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Three days before deer season I took my Ruger 77 338/308 AI out to the range and sighted it in. I sighted it in 3 inches high at 100 yards.

Opening morning I had a nice standing broadside shot a white tail buck at what I thought was about 175 yards. I took the shot and hit a foot under the deer. I laughed with self about being back on the prairie and not being up to snuff on my range estimation.

Two days later another nice whitetail at 250 yards. I know this range is right because I have measured it in past with the laser range finder. I shot and hit high and way left.

I knew right then what was wrong. On the way home from the field I stoppped at the gun club, put up a target and fired three rounds. Nice group, just under an inch. Also 6 inches high and 7 inches left, almost off the target.

Got out a screwdriver, and sure enough the screws on the Ruger rings were not tight. I got bit by the age old Ruger curse soft clamp nuts and screws.

I pulled the scope off the rifle this morning and and took this picture. Sure enough, soft clamp nut.

Back in the old days I use to run into this all the time in my shop. People would come in and complain about their scope not holding zero. It wasn't hard to find the problem in the Ruger Factory rings. You never saw this wrote up in the Gun Mag's. Nope can't say anything derogatory about there biggest sponsor. When I talked to other Gunsmiths they all were aware of the problem, learning like I had from experience. I have even over there years talked with Ruger about the issue and only once had any one acknowledged it.

Back then to fix the problem I drilled and tapped the rifle and installed a Leupold base and rings.

I see now that Leupold has a ring designed for the Ruger Integral base. Any one have any experinece with them?

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DD, Ret.

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