Swapping a Picatinny Rail Mounted Scope To Another Rifle? Update for Test |

Todays rifle scopes can easily cost more than the rifle you put it on. A good rifle today costs less than $1000 dollars, where some rifle scopes can cost upwards of $2000 dollars.

So I often swap out my favorite best-in-class Leupold VX -6 scope from rifle to rifle.

I am setting up one of of my Ruger rifles with a picatinny rail to make it easier to borrow a scope from another of my rifles already set up with a picatinny rail.

Below is the Weigand Combat Scope Mount Compatible with Ruger M77 and MKII Long Action 20 MOA – Black

The Weigand aircraft aluminum rail does have some limitations. It is not recommended for super heavy recoiling rifles. The determining calculation from the manufacturer says to multiply bullet weight in grains times the expected muzzle velocity. If the calculation exceeds 700,000 then don’t use it to mount your scope on that rifle.

Example: I will mount the rail on my .375 Ruger shooting Nosler 260g AccuBonds at a muzzle velocity of 2625 fps. Thus 260g x 2625fps = 682,500. Based on this calculation, I’m good. Next is to test it out at the range.

My Ruger Hawkeye M77 in .375 Ruger shoots most all my hand loaded bullets extremely well, often sub-moa. Luckily, I do have some 260g AB in my cupboard.

Range Test – Below is the finished Picatinny mount and Leupold scope after 3 bench rest shots of Nosler 260g AB at 2625 fps.

I checked threaded mounting screws which had thread lock 242 blue applied. Every screw checked for torque. All perfect.

Muzzle energy is 3977 ft-lbs and 3419 ft-lbs at 75 yards to my bear bait site.

Below the 3 shots. First shot at 50 yds after the swap was 2 1/2 inches low and 2 inches right. I adjusted and hit 9 o’clock in the dead center bull. I adjusted a bit much and hit 1 inch right in bullseye. I will shoot again at 75 yards and make final tweaks.

Accordingly, the swap worked well and I can swap back to my 7mm Rem Mag with very little effort.

Good Hunting!