greetings all, I just picked up a Ruger international and mounted my Leup 1-4 on it. I purchased a front extension ring to move the scope back closer to my eye as the old 1-4's do not seem to have fixed eye relief. This is looking to be a temporary set up as the front lens in now under the front edge of the front mount. I am simply going to have to buy a longer scope, most probably the Zeiss Conquest 1.8-5 for this short barreled Ruger international in 308.
Will mounting the scope this way if I am not terrible ham handed with the ring screws damage the scope on fireing?

I would say it's not the best idea for scope mounting. But, if you torque the front ring screws to 20 inch-pounds only I think you'll be ok. 20 inch-pounds isn't a lot, but that torque is recommended for scope mounting and should do you well.
On second thought, call Leupold and ask them. They may have a reason I don't know about for not doing what you want to do.

Don

You can "crunch" your front lens if your rings are squeezed too tightly on top of it, particularly if there is some mismatch in how the rings mate. As DMB says, be very ginger with how you tightent the cap screws.

Can you get a front ringmount that will offset to the rear to solve the problem?