Optical Sight for my Ruger .22 Autoloader?

[dovehunter]

I have been considering for some time now installing some sort of optical sight on my Ruger .22 autoloader. My shooting would be plinking, (very) informal target shooting, and definitely some squirrel hunting too. At my shooting club's range I've tried others' guns with both (what I refer to as) red dot sights and low power scopes. I like both but can't decide which way to go. What do you guys use and/or prefer and what are the pros and cons?

Also my gun is one of the older models - there is no "MK" anything written on it and the receiver is not drilled and tapped. Are there any reasonably priced mounting systems out there other than the B-Square Universal that I could use without having to remove the rear sight and/or drill and tap or otherwise alter the receiver?

[skeet]

I've never seen Ruger 10/22 that wasn't set up for scope mounting. Should be 2 small screws on the top..They are where the tip off plate is supposed to mount.. Go with a low powered scope. Much more accurate for skwerls..

[dovehunter]

Originally Posted by skeet

I've never seen Ruger 10/22 that wasn't set up for scope mounting. Should be 2 small screws on the top..They are where the tip off plate is supposed to mount.. Go with a low powered scope. Much more accurate for skwerls..

Skeet, wake up buddy! I did post this thing in the handguns forum after all. I was talking about the Ruger .22 autoloading pistol.

[Adam Helmer]

dovehunter,

I would check with Ruger for s set up option for the handgun.

Adam

[Catfish]

I have a MK11 target model slab side with a 2x Leupold on it. I bought it that way and am not sure who`s base it is, but it looks like some of the ruger ring on it so Ruger may make a scope mount for it. I think that B Squared does also. Theirs would no be as sturday, but if you take them off you`ll have no extra screw holes in the gun. I prefer scopes. I mounted my first scope on a handgun in 1969, befor red dots, and just could never get used to that floating dot. It is personal preferance though.

[Rapier]

I was legally blind before eye surgery and had to use scopes to shoot. I have both systems and shoot small bore silhouette with both systems. I also have scopes with lit dot reticles (both worlds).

Without a rest, the red dot is a bit easier to use and to get used to. However there is the factor of turning on the site before you shoot with the red dot. Just get a target or fine red dot, the 2 moa size works well for hunting and get a good piece of equipment like a Gilmore or a Leupold Gilmore. Just like a scope, when you start looking at the target and not the dot or cross hair, you start scattering your shots.

The single mount made for the Standard Auto by B'Square is a lot sturdier than it looks. I own one, I do not like it, but it does work. Were it me, I would put a Weaver style aluminum base on the gun (drill and tap) and be done with it. With the little 22 just put as much aluminum as you can on it, rings, base, etc. Recoil is not much of a problem but weight can be.

I have gotten rid of all of my scopes under 4x. I found that anything under 4 is a waste of scope even on a handgun. A good 4x will get you focus close and at distance. Unless you have in mind using a rest do not worry about the variables or parallax adjustment.
Best,
Ed

[dovehunter]

Originally Posted by Rapier

The single mount made for the Standard Auto by B'Square is a lot sturdier than it looks. I own one, I do not like it, but it does work. Were it me, I would put a Weaver style aluminum base on the gun (drill and tap) and be done with it.

B-Square's on-line catalog currently only shows a "universal slide on" mount for no-drill applications. It's of the type that has a Weaver-type base on top and appears to cover nearly the entire receiver. I've seen the mount you are talking about but, if B-Square still makes it, it doesn't show up in their catalog.

Someone else mentioned checking with Ruger. I checked their web site and the only thing they showed was a Weaver-type base that required drilling and tapping. Call me stuborn, but I'd prefer not to do that other than as a last resort.