The Prepper Insider is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Be it an evening hunt, or a day-long trip down the countryside, one of the best weapons you can take along with you is the Ruger 10/22.
Designed by William B. Ruger and Harry H. Sefried II, these rifles come in handy only with great accuracy, and that comes with a good range of scope. But a standalone scope is no good without the perfect mount for it.
And to help you pick your perfect pick for your little hunting excursion, we’re here to guide you on making your choice.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Ruger 1022 Scope Mounts
- OUR TOP PICK: Monstrum Picatinny Rail Mount
- RUNNER-UP: UTG Tactical Rail Mount
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: WEAVER Multi-Slot Base System
Comparison of the Best Ruger 10/22 Scope Mounts
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
How Does a Scope Mount Work?
A scope mount plays a decent role in how well your magnification will go throughout the hunt. As the Ruger 10/22 is a rifle specifically designed for small game, accuracy is the key, especially for longer shots that will require higher magnification.
A scope mount is a base that is attached to the gun and provides space on top to mount the rings for the scope. Therefore, the mount must be designed in such a way that the iron sights can be used when the scope is not attached.
Once both halves of the two rings are secured, then the scope is placed over them. After this, screws are used to tighten the upper half of the ring and the two ring halves are held together. This is done in order to hold the scope firm in its position.
What to Look For When Buying a Ruger 10/22 Scope Mount
Several factors need to be considered when making your choice of a mount for the Ruger 10/22. These include:
Type
There are several different types of mounts available to pick from. Each of them varies in height, quality, weight, and several other factors with their manufacturers ranging from the US to Europe, and way further East to China. So be it anything from a single piece mount to a classic weaver, your choice of a mount type will greatly impact the outcome of your hunt.
Fits Your Gun
Your choice of a mount needs to meet the specifications of your gun. Choose a mount that’d fit in perfectly in terms of size with your Ruger 10/22, as all manufacturers of mounting bases make their products fit certain makes, models, and action lengths of various firearms.
Fits Your Scope
Apart from fitting on to your rifle, your scope must latch onto your mount perfectly as well. Therefore, be mindful of this as well when picking your mount.
Review of the Best Ruger 10/22 Scope Mounts
As we discussed, the choice of a mounting base is very necessary so that you achieve the finest hunting experience and have a perfect shot at every game you wish to take down. To assist you in picking your pick, here is a list of some of the best mount bases to provide you with the perfect sports experience.
Best Overall:
Monstrum Picatinny Rail Mount
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Judging from several reviews, buyers claim that this is the perfect pick for the Ruger 10/22. They love that it sits flush on the receiver from every angle. Furthermore, the mounting hole placement is perfect, and the consistent channel depth has also impressed users.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Monstrum Picatinny Rail Mount offers a very low price compared to other high-graded units but still stands strong on par with them in terms of its quality and functionality.
The mount has holes that are perfectly aligned with the gun, which is a huge plus in the design. Meanwhile, the gun and the screws fit perfectly and are slightly shallow to prevent bolt gouging. This makes the product the perfect pick for a memorable and hassle-free hunting trip to the countryside with your Ruger 10/22.
Bottom Line
With the perfect cost that is easily within reach of every individual, this product is ideal for all users. It brings you all the necessary features that you can ask for. And with these features, your hunting experience won’t be the same again.
Runner-up:
UTG Tactical Rail Mount
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
With the majority being positive reviews, the rail is considerably loved amongst buyers. It has a rail that is a perfect fit for the 10/22. The contour of the bottom of this mount exactly matches the top of the receiver. The users really love that all four mounting screw holes are perfectly positioned and allow space for more accessories.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The UTG Tactical Rail Mount stands out for several of its nifty and neat features. These are what serves to be an incentive for most buyers. But what we really love is that all these features offer a lot more than what the unit costs.
With its perfectly aligned holes for easy attachment with the gun, this lightweight product offers convenience. It has five screws for a firm mount, a long Picatinny rail. This rail comes with 11 slots that are designed to provide convenient eye relief as well as adjustments, and a middle V-cut for use with an iron sight. Considering all that it has to offer, this unit stands out with a huge margin from other mounts of a similar caliber.
Bottom Line
Based on this unit's features, we can assure you that this mount is worth its price as it fits pretty neatly with the Ruger 10/22. It is a product that will be sure to change your shooting experience for the better.
Best for the Money:
WEAVER Multi-Slot Base System
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This Weaver base is one of the more meticulously crafted mounts; that is why it is often referred to as well-made and easy to install. Buyers state that it is a nice rail, and provides good quality for the price it demands. The experience from this mount goes along with statements that it is very sturdy and a well-machined aluminum mount.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Weaver Multi-Slot Base has Picatinny type slots that allow almost unlimited mounting options as compared to a standard 10/22 base. The base has four screw holes in it, which don't tend to line up with the four threaded holes in the top of the 10/22's receiver.
But this is not a mistake. You can mount the base more forward, as compared to the original position, where the base fits the contour of the receiver. Or you can also mount it a little further rearward to allow for more options with eye relief. Neither of the two will, in any way, bring down nor negatively impact the performance.
Bottom Line
This is a product that provides a wide range of possibilities at a decently good price. It has different mounting options, particularly those for optimal eye relief, and can mount many different scopes, allowing for many possibilities for customizability.
Best Ruger 10/22 See Through Scope Mount:
MSP Long See-Through Scope Mount
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This MSP Long See-Through Scope Mount is one of the few Picatinny rail mounts out there that allows the user to use the factory iron sights of their Ruger 10/22 with the scope removed. This feature, along with the number of others that this product provides, has grabbed a lot of praise for this mount.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Allowing proper iron sights usage makes the MSP Long See-Through Scope Mount stand out from almost all others mentioned in this list. With aluminum being the base material that keeps the mount at maximum sturdiness, the unit manages to provide strength while maintaining a low weight.
The uniform design with crisp edges and lines gives it a touch of elegance and physical appeal. Moreover, the screws that come with it are a perfect size, thus preventing any damage to your gun.
Bottom Line
With the addition of proper iron sight usage, this base has a decent amount of good features to offer with its price. Looking to make use of the iron sights at full potential as part of your hunting experience? This mount might as well be the perfect choice to go for.
Editor's Pick:
UTG PRO Picatinny Rail Mount
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Users praise the UTG PRO Picatinny Rail Mount for its easy-to-install setup that allows it to become popular amongst buyers everywhere. Several buyers state that they experienced no issues at all with the product, and it worked perfectly.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The proper iron sight usage makes the UTG PRO Picatinny Rail Mount stand out, making it a good pick for a person who prefers to use iron sights. This unit has aircraft-grade aluminum as the base material, which keeps the mount at maximum sturdiness and strength while maintaining a low weight.
The matte black finish gives it a touch of elegance. For those whose Ruger 10/22 are compatible with this unit, it proves to be one of the best options thus far. It is something that users would consider buying again in the future.
Bottom Line
With the addition of proper iron sight usage, this is one of the sturdiest bases thanks to its high-grade aluminum used in manufacturing. If your Ruger 10/22 is fully compatible with this mount, it might as well be the perfect choice to go for.
Scope Mount Types
Not all scope mounts are the same. And if you want to pick one that works the best for you, you need to know all about them. Here’s a brief overview:
What is an Offset Scope Mount?
Offset mounts allow users to install the optic with the rings pushed forward, positioning the scope further from your eye. They allow for more comfortable use of the gun and free room for back up iron sights.
In an offset mount, the mount's base is placed as it normally is, but the rings are placed forward of the mount position. This allows you to adjust your scope at the perfect distance from your eye.
What is a Tip-Off Scope Mount?
Tip-off mounts are directly attached to both the scope rail and the receiver grooves. They were quite popular back in the day and are still used in .22 rifles. The use of these mounts comes from their name; that is, they are easily detachable and attachable on rifles, even without a tool by just loosening two screws and tipping it to one side.
What is a Dovetail Scope Mount?
These mounts are also sometimes referred to as tip-off mounts and are highly known for their easy installation and dismounting. The dovetail mount was renowned for its sturdiness while still allowing the replacement of scope rings without removing the whole base.
Comparison Overview
Looking at different products individually will help you learn more about them, but not aid in deciding to choose one of them. Here is a side by side comparison that can help you make a better decision.
Scope Rings vs Mount
The word "rings" is more of a general term that has been used to describe different attachments, allowing scopes to be mounted on the firearm. Scope rings are the older of the two methods and are two rings that attach to the weapon and then to the scope.
Not every firearm comes with the ability to mount a scope to it. So, users that want to attach scopes to these weapons need to use a product called a mount or base. This allows one to connect the scope rings to the firearm. The mounts are easier to attach to a firearm as compared to scope rings but are somewhat costlier.
One Piece Scope Mount vs. Two Piece
One-piece mounts are all the rage these days. They are simple, easy to mount and dismount, and perfect for the modern tactical rifle. Most are going to require a rail base like those you see on flat top AR 15s. They are very rigid, robust, and are often built at heights that work well with modern rifles. They are a lot more simple in terms of use, and users do not need to fret about aligning the scope and other adjustments.
Another great quality scope mounts are the two-piece rings. Unlike single-piece mounts, these are perfect for your bolt action rifles. They can easily be moved around and changed out with other guns. The downfall here is that they need to be properly aligned every time. They are a bit lighter than single-piece mounts but offer high quality.
Weaver vs. Picatinny
The dimensions and the notches that you will find on a Picatinny rail are unique. These are what allow the rails to be compatible with handguns and long guns and allow attachment of various accessories. The design originated to facilitate the mounting of scope on high-powered hunting rifles.
The Weaver rail was released before the Picatinny. It is known to have some dimensional differences. You must know these differences before you start attaching accessories to it. They are very similar in design, but they do not exactly interchange. Moreover, Picatinny accessories cannot fit on a Weaver rail; however, Weaver accessories can be used as a Picatinny rail.
Keymod vs. Picatinny
The specific dimensions that one sees on a Picatinny are unique to the brand itself. It is designed to be used with handguns as well as long guns and can allow the mounting of a number of different attachments. It is particularly known for the use of high-powered scopes that work very well with its design.
KeyMod is nothing other than an open-source, public domain design. This allows any other manufacturer to use this system in order to produce accessories. And the manufacturers can do this without having to provide any compensation to the original developers of KeyMod.
Instead of a handguard with a Picatinny rail, a KeyMod is designed such that the accessories can be directly mounted on the rail. As a result, Picatinny rails can be mounted on the handguard without any adapter.
M Lok vs. Picatinny
The Picatinny has forever been widely regarded as an excellent accessory rail system, but some gun users do not want the extra weight that it adds to the fore-end. One remedy for this issue is to use low-profile handguards that enable the attachment of smaller sections of rail precisely where they are needed.
In 2014, a variation of the KeyMod system was presented by Austin, TX-based Magpul Industries. They named it as M-Lok, a similar system that works more effectively with polymer attachments. The key difference between the two is that while the former had holes, the latter replaced them with slots.
The accessories that are compatible with M-Lok are designed to be t-shaped. They also come with bi-directional attachment lugs that enable placement on either front or rear of the slot.
Monstrum Picatinny Rail Mount
How to Install a Ruger 10/22 Scope Mount
It is important to know how to attach a standard mount on to your Ruger 10/22 rifle
- The Ruger rifle comes pre-tapped with holes to put a mount on it. First, remove the screws already present in the holes and align them with the Ruger.
- Start screwing the Ruger back in with the mount. While screwing it back together, be sure the screws stay straight. If they’re not straight, it might damage the rifle. Make sure to tighten the screws with good torque so that the mount stays in position.
- After the mounts have been attached, attach the scope on the mount similarly.
- While screwing, do not tighten it all the way. Before it is tightened, the scope needs to be adjusted for level. Adjust the scope according to your eye relief; each person will have a different eye relief, so it is important to see what is good for you before you tighten the screws.
- After that, you will have mounted your scope onto your mount.
If you want a more comprehensive tutorial, be sure to check the video for a full overview of what was just described.
Conclusion
The scopes mentioned in this article are ideal to be used with the Ruger 10/22. If you, too, want to pick one for your weapon, then all you need to do is find a product that checks all the boxes on your list of requirements. And in no time, you will be able to pick a product that will allow you to attach scopes of your choice.
People Also Ask
Before you go on purchasing your favorable scope mount for your Ruger 10/22, you will have some questions in mind. To help in this regard, here is a list of FAQs to solve a handful of common queries along with their answers.
Can You Put a Scope on a Ruger 10/22 Takedown?
A scope can be put on a Ruger 10/22 Takedown similarly to the Ruger 10/22. The former allows room for the attachment of a number of accessories. Of all these accessories, scopes are known to work the best with Ruger 10/22 takedown.
Are See-Through Scope Mounts Any Good?
See-through scopes are good for shooting an animal within 50 yards, but it should not be used in any other case. The reasoning behind this is that the scope is so high off the barrel that you are not as accurate with the scope because you aren't getting a good cheek weld.
MSP Long See-Through Scope Mount
Does the 10/22 Come With a Rail?
The Ruger 10/22 does come with a combination rail that works with Weaver-style and .22 tip-off scope mounts. The former has parallel rails and round slots where you attach your accessories. Sometimes they come in two pieces, but the rail on the Ruger 10/22 is a one-piece mount and comes with two iron sights detachable.
What is the Difference Between Picatinny and Weaver Scope Mounts?
The design of Picatinny rails is quite similar to that of the Weaver rails. But that doesn't mean they're interchangeable. The main difference lies in the dimensions of grooves available on these rails. The slots on the latter are .180" wide while those on the former are .206" wide. The space between these slots is not constant in Weaver but in Picatinny, there is a gap of .394" between each slot.