How to Mount Ruger Scope Rings ~ Mini-14 or any others 

The problem lies in not mating the rings the exact distance from each other, so one fights the other. After just a few shots, the tug of war between them is over and they loosen. Thank you for your support.

I’ll have to do this as well. Do you deal with a lot of failures to eject with that set up?

Well ballpark we're in on costs for that just curious you don't have to be exact

Thank you for that support!

Your problem has been with using non-original magazines, not with the gun. Ruger has addressed the accuracy issues with the heavier barrel, which requires no added features.

Picatinny rails have a following for folks who swap stuff, especially.

Notice no part of the directions from Ruger recommend smashing the scope rings with a hammer for some crazy reason. Therefore it’s best to avoid doing what was shown in this video if you’re interested in properly mounting an optic.

If you want to see a butchered job, fast forward to 4:15 and see what it looks like when you have no idea how to install Ruger scope rings. Note in the Ruger manual “smack the rings around with a mallet” is never mentioned once.

@@rifleshooterchannel208 I'll take the skills, experience and expertise of GunBlue, over an owner's manual. In your car's owner's manual what does it list for torque specs ? Probably doesn't, but guess what, there's not a single bolt, screw or nut on a car that doesn't have one.

@@jk-kr8jt Not sure what torque specs have to do with me mentioning that smashing scope rings with a mallet isn’t proper scope mounting procedure, but whatever helps you cope 😂

@@rifleshooterchannel208 the point is, as stated, not everything is in the owner's manual. You can mount your scopes any way you'd like. Crazy glue and/or duct tape is not recommended, but hey to each their own.

@@jk-kr8jt So you’re saying smacking the scope rings with a mallet is a good technique?

It's a true GI Garand style cotton web sling made by Tech Sights for one inch swivels. It's perfectly scaled for Mini-14 and Ruger 10/22 rifles, and works exactly like a 1.25" cotton Garand sling. I did a special video regarding the Garand sling a few years ago that describes how to weave it.

Bench rest shooters only shoot ten consecutive shots, and they do it in ten minutes. If your rifle is accurate for 15 consecutive shots, it's not the rifle that's wandering. It's the target. Heat from the barrel, including the emission from the bore, causes refraction of light that bends the target image up, left, right, and even down, depending on air currents that move the vapor. The target isn't where you are shooting. Bench rest shooters all shoot identically accurate rifles, but spend a lifetime learning to read wind and mirage, which is what separates the men from the boys, or the ladies from the girls, if you will. If a rifle has accuracy problems, it doesn't wait for 15 shots to show it. What sort of target need 15 accurate rounds?

@@GunBlue490 That is the biggest piece of Fuddlore insanity I’ve ever read on your channel.

@@GunBlue490 I would like to see this tested

Then do your own video.

@@kennethlukes1897 There's already videos showing how to do it. There's even descriptions on forums for people who learn better that way.

@@Prepare2Survive let’s see it

@@waylonlegend4603 New youtube rules prohibit showing mounting anything to a firearm because they are claiming you're " modifying " the gun and that's not allowed on youtube anymore. There's probably forums that explain how it's done. It's not very hard to understand. You're essentially just making sure the rifle is level then shine a flashlight going backwards through the scope on the lowest power and you'll see the crosshairs projected onto the wall where you can hang a plum line so you can twist the scope so the crosshairs are parallel with the plum line and then just tighten down the scope rings.

The minimum and maximum eye relief range is the same at any magnification. Simply adjust the distance so your eye is positioned in the center of that range when the eyepiece is focussed..

Thank you, Andrew

It certainly might. The rifle design was intended for combat with supplied peep sights. When I mount a scope, it's a one shot affair.

I use the ruger supplied rings and have no problems with the ejected rounds. At least I didn't until the government here made my gun illegal to use.

No, I didn't use higher rings. Those are the original height rings that Ruger supplies in the box with all Mini-14 rifles. This is simply a mounting demonstration, using a spare scope I have on hand that I use for ammo testing. I would never have any reason to mount or recommend such a cumbersome scope on this rifle. The more important concern is to provide adequate clearance for brass ejection, so that cases don't collide and jam the bolt.

They are the rings supplied by Ruger as standard equipment, which are medium height.

Personally, I prefer a 1-4 or similar power as used by the military. Watch my recent comparison of the wood v. synthetic stock with an AR-15 and you'll see such a scope with a 1 inch tube on my AR-15. It's plenty, and very compact. I used a Nikon with a .223 dot reticle.

@@GunBlue490 is Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12x44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope - Dead-Hold BDC Reticle good for mini 14?:)150.00 to spend?

@@teskataftaba Don't know what ya did, but the 44mm bell as long as it cleared you're good to go. I love Vortex

Using a good quality scope should provide a very generous range of eye relief to suit any shooting position when properly adjusted. Avoid setting it at a critical distance and there'll be no compromise.

It's a Leupold VX-1 3-9. I use it only for ammo testing with normally un-scoped rifles. Watch my early vintage scope selection video. I never hunt with a power greater that 2.5X at the low end, and prefer 1 or 1.5X at the low for deer in order to gain the best field of view, which is critical. If your state allows it, the Mini-14 is certainly capable within 150 yards with the appropriate ammo. I would use a minimum of 60 grain bullets, with a heavy jacket designed specifically for large game, not the standard explosive varmint type.

My new Mini-14 came as yours. It's entirely up to you. I personally prefer the Ruger rings, which don't cover the ejection port. Loctite is not necessary, but it won't hurt. Use only Blue 242, and use only an Allen wrench to tighten.

Sure, it's a Gunmaster screwdriver set that I purchased in the Walmart gun department a couple of years ago for $7.95. It's magnetic and comes with a complete set of bits for all sizes and types. I've purchased two sets and they are very good quality. The Torx bit that I used is included.

Could be the female threaded insert on the other inside of the grips/around the butt somehow came loose and is spinning with the screw. It happens and it’s frustrating. Me personally I would drill the head of the screw out but that is a really nice wheelgun you might be concerned about slipping, I know I would 😂 If you’re careful and stop to check your progress often, I’m sure drilling the head out would work well.

Sounds like you need an impact drill. 😎

@@JoelMMcKinney lol

Actually, it's not at all. I have observed that this most recent 584 series does not eject as far, nor does it strike the scope, which also results in uninterrupted, clear ejection that doesn't bounce back into the receiver. Also, recovered brass is not dented as my previously owned 580 series. Ejection is more directional than random. It's a very good improvement overall that I assume is not peculiar to this one rifle.

Yes, I have. Brass clears the scope perfectly. In fact, this most recent series tosses brass with far less vigor than mine or my buddy's earlier 580 rifles. My brass lands about six to eight feet away at a pretty consistent 3 to 4 o'clock with this rifle, and doesn't dent cases as before. I don't have to wander the countryside to find it! Even at my range, the brass is directed safely behind the next shooter. It actually tosses no farther than my bolt action rifles now. Recoil is also noticeably softer.

Depends on several factors. Objective lens measurement is the visible glass diameter, not the objective bell outside diameter. Adjustable AO and tube thickness can be very different with identical objective specifications. Of course, my Mini-14 has a top mounted handguard that has less allowance than a bare barrel, and barrel tapers vary. I can give you my measurements and you can go from there. With this Mini-14, and with a Leupold non-AO 3-9x40mm and medium height rings, I have a snug 6mm clearance between the bell and the handguard. The outside diameter of my bell is 1.835". I'll let you do the math for your situation. Be sure to provide at least half mm or .020" clearance, or you'll have no way to run a cloth through the spot.

Was also just looking for this. Also not on Patreon

I'm posting an important revision. Stay tuned.

In most cases, rifle manufacturers make their rifles to provide the ideal cheek weld with medium height rings. While they may give a better profile, low rings can often crunch the cheek too low for a natural cheek weld. No, what this situation provides is perfect.

@@GunBlue490 Thank you for the reply. I’m going to give a scope a try on my Mini and see how it feels. As always, you are a wealth of information on his rifle! God Bless.

There is no designated torque. Simply use a screwdriver and turn until it stops as I demonstrated.

The scope that I demonstrated is a 3-9 Leupold. However, it would not be the scope I would recommend. I would prefer a 1-4, 1.5-5, or 2-7 power scope.

@@GunBlue490 thank you for responding to me. My mini 14 came with rings and I've thought about putting a scope on it. My rear peep sight is extremely small, I wish it was like my M1A. I assume that scope in your video was a 40 mm objective lens?

@@allyn1016 Yes, it's a 40mm lens, but less power requires proportionally a smaller diameter objective. You may wish to try a Tech Sights peep, as I demonstrated in another video. The aperture is very similar to an M1A peep, and has even finer adjustments. They also have an optional peep system with interchangeable peep inserts, which provides correct aperture size for target, field, dull, or bright conditions.

@@GunBlue490 thank you once again for taking the time to respond to me. I did see your video on that, and I am definitely going to make that purchase for that site. I'm like you I would prefer to have the iron sights, it must be an older guy thing. Again thanks and I am now a subscriber. Does your mini 14 put a ding and all of your brass when you fire it?

It's a one inch Garand style sling, available from Tech Sights. It's made to replicate the original 1-1/4" Garand sling, but for smaller rifles with smaller swivels.

@@GunBlue490 I thought it was. I actually have one in my cart right now and I didn’t know if I wanted the 1 and 1/4 or the 1 inch. Thank you so much!

40mm refers to the objective bell diameter. Yes, medium height rings will accommodate the clearance for a 40mm bell. These standard rings are for 1" diameter scope tubes.

@@GunBlue490 thank you sir!