An update on this rifle...I have added the Rossi synthetic
cheek piece to my rifle as I found target acquisition slower off the lower comb of the stock and adding the
cheek piece eliminated the error between comb and the axis of the scope bells. Outside the US, Rossi sells a combo pack of the scope base and
cheek piece. Go figure? I also noticed that the felt recoil is less when shooting the 480 Ruger after shooting the rifle a dozen times yesterday afternoon without any ill effect, something I haven't been able to do until this change. Most noticeable was when I woke up this morning it did not feel that I had been slugged in the jaw. Very improved.
An update was made to the scope rings, I am now using Burris Signature Zee Rings with 20°%@*&$-Align Offset Inserts in the rings to compensate for the lack of taper on the 480 barrel. I had originally used a shim inside a Weaver steel ring to figure out what correction was needed but that is actually bending the tube and bad of the life of the scope especially under heavy recoil. The Burris Signature Zee Rings are the only rings that I'm aware of that can compensate for barrel taper issues. A lot of the early 338 Marlin Express owners had to use these rings for barrel droop.
