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rimfire scope rings

1.4K views 21 replies 15 participants last post by  gcrank1  
#1 ·
I have recently turned into a rimfire nerd and have been trying alot of different scope rings on different rifles. I am determined to use a groove ring mount when possible to keep things simple and costs down. Most of them seem to not be a perfect solution. One of the 1st I tried was BKL. Seemed to be a perfect solution, until they slipped on a 11mm groove using 22wmr. They seem fine for 22LR but very high in most cases. Tried Talley, they dont slip the groove with 22wmr, but are expensive and heavy. The old Weaver with slotted screws on one side only of the cap seemed to work better than expected. Warne 721 rings seem to hold tight using 22wmr and are available in just about every sporting goods store locally, but low is not offered. Warne vapor low seem to be my favorites for 22LR. Burris are not sold locally where I live, and Leupolds just seem to expensive.
 
#6 ·
The nominal standard 3/8" and 11mm rails are quite close (they are measured in diff places) at the peak width point but the angle to the depth of the dovetail is different. Some ringsets have a reversible plate supposedly to account for that, ime it is a marginal solution, but do check yours for such a feature.
Clean and dry! Both rail and ringsets.....and a torque screwdriver would be your friend.
I went to air rifle type rings with the dbl screw bases to really clamp down and they also have 4 screw caps. The 'locating lug' in the underside of one is removable, mine screwed out easily.
 
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#7 ·
Rimfire rings are actually pretty complicated. Nominal 3/8” means approximately. Fitting grooved receivers can sometimes involve the angle of the surfaces that mate between the receivers and the gripping parts of the rings as well as the clearance between the bottom of the ring and the top of the receiver. There also can be challenges with the radius or lack thereof on the bottom of the ring.
I learned all this as a collector of Kimber of Oregon rifles that have 11mm grooves to mount scope rings on. There’s really only about 2-3 brands of rings that actually fit them.
 
#11 ·
The Burris Signature series are a nice choice, but I just bought a set of them, but I had to look all over the place to get one. More than normal most of the time those rings were everywhere not this time. I have used Weaver Grand Slam, Simmons and Burris rings on most of my rimfire collections: Marlin, Savage, Ruger and CZ rifles. Good luck on getting what you need. (y)

Signalman 🚦
 
#17 ·
I like to do things differently. Not always a good habit to get into. o_O 😁
I use Leupold steel low rings on 11 MM rails since around the late 70's. No, they will not clamp good, but a shim, aluminum, brass, etc. will cure that. I place it between the ring clamp and the rail then torque the clamp screw to 30"lbs. I've had that setup on a KDF K22 since the late 70's and to this day I have never changed the scope zero. I prefer a good solid cheek weld which generally only low rings will give me. The Leupold rings have been a buy once, cry once setup for me, plus they are very nice looking ring.
Lately I decided to follow trend with adding a picatinny rail to a CZ 457 which I did not like because even with a low ring and 0 moa it still was not low enough for me, then add to that you couldn't open the bolt because the bolt handle hit the ring. I went back to my old setup and now all is well. (y)
 
#18 ·
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I have recently turned into a rimfire nerd and have been trying alot of different scope rings on different rifles. I am determined to use a groove ring mount when possible to keep things simple and costs down. Most of them seem to not be a perfect solution. One of the 1st I tried was BKL. Seemed to be a perfect solution, until they slipped on a 11mm groove using 22wmr. They seem fine for 22LR but very high in most cases. Tried Talley, they dont slip the groove with 22wmr, but are expensive and heavy. The old Weaver with slotted screws on one side only of the cap seemed to work better than expected. Warne 721 rings seem to hold tight using 22wmr and are available in just about every sporting goods store locally, but low is not offered. Warne vapor low seem to be my favorites for 22LR. Burris are not sold locally where I live, and Leupolds just seem to expensive.


I use BKL (US) and Sportsmatch (UK) but much prefer the latter.

You said low, so this is what you need:



I have the low but mine is the single screw version, although height is the same as the one in the link.

For LOW 1” Sportsmatch

Clearance to ground: 2.5mm
Scope bell size: 41mm

For MEDIUM 1” Sportsmatch

Clearance to ground: 9mm
Scope bell size: 41mm

Scopes are both 3-9x32 (32mm is the OD of the lens, not the objective bell’s) Clearidge with AO, obviously.
 
#22 ·
I just this week mounted up a scope on a Rem 510X with the receiver grooves. The ring set is an unknown origin from my bins with a single base screw and the clamp plate (likely came with something in the past).
I could not get the plate to clamp tight enough. Close inspection showed the plate was actually bottoming out on the base before enough clamp pressure could be applied to the clamp in the groove. Some judicious filing of the face of the base solved that at least for this in 22LR, I would be doubtful about 22Mag.
I really should toss these in the junk bin but they are giving me a trial with this project.