i would like to mount a picatinny rail or a weaver rail closer to the handguard on my Ruger .44 carbine (older model). any advice (ie would this be a gunsmith job or could i do it myself?)

thanks

I wouldn't say you absolutely could not do this yourself, but you should at least run the idea past a gunsmith.

you may find out that if it is just a matter of a few tapped holes that it is well worth the money to have him do it.

If you have a very well stocked shop with the tools you need you still may think its worth the few bucks you'll pay.

if what your trying is expensive or just a bad idea(for mechanical reasons) a good gunsmith will tell you

Regards,
Gene

i would like to mount a picatinny rail or a weaver rail closer to the handguard on my Ruger .44 carbine (older model). any advice (ie would this be a gunsmith job or could i do it myself?)

thanks

Welcome to the forum. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

Brownells sells an atlas metal products Picatinny base stock in six and 12 inch lengths that can be drilled and mounted on your action. These will take weaver mounts. If you have a drill press, the proper taps and drills you can do this job yourself or have a gunsmith do it. These bases run from $28 for the six inch version to $56 for the 12 inch version.

It’s my understanding that your looking to mount a dot sight or similar on your 44 Ruger rifle. Should work good. I had one of those old Ruger carbines and with a set of peep sights it did a wonderful job on deer out to a hundred yards. I never shot anything further away than that.

Good luck with your project.