Ruger NO. 1 scope mounts

[loose noose]

I was in the process of placing a much smaller diameter scope on my Ruger NO.1 .243 Winchester
RSI, if you remember right I put a 3X9X40 Leopold Rifleman scope on it and it overshadowed the Ruger NO.1.

Anyway I've got a Vortex Diamond Back that is much more compact. In taking the two front screws out of the rings of the Ruger mount they got really tight and I broke two star drivers off. In fact I finally took the mounts off along with the scope, what I'm asking is there any way short of cutting the screws off getting the scope free for mounting on another rifle. I've since sprayed the two screws with silicon and let it sit, at least until I can get a couple of more star drivers.

 

[Fyrstyk]

Were the screws put in with lock tite? If so, and even if not, try running a hair dryer over the screws to loosen up any gunk in the threads, then maybe with the right star drive you will be able to remove the screws. Another option might be to use a penetrating oil to work on the screws.

 

[Blue68f100]

If put together with LocTite you may need to add heat. A soldering iron or gun is good for this since you can concentrate the heat in 1 spot. You will need to heat it up till it smokes then the screws will come out. Try using some Kroil Penetrating oil on the screws. This stuff works good may even need to add a little heat. If your rings are Al heat in general will make it expand and loosen.

 

[Kp321]

Forget the silicone, get some real penetrating oil, Kroil and give it a good soaking. The rounded out screws are no problem if you have a drill press. Choose a drill bit that is a little smaller than the screw, #31 for most scope screws, and carefully drill the screw. The socket head will guide the drill and will pop off when the drill reaches the screw shank. After all the screws are drilled, the top half of the ring will lift off and there should be enough of the screws left to grab and unscrew with vise grips. Don't try this without a drill press!

 

[eastbank]

I had a redfield front ring on a good scope I could not get loose and after doing all the posted things, the screws still would not come out. I put the scope in a vice and using a thin cutting wheel in my dremal tool I cut tru the screws(two on one side) one at a time and as the last screw was cut tru a small sound was heard and the two screws on the other side came out very easy.

 

[loose noose]

Eastbank, that is what I was thinking about, as I didn't use any Lock Tite, I do have a drill press, but it is really difficult with the scope still in the rings to get it to sit square, and I don't want to disfigure the scope either. I do thank ya all for the responses. Reckon I'll have to get my Dremel tool out.

 

[loose noose]

Eastbank, it worked but I did mess up the mounting ring, the scope was unscathed, got another Ruger No5 high ring coming in the mail. I thank all of the people who responded, BTW I did try the Kroil oil trick also.