AR Optic Mounting Advice Needed

I was hoping to get some feedback on what would be a good forward/offset mount for an AR that has a bit more vertical clearance than this one.

This UTG mount did not fit my needed application. The product lacks the height needed to accommodate the objective diameter in conjunction with a folding rear site.

I tried mounting a Burris Fullfield II 2-7x35mm scope over a Magpul Gen2 MBUS folding sight. There was not enough clearance for even this relatively small objective, no matter how I mounted it.

Any advice on a slightly taller [and not overly expensive] mount that would fit this scope/MBUS setup would be greatly appreciated.

 

I do not know if any of these will help, and certainly not inexpensive - but Larue is good stuff.

http://www.larue.com/riflescope-mounts?sort=popular

 

You need to see what the "saddle height" of the mount you have is, and buy one that is a few mm higher.

Looks to me like you could move the mount back a bit and the scope forward a bit in the mount to get it to clear and not move the eye box too much further forward. Or is the scope at the position limit in front? I can't tell from the photo.

Unless the scope mount is "quick detatch" I don't see a lot of point in having a rear sight as a backup, YMMV.

 

Define expensive.

You might try the Burris PEPR cantilever mount. They're about $90 and are taller than the one you are currently using.

 

Another option would be to get a lower rear BUIS. The Magpul 'Pro' (the metal one) sight sits lower than the plastic MBUS when folded and would be cheaper than getting a new scope mount.

 

A different route would be to get a 1/2" riser to go between your rail and mount. It will add one more joint in the system, but will allow some versatility in positioning, and save more trial and error.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HCF0MZ8/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1480303676&sr=8-12&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Rail+riser

 

I mounted a Leupold mark AR 1.5-4x recently and used an Aero Precision extended mount (both from Optics Planet. Used the live chat and they offered a great deal on both!).

I use the same rear sight and have plenty of clearance.

The AP isn't strictly speaking a quick detach mount but they give you a little torx wrench tool that fits in the pistol grip storage compartment so you could pull the mount off in 10 seconds if you need to go to irons.

 

I too have an Aero Extended mount. I have the included torx tool stuffed inside the pistol grip, as well. It's a good mount, IMO.

 

Math inbound!!

assuming this is the mount you have http://www.ebay.com/itm/UTG-Cantilever-Scope-Mount-Integrated-1-Rings-with-RIS-Rails-Quick-Detach-/291125455177 and the saddle height is 20mm (.787") add a half inch for your scope and you get 1.28" to the centerline. That is lower than most mounts. Most put you at 1.43" So you should be .15" (4mm) taller. That would probably clear the rear sight.

 

Thanks for all of the great feedback folks. Greyling... I believe you have the right one... here is the link to the one I picked up: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CJ7F6Z6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It looks like the same unit you posted. Indeed, it is lower than others I have seen.

It is not a bad mount for the price. My other unit has a Burris MTAC on it and it is going strong with this mount in 30mm flavor.

I think the cheapest method would be the 1/2" riser Badkarmamib suggested... only $10. I really want to keep the QD feature and avoid doubling the cost.

 

honestly, I've been pretty impressed by the utg products I have handled. Go for the riser. or forgo the backup sights. I have yet to ever wish I had them, or seen a rifle damaged in such a way that they scope was damaged but the backup sights would have kept it going.

 

I hear you... I have never really needed them yet either. Backup sights are kind of like freeze dried emergency food storage... you never need 'em until you really need 'em bad.

I agree that UTG has very good products for the price. Obviously, there are better quality US-made options, but they cost more than twice as much. This $400 AR kit simply does not justify the added cost.

PS... the rail riser posted above might be a bit short for this mount. The UTG mount footprint is 100mm (4"), but the riser is only 85mm long. There are plenty of longer risers out there though, so it is still an option.

 

Sam, how does that work? It looks like the rear sight can't flip up due to the scope being in the way. Do you plan on removing the optic if you need to use irons???




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Place your rear sight forward of your scope...........

 

It would be quite difficult to use irons through a scope... Most magnified optics are mounted with QD rings, to be pulled off when switching to irons.

 

Yes. That's often the way this is done with any magnified optic. A very short red-dot can often be left in place and still sight through the irons, but longer scopes generally are in the way of that.

That's why so many of these mounts are "Quick-Detach". If the scope goes down you flip the levers to release the mount, drop the scope in your pack or pocket, and roll on using the irons.
In my case, I didn't want to put quite that much money into the mount, but by keeping the torx bit key in the pistol grip storage compartment, I can loosen three bolts in a couple of seconds and remove the scope and mount very quickly if I ever need to.

Of course, most folks never, ever have a scope fail on them these days, so it's probably a moot point.

Well, that's inventive, and it would work pretty well with a notch type rear sight. Apertures are designed to work right up against your eye, though, so that would be probably not workable.

 

I use offset sights on my AR with a magnified optic. http://www.opticsplanet.com/magpul-industries-offset-mbus-pro-sight.html Don't have to take the scope off to use them. Just tilt the gun.

 

Yeah, those are cool, primarily if you actually have a purpose in switching between iron sights and a scope for different kinds of shots.

It all depends on how you set the gun up and how you want it to work. A low-power variable scope like my Leupold Mark AR, which works as red dot sight at the lowest setting, can supersede a need to be able to use irons completely interchangeably, whereas if you want a higher powered scope (say a fixed 8x or 10x, or a variable 3-12x or something) you very well may want either irons or a secondary red-dot sight mounted so that you can roll the gun slightly and use that sight for closer shots which can be difficult to make quickly with a magnified optic.

Lots of different ways to skin the cat.

 

My son's AR has a Fullfield TAC 30 mounted in a PEPR mount. The rifle also has BUIS. No problems.

 

Why are you trying to use backup iron sights cowitness with a scope? Unless you can see your front sight through the scope as well (unlikely even at 2x power) there is no point to mounting BUIS to be used with a scope. If you were using a QD scope mount or a red dot sight, that would be a different story.

In any case these are what I use for BUIS on my own rifle. They sat on every service rifle I ever used and they fit right at home on my own rifle.
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/sights/rear-sights/ar-15-m16-m4-usgi-backup-iron-sight-prod26575.aspx

 

He's not. The scope is quick detach. It'd need to come off to use the irons.

This is the primary reason for mine. They're not so much back up (although of course they could be used for that) as they are for close range, quick shots.

 

Definitely not worth the added weight for the one in a million + chance that my scope will become unusable.

 

Hard to tell. The QD knobs are on the other side so it looked harder to move.

Scope failure can mean plenty and warrant the need for backup sights. It could be the battery is dead if you are using a red dot or illuminated reticle. It could be the seal on your scope is damaged and now you have condensation or a foggy scope. I would much rather have a good backup sight that I may never use than need it when I do.

 

In my case, since my rifle will see competition use more than anything else (aside from range plinking), the idea is if I ever discover that something got loose, or damaged, and I realize I've lost the scope's zero and can't hit what I'm aiming at, I can grab my little torx tool and pull the whole thing off in 10 seconds. Then I've got a set of very usable, zeroed, iron sights which will get me through the rest of the match. They add a bit less than 3 oz. to the weight of the rifle, and I'm not the sort that is bothered by an extra 3 oz. on a rifle. I'd rather have them there.

Heck, I'd rather have them there even if the scope failure comes on some casual plinking day with the kids! I'd rather be able to pull the scope and pop up the irons and keep having fun with the young'uns than have to case it and go home.