AR-15 Scope Mounts
AR-15 Scope Mounts
Selecting the proper scope mounts and risers is essential for optimizing your AR-15's performance. These components provide stability for your optics and improve accuracy and shooting comfort. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the different types of scope mounts and risers and their key features and offer insights into choosing the right ones for your AR-15.
Scope mounts are crucial for securing your optic to your AR-15 and ensuring it remains zeroed under heavy use. The type of mount you choose can significantly affect your shooting experience.
1. Types of Scope Mounts
One-Piece Mounts:
One-piece mounts offer a solid base for your optic, providing excellent stability and ease of installation. Leading manufacturers like Vortex Optics and Leupold produce high-quality one-piece mounts ideal for shooters seeking a reliable and durable option for their AR-15. These mounts are particularly beneficial for long-range precision shooting, where maintaining zero is critical.
Two-Piece Mounts:
Two-piece mounts provide more flexibility, allowing for customizable placement of the rings on your rifle's rail. Aero Precision and Burris are known for their lightweight yet durable two-piece mounts, which are perfect for shooters who prefer to minimize the overall weight of their rifle while still maintaining a secure optic setup.
Cantilever Mounts:
Cantilever mounts are designed to provide extended eye relief by positioning the optic forward on the rail. This design is handy for AR-15s equipped with scopes that require more space. American Defense Manufacturing and Warne are two brands that offer cantilever mounts with quick-detach options, allowing for easy removal and reattachment without losing zero.
1.2 Material and Build Quality
The material of your scope mount directly impacts its durability and weight. The most common materials are:
- Aluminum: Known for being lightweight and corrosion-resistant, aluminum mounts, such as those from Vortex and Aero Precision, are popular among shooters who prioritize weight reduction without sacrificing strength.
- Steel: Steel mounts, like those from Leupold and Warne, offer maximum durability, making them ideal for rugged environments. While heavier, steel mounts provide added strength and longevity.
Choosing the suitable material depends on your shooting needs and the conditions you expect to encounter.
Overview of Scope Risers
Scope risers help adjust the height of your optic, allowing for better eye alignment and improved shooting posture. For AR-15 shooters, risers help ensure proper sight picture and shooting comfort.
2.1 Purpose of Scope Risers
Scope risers elevate the scope to a more comfortable height, allowing for better alignment between the optic and your eye. This adjustment is especially beneficial for shooters who need a higher optic position due to body mechanics or to achieve a co-witness with iron sights. Companies like UTG and Leapers are known for producing high-quality risers with reliable performance across various shooting styles.
2.2 Types of Risers
Fixed Risers: Fixed risers provide a simple, stable platform for raising your optic to a set height. These risers are commonly used by shooters who know their preferred height and don't require adjustability. Midwest Industries and UTG offer various fixed risers suitable for different AR-15 setups.
Adjustable Risers: Adjustable risers allow you to raise or lower your optic depending on your preferences or optic choice. These risers, like those from Leapers and Strike Industries, are perfect for shooters who frequently switch between different optics or require versatility in their setup.
2.1 Purpose of Scope Risers
Scope risers elevate the scope to a more comfortable height, allowing for better alignment between the optic and your eye. This adjustment is especially beneficial for shooters who need a higher optic position due to body mechanics or to achieve a co-witness with iron sights. Companies like UTG and Leapers are known for producing high-quality risers with reliable performance across various shooting styles.
2.2 Types of Risers
Fixed Risers: Fixed risers provide a simple, stable platform for raising your optic to a set height. These risers are commonly used by shooters who know their preferred height and don't require adjustability. Midwest Industries and UTG offer various fixed risers suitable for different AR-15 setups.
Adjustable Risers: Adjustable risers allow you to raise or lower your optic depending on your preferences or optic choice. These risers, like those from Leapers and Strike Industries, are perfect for shooters who frequently switch between different optics or require versatility in their setup.
Key Features to Consider while buying an AR-15 Scope Mounts
3.1 Height and Offset
Determining the correct height for your optic is essential for proper eye alignment and shooting comfort. If the optic is mounted too high or too low, it can negatively impact target acquisition. The offset, or how far forward or backward the optic is placed, also affects shooting posture. Aero Precision and Burris offer mounts with varying heights and offsets to accommodate different shooting styles and needs.
3.2 Mounting Systems
Most AR-15 scope mounts and risers use the Picatinny or Weaver rail systems. Vortex and Leupold provide mounts compatible with both systems, ensuring shooters can easily find options that fit their rifle's configuration. Picatinny rails are more commonly used and feature standardized spacing, making them ideal for most AR-15 setups, while Weaver rails offer slightly narrower slots and may require specific mounts.
3.3 Return to Zero
The ability to return to zero after detaching and reattaching a scope is crucial for maintaining accuracy. This feature ensures that your optic retains its zero without needing recalibration. American Defense Manufacturing and Warne produce quick-detach mounts that consistently return to zero performance, which is especially valuable for shooters who frequently switch optics or mounts.
Compatibility and Fitment
4.1 Compatibility with Optics
Choosing a suitable mount or riser for your optic ensures a secure and stable fit. Scope tube diameter is one of the most critical factors, as mounts are often designed for specific tube sizes. Brands like Vortex and Leupold offer mounts compatible with a wide range of scope sizes, ensuring you can find the perfect fit for your setup.
4.2 AR-15 Variants
Not all AR-15s are identical, and different variants may require specific mounting solutions. For example, custom-built or modified AR-15s might have unique rail configurations or accessories that affect mount placement. Leading manufacturers like Burris and Aero Precision provide a variety of mounts designed to accommodate different AR-15 models, ensuring compatibility with your specific setup.
AR-15 Scope Mounts Installation Tips
5.1 Tools Required
Installing scope mounts and risers requires precision, and using the right tools is critical to ensuring a secure fit. A torque wrench is essential for tightening screws to the proper specifications, while screwdrivers and Loctite help secure the installation. Following the manufacturer's recommended torque settings ensures your optic stays firmly in place without over-tightening.
5.2 Step-by-Step Installation Guide
To properly install your scope mount or riser, begin by placing the mount on the rail and securing it with the provided screws. Make sure the optic is level and positioned correctly for your shooting stance. After securing the mount, use a torque wrench to tighten the screws to the recommended specifications. This process ensures stability and prevents your optic from shifting during use.
Choosing the proper scope mounts and risers for your AR-15 is essential for improving accuracy, stability, and shooting comfort. Whether you need a one-piece mount for long-range precision or a cantilever mount for extended eye relief, manufacturers like Vortex, Leupold, and Burris offer high-quality solutions for every shooter. Explore your options today and find the perfect setup to enhance your AR-15's performance.
Choosing the proper scope mounts and risers for your AR-15 is essential for improving accuracy, stability, and shooting comfort. Whether you need a one-piece mount for long-range precision or a cantilever mount for extended eye relief, manufacturers like Vortex, Leupold, and Burris offer high-quality solutions for every shooter. Explore your options today and find the perfect setup to enhance your AR-15's performance.
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Midwest Industries 1" QD Scope Mount - 1.4" Offset
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Midwest Industries 30mm QD Scope Mount - 1.4" Offset
Midwest Industries
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Midwest Industries QD 30MM High Scope Mount
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Midwest Industries QD 34MM Scope Mount
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NcSTAR AR-15 QR Weaver Mount/ Cantilever Scope Mount Rear Ring 30mm
NcSTAR
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Odin Works 1" Scope Mount
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ODIN Works 30mm Scope Mount
Odin Works
MSRP: $149.00$141.95ODIN Works 30mm Scope Mount The Odin Works 30mm Scope Mount is machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and hardcoat anodized black. It features a lightweight design and is forward canted by an inch to give you proper eye relief on your AR-15 rifle. This durable...MSRP: $149.00$141.95 -
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Reptilia Corp AUS 30mm 1.54" Optic Mount
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Strike Industries Adjustable Scope Mount
Strike Industries
MSRP: $142.95$128.95Strike Industries Adjustable Scope Mount The Strike Industries Adjustable Scope Mount combines four different eye-reliefs into one scope mount. This scope mount can be adjusted to three standard eye-relief positions and one new eye relief position:...MSRP: $142.95$128.95 -
Strike Industries AR-15 45-Degree Optic Mount
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Strike Industries LINK Tripod Adapter
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VISM 30mm Hunter Riflescope Rings
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Vortex CVP-30 PRO 30MM Cantilever Mount
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Vortex Precision Extended 20 MOA Cantilever Mount-1.57"
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Vortex Precision Extended 34mm Cantilever Mount - 1.57"
Vortex Optics
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Out of stock
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Vortex Optics
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Vortex Precision QR Extended 30mm Cantilever Mount - 1.45"
Vortex Optics
MSRP: $479.99$314.95Vortex Precision QR Extended 30mm Cantilever Mount - 1.45" This quick release cantilever mount is designed for mounting telescopic sights with 30mm tubes onto a flattop style AR-15 rifle. The offset of this cantilever mount positions the scope in a...MSRP: $479.99$314.95 -
Out of stock
Vortex Pro 1" Cantilever Mount
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MSRP: $229.99$149.99Vortex Pro 1" Cantilever Mount Vortex Pro 1 inch cantilever ring mount provides the correct height and forward placement for proper scope mounting. Center Scope Height 1.435 inches (36.45 mm) Weight (per ring) 198 grams (6.98...MSRP: $229.99$149.99 -
Vortex Pro Extended 34mm Cantilever Mount - 1.44"
Vortex Optics
MSRP: $229.99$149.99Vortex Pro Extended 34mm Cantilever Mount - 1.44" Vortex Pro 34mm cantilever ring mount provides the correct height and forward placement for proper scope mounting. Specifications: Center Scope Height: 1.44" Base Clamp Screws: 30 in/lbs Ring Screws: 18...MSRP: $229.99$149.99 -
Vortex Sport 1" Cantilever Mount 2" Offset - 1.59"
Vortex Optics
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Vortex Sport 1" Cantilever Mount 3" Offset - 1.59"
Vortex Optics
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Weaver Riser 1" High Integral Rail - Black
Weaver
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Out of stock
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