it was raining, again......

This wet weather this summer is crazy.

 

[tony]

A little late, just thought of it. Leupold has windage adjustable bases. They are a little pricey but work well.

 

[MuttCat]

A little late, just thought of it. Leupold has windage adjustable bases. They are a little pricey but work well.

They would not work on this rifle. It's an old Mossberg bolt gun and the scope mount is a custom item from Havlin's. The mount accepts Weaver style rings, and I suppose Picatinny stuff as well. It's said that these rifles are super accurate. Bull barrel and hand lapped bore. The thing is very heavy. Paid $50.00 at the time, bought five of them, this is the last one.

 

[tony]

I hope the rings work out for you and that your rifle is an accurate one. Be sure to give a report on the rings. They look like they should work well.