Ruger Model 96 series

The History of Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., more commonly known as Ruger, is an American firearm manufacturing company headquartered in Southport, Connecticut. Founded in 1949 by Alexander McCormick Sturm and William B. Ruger in a rented machine shop in Connecticut, the company has since become one of the largest firearm manufacturers in the world - shadowed only by Remington and perhaps Smith & Wesson.

Ruger is widely recognized for producing firearms that span a broad spectrum of uses such as bolt-action rifles and pistols, semi-automatic rifles, single-shot rifles, shotguns, and revolvers. As recognition of its quality products grew so did the public’s interest in investing in the company’s shares. Ruger went public in 1969 and grew exponentially since then, and it is on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:RGR) since 1990.

In 2020, Ruger made another big move with their acquisition of Marlin Firearms from Remington Outdoor Company.

For decades now both newbie and seasoned shooters have been consistently trusting Ruger’s guns for their excellent accuracy and superior long-term performance as evidenced by its continued success over all these years.

Today, Ruger’s most popular products include the Ruger 10/22 semiautomatic rifle, the .22 rimfire semi-automatic pistol Ruger MK IV, the bolt-action Ruger American rifle, the tried and tested Ruger No.1, and, of course, the timeless Ruger Security-Six revolvers.

Ruger Model 96 Review

Ruger Model 96/17 in .17 HMR

Figure 1: Ruger Model 96/17 in .17 HMR (Source: https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/ruger-model-9617-lever-action-rifle-in-box-4043243)

Ruger Model 96 is a series of lever-action rifles that was first introduced in 1996 and manufactured until 2009 when it was presumably dropped due to higher demand for some other Ruger models.

The series includes four models: Model 96/22, Model 96/22M, Model 96/17, and Model 96/44. As their names suggest, each model is designed for a specific caliber: .22 LR, 22 WMR, .17 HMR, and .44 Magnum, respectively. This range of options makes the Model 96 series suitable for a variety of hunting and shooting applications.

Interestingly, all models in the 96 series bear a striking resemblance to the famous Ruger 10/22 model. At a glance, one could easily mistake one for the other, due to the shared design.

Like the Ruger 10/22, all of the Ruger Model 96 rifles have a cross bolt safety located in front of the trigger guard. However, one thing to note about these rifles is the trigger. It can feel a bit heavy, breaking at around 2.7 kg (or 6 lbs). This weight may not be to everyone's liking, and if you prefer a lighter trigger, you might need to take the rifle to a gunsmith for adjustments.

The receiver of Ruger Model 96 is made of a strong alloy and is drilled and tapped, but usually features a ⅜” dovetail plate, which allows for easy scope mounting. Keep in mind, however, that a 3/8” dovetail is not the same as the European 11 mm dovetail. You can read more about the difference in our <a href="https://www.optics-trade.eu/blog/11-mm-and-3-8-dovetails/" title="11 mm and 3/8" dovetails"="" target="_blank" tabindex="0">“11 Mm And 3/8” Dovetails” article. Another thing to keep in mind is that the scope mounting holes spacing on Model 96 is not the same as on the Ruger 10/22.

Also, there's a slight variation in the Ruger 96/44 model. Instead of the dovetail, this model comes with Ruger's well-known integral scope mounting scallops. These scallops are machined directly into the receiver and are made for the Ruger rings which are usually supplied with the rifle.

Another similarity with the 10/22 model is the magazine. All Ruger Model 96 variants feature the same rotary magazine as the 10/22, but the capacity depends on the model. The Model 96/22 can hold up to 10 rounds, while the Model 96/22M and 96/17 each have a capacity for 9 rounds. On the other hand, the 96/44 model has a smaller capacity, holding only 4 rounds.

Although there might be aftermarket box magazines available for these rifles, we cannot confirm their availability with certainty. Nevertheless, the rotary magazines provide a reliable and smooth feeding system for Ruger Model 96 rifles.

Ruger Model 96 Calibers

Ruger Model 96 rifles come in different variants that differentiate by caliber. They can be chambered for:

.22 LR
.22 WMR
.17 HMR
.44 Magnum

Ruger Model 96 Variants

The variants of Ruger Model 96 are:

Ruger 96/22
Ruger 96/22M
Ruger 96/17
Ruger 96/44

Ruger Model 96 lever-action rifles usually came with a dovetail-type scope base already pre-installed. Except for the Ruger Model 96/44 which was made with Ruger-style scope bases machined directly into the receiver.

Ruger Model 96/17 receiver

Figure 2: The receiver of Ruger Model 96/17 with the pre-installed dovetail-type scope base (Source: https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/ruger-model-9617-lever-action-rifle-in-box-4043243)

Scope Mounts Interchangeable with Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable with Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

The necessary condition for rifles to have one-piece scope mounts interchangeable is that the mounting surfaces of these rifles match in every dimension.

This is why those Ruger Model 96 rifles that come with a 3/8” dovetail will have scope mounts interchangeable with any other rifle that comes with the same mounting standard. This includes all Ruger Model 96 rifles except the Ruger Model 96/44 which has a different scope mounting surface.

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable with Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Similarly, there’s also very little dilemma around the interchangeability of two-piece scope mounts. Any rifle that features a 3/8” dovetail will have two-piece scope mounts interchangeable Ruger Model 96/22, 96/22M, and 96/17.

Should you have any additional information regarding possible mount matches, please contact us. We will gladly accept your help and expand our database accordingly.

Best Scope Mounts for Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Fixed Scope Mounts for Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

When it comes to fixed scope mounts for Ruger Model 96’s dovetail, you would be hard-pressed to find a better solution than these BKL 0.6" Long Dovetail Rings.

They are made of aluminum, offer an abundance of quality for their price, and will actually fit on both 11 mm and 3/8” dovetails.

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

This Recknagel SSK-II One-Piece Mount for Weaver earned our top recommendation for a detachable repeatable scope mount for Ruger Model 96. It is reliable and extremely versatile and is thus a great choice for your rifle. It is manufactured in Germany, is made of aluminum, and has a 30-year warranty attached to it.

It will, however, need to be coupled with a Picatinny rail. We recommend this BKL Dovetail to Weaver/Picatinny Adaptor mount which will solve the issue. It fits on both 11 mm and 3/8” dovetails.

Scope Mounts for Weaver and Picatinny Rails

Some Ruger Model 96 owners got the rifle with a Weaver or Picatinny rail already pre-installed. In this case, we invite you to view our offer of Weaver and Picatinny Rings:

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: [email protected]

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Ruger Model 96 series

The History of Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Ruger Model 96 Review

Ruger Model 96 Calibers

Ruger Model 96 Variants

Scope Mounts Interchangeable with Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable with Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable with Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Best Scope Mounts for Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Fixed Scope Mounts for Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Ruger Model 96 (96/22, 96/22M, 96/17)

Scope Mounts for Weaver and Picatinny Rails

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

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