Mounting handgun scope using Ruger rings

[OldBroad44]

I've just mounted a beautiful new Bushnell Trophy 2-6X handgun scope on my Ruger Super Redhawk 9.5 inch revolver using Ruger scope rings.

I was expecting the two halves of each scope ring to fit snuggly once I snugged them down around the scope tube. But they don't. There is a gap between the two halves of the rings with the screws seeming to be tight. The scope is a 1 inch tube, and the rings are for a 1 inch tube.

Are those gaps between the two halves of each scope ring supposed to be there when the scope is mounted? Should I be tightening the screws more? If a gap is normal, how do I know how hard to tighten the screws? I am reluctant to tighten them more for fear of damaging the scope tube.

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[gunnails]

I bought a torque screw driver to mount my scope, and I also have a small gap.

Edit to add that if you crush the scope by over tightening the rings Bushnell would probably replace it for free, but then you will still have to worry about crushing the new scope. So maybe take it to a gun shop and have them do it for $50 or so.

 

[gunnails]

My Torque screw driver was about $60

 

[OldBroad44]

I bought a torque screw driver to mount my scope, and I also have a small gap.

Edit to add that if you crush the scope by over tightening the rings Bushnell would probably replace it for free, but then you will still have to worry about crushing the new scope. So maybe take it to a gun shop and have them do it for $50 or so.

Were you using Ruger rings?

I've got a neighbor who has every sort of tool. Assuming I can borrow a torque screwdriver, how hard do I tighten the screws?

And is there somewhere that tells me that sort of thing about mounting a scope using Ruger rings? The rings didnt come with any directions. The scope did, but said nothing about that issue.

 

[gunnails]

The instructions for my scope had the torque info (Vortex).

 

[Stomper]

You should use a Wheeler torque "wrench".... Wheeler recommends 15 to 20 in/lbs on standard scope ring screws on the upper halves.

Hope that helps.

 

[Kruel J]

The gap is normal. Every brand of scope ring I've ever had including Ruger has a slight gap in between the halves. This is to accommodate scope tubes that may be out of spec by a few thousands here and there. They never clamp down without a small gap.

 

[OldBroad44]

Thanks Stomper, Kruel J, and gunnails. I just ordered a Wheeler torque "wrench" from Amazon. Figure I need one of my own.

Carol

 

[Stomper]

Thanks Stomper, Kruel J, and gunnails. I just ordered a Wheeler torque "wrench" from Amazon. Figure I need one of my own.

Carol

Money well spent, smart move! If you are working with scopes and mounts, then you really should have some way to accurately set the torque, and it applies to other "gun-smithy" aspects as well.