Yeah, I wouldn't have touched it if it was in the original stock and had even a few mathing #'s.....but as it was it was only worth being a shooter. The used Leupold I found at the smith's shop is a 4 X 28 fixed Rimfire model. It is just as sturdy as the non-rimfire models but is parallxed at 75 yards instead of 150 becouse of being used mostly for rimfire distances. It (the scope) is only 9.2 inches long and only 7.5 ounces.......what a little sweet package it is!. I'll post a picture one of these days. It shoots acceptably especially for a 18.5 inch barrel.....plenty good enough for my 30-75 yard shots. Good luck with your 96 project. Are you rebarreling to the 257 or are you reaming the original barrel to be a 6.5 X 257? That is another sweet wildcat.