What is the best way to mount a scope on a Ruger Air Hawk ?

[Lochlainn]

Hi Folks,

I recently purchased a Ruger Air Hawk and am having problems with mounting the scope. The stock rings seem worthless so I used a 11mm to weaver adapter and then used some Leapers weaver rings that had the sticky tape in them. The scope was not sliding in the rings but the adapter was slipping backwards and when I examined the adapter the scope stop that is screwed into the receiver put some nice sized dents into the rear part of the aluminum adapter. And this was only after 150 shots or so. Part of the problem I think is that the adapter only has two screws. I wish it had at least three screws. I really wish the Air Hawk had a scope stop pin hole drilled into the receiver. I think that is probably a better system. I thought about getting a Leapers Accushot one piece mount like I have on my Storm XT but I don't want to just put it on and then damage the back of the mount like the adapter I have now because the Leapers one piece mount is made of aluminum as well.

Was just wondering what other owners of the Air Hawk had done to securely mount a scope on this gun. Thanks!

Regards,
Lochlainn

[robertsapp]

I don't have a Ruger but if the scope mount is similar to the RWS 11mm mount you could try either the Leapers 11mm to weaver adapters which have a built in scope stop or the one which I am thinking of getting for my RWS 52 is the BKL 260 mount which has six screws.  I hope this helps!

[Lochlainn]

Thanks for the reply. The Leapers 11mm to weaver adapter sounds very similar the one I have. The built in scope stop doesn't do anything for this gun though because there is no hole drilled into the top of the receiver to screw it down into. It only has a stamped metal piece that is screwed into the rear of the grooves so that the mount or rings sit up against it. The problem is the scope stop that is screwed into the receiver is very thin and there is not much surface area that comes in to contact with the mount so it causes it to punch dents into the small portions that it is actually contacting. Maybe I just need a mount with at least 3 screws if not the one that has 6 screws.This adapter only has 2 screws.

[Lochlainn]

Still trying to figure out the best way to mount a scope on this puppy

[timegoat]

Lochlain, I'm using these on my Diana 34s. The lip at the front of the mount acts as a stop. Dunno if they'll work on the Air Hawk but might be worth checking out.

For my Basic Diana 34:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/utg-scope-mount-base-fits-rws-diana-34-36-38-45-with-to5-trigger?a=2298

For the Pro-Compact:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/utg-sub-compact-ita-red-green-dot-sight-30mm-tube-weaver-picatinny?a=3897

- Mark

[Lochlainn]

Hmm the second one might work. The top on the air hawk is different than a 34 though... Here are some pics





Here is one of the scope stop (sorry it's in Sepia my wife was taking pics with the camera and I forgot to change setting )


And here is the damage that the scope stop did to the adapter (for some reason it posted this one flipped to the side)

[timegoat]

Bad news... the UTG mounts I linked won't work on it. Needs a raised rail like on the Dianas. Sorry man, that's the extent of my knowledge. Hopefully someone else will chime in who has more experience with the Air Hawk. 

- Mark

[Lochlainn]

Thanks for the suggestion though! I really appreciate your reply

[ezman604]

Hey Lochlainn, I use this mount on my Ruger Blackhawk. http://www.opticsplanet.net/leapers-airgun-22-full-length-integral-high-profile-mount-rgpm2pa-25h4.html
I don't have any shifting of any kind, all rock solid steady. Get one of these, clean the dovetail real well with denatured alcohol, add mount and tighten well. Add scope and stir in a little blue loctite. Let it season for 24 hours then take it out and enjoy.

Recipe for success....LOL.
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

[Frank]

My AH shoots 903 and have no trouble with the supplied scope. At present I am installing a Vortek Kit. I found the spring to be broke slightly on the piston end and the crimped end of the sleeve was completely busted out and missing. Did find small pieces of metal inside. Seal nicked. So good thing I decided on the Vortek.

And am looking for a replacement piston as the rod was also loose from the seal end.

[Lochlainn]

Hey Lochlainn, I use this mount on my Ruger Blackhawk. http://www.opticsplanet.net/leapers-airgun-22-full-length-integral-high-profile-mount-rgpm2pa-25h4.html
I don't have any shifting of any kind, all rock solid steady. Get one of these, clean the dovetail real well with denatured alcohol, add mount and tighten well. Add scope and stir in a little blue loctite. Let it season for 24 hours then take it out and enjoy.

Recipe for success....LOL.
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

Dave, I have the exact same mount on my Storm XT and I really like it. I was considering that one for my Air Hawk but I wasn't sure if it would hold tight due to the fact that you can't utilize the stop pin in the mount because there is no hole drilled in the receiver, just the scope stop at the rear of the rail. Good to know that it works well! It's a great price too. Now if I can just find a place that sells one with free shipping Oh and have you happened to notice if yours has has some indents in the rear of the mount like the picture I posted of the weaver adapter ? Or do the screws hold it tight enough so that it doesn't slip back at all ?

My AH shoots 903 and have no trouble with the supplied scope. At present I am installing a Vortek Kit. I found the spring to be broke slightly on the piston end and the crimped end of the sleeve was completely busted out and missing. Did find small pieces of metal inside. Seal nicked. So good thing I decided on the Vortek.

And am looking for a replacement piston as the rod was also loose from the seal end.

Thanks for the reply. I just looked at the Vortek website. Looks like a good idea. I may pick one up at some point when I learn how to disassemble my rifle. Definitely a project that I will try to tackle here at some point

[ezman604]

I took it off to photograpg. There is a small ding in the end, a sign it hasn't moved much and the scope stop is doing what it's supposed to.

[JimL911]

I have an early Air Hawk without the stop. I used the Leapers 1 piece and drilled a hole for the pin just to be sure. Why not try removing the stop and see if you can use the hole that is there?

[bart the fart]

good idea jim , but that wont work i tried. i currently have my bug buster mounted on a accushot "off set" mount. i just backed it right up to the stop, its the rock of jabralter, now the trick is the blue locktite and YOU MUST NOT MESS WITH IT FOR 24 HOURS! i know its hard but its a must! i just mounted a bsa 3-12x44 on my heavily mod'd walther and let me tell you, longest day of my life

[Lochlainn]

I took it off to photograpg. There is a small ding in the end, a sign it hasn't moved much and the scope stop is doing what it's supposed to.

Thanks for taking the pics! Are you using the stop pin somehow Dave ? I see the stop pin protruding from the bottom of the mount. Did you drill a hole in the receiver ?

I have an early Air Hawk without the stop. I used the Leapers 1 piece and drilled a hole for the pin just to be sure. Why not try removing the stop and see if you can use the hole that is there?

Hmm I thought about drilling a hole. Guess I would have to be really careful though. I don't want to screw up my brand new rifle.

good idea jim , but that wont work i tried. i currently have my bug buster mounted on a accushot "off set" mount. i just backed it right up to the stop, its the rock of jabralter, now the trick is the blue locktite and YOU MUST NOT MESS WITH IT FOR 24 HOURS! i know its hard but its a must! i just mounted a bsa 3-12x44 on my heavily mod'd walther and let me tell you, longest day of my life

I remounted the weaver adapter and weaver rings and put the scope back on last night. I found the scope stop on the receiver came loose, so I put loctite on that as well as the mount. I figure I will give it one more go with the mount I have and it that doesn't work I will get a one piece Leapers Accushot like I have on my Storm XT. And yes...waiting the 24 hours is torture! It will be 24 hours in a few hours from now. I will have to wait until tomorrow to shoot anyways so it will probably have had 35 hours or so to dry. Hopefully everything will stay put. Ideal I would love to have a stop pin hole AND the scope stop at the rear of the rail. We'll see if I get ambitious.