Which Ring Height????

[rugerfreak]

I put a Marlin 882SS .22 mag. on lay-a-way at Wal-mart the other day and have pretty much decided to put a Leupold Vari-X II 3X9X40 on it. Part of the reason for use this scope is that I could use it on a deer rifle in a pinch. Anyway---I want to use either the Burris or Leupold steel tip-off rings-----And the question is which ring height do I need to use with this scope?? low---medium----or high???

 

[Jerry Stordahl]

I think medium.

 

[WiFAL]

I think mediums are recommended for scopes up to 44 mm. Last time I bought rings I got low and medium then returned the ones that weren't right.

 

[rugerfreak]

The reason I'm asking is: I have called both Burris and Leupold and neither of their reps could really give a firm answer. I want to keep the scope as low as possible. Some of my other concerns are that unlike a centerfire rifle the Marlin barrel doesn't step down past the chamber so i'm losing clearance there and the Leupold rep mentioned having enough clearance for the bolt handle.

 

[WiFAL]

If the bolt rotates enough to hit a scope on low rings it will probably hit a scope on high rings. The reason for differing ring height is to make up for the diameter of the lens, i.e 20 mm lens = low rings, 50mm lens = high rings.

 

[Guyon]

If the bolt rotates enough to hit a scope on low rings it will probably hit a scope on high rings.

Not necessarily. I put a 3-9x40 scope on my Rem 700. With low rings, the bolt handle barely brushed the scope. With medium rings, clearance was no problem.

I suspect the model of gun and the type of scope make a difference, as well as where you set your eye relief on the scope. Try low; if they don't work, exchange them for medium.