AR15 mounting: Red dot & scope?

[shazaam42]

I have a bushmaster ORC flattop, and I'm interested in scoping it without losing tactical usefulness. I'm new to the world of ARs, but I'd like to have a red dot mounted ABOVE a 3-10x40 (or so). I think that since the scope would sit so low on the gun, the dot sight would be at a decent level to be usable, but I don't know if anyone makes a stacked mount solution.

I know that a lot of recce guns have a scope and a laser, but I prefer the red dot over a laser.

I would open to other ideas or suggestions on how I can accomplish this.

-Caleb

 

[asknight]

Shazaam, welcome to the Black Rifle Club!

There are a number of options to allow a red dot mounted on top of a riflescope. I recommend sticking with a small, unobtrusive optic such as a Doctor or JPoint. They mount better to a picatinny style rail on top of a scope ring. Look at the rings on the following links to see what you think would look the best.

Valdada IOR 30mm Wide Heavy Duty Tactical Picatinny-Style Ring with Accessory Rail Matte High
You would need a pair of these, and a 30mm riflescope tube.

B-Square 1" Tactical Picatinny-Style Tri-Rings with 3 Picatinny Rails High Matte
These look a little funny, but would likely work for you.

Burris 1" Xtreme Tactical Picatinny-Style Ring Top with Picatinny-Style Accessory Rail
This is the option I like best, as it allows you to select the pair of Burris 1" Xtreme rings that match your installation perfectly.

If you are mounting directly to the flat-top without a riser attached, I recommend using the following rings in addition to the $18.99 railed upper ring in the link above.

Burris 1" Xtreme Tactical Picatinny-Style Rings Matte Extra-High


Here's the info on the JPoint that I recommended earlier and it's picatinny mount.

JP Enterprises JPoint Micro Electronic Holographic Red Dot Sight 4 MOA Dot Reticle

JP Enterprises JPoint Electronic Sight Mount Weaver-style or Picatinny Aluminum Matte

 

[shazaam42]

Thanks, asknight! I'm glad to be part of the club, and I really enjoy my gun. I'll look into those links, thanks for the info.

 

[aloharover]

Trijicon, JP, and Doctor all make the small red dot you are looking for.

Another source for the mount would be LaRue. I know they have one for mounting on an ACOG. maybe they also have one for a regular scope tube.

Pete

 

[jay43]

you could mount your scope on the flat top and add a forend wit rails, Bushmaster makes a 45 degree adaptor you can ad to the 9 oclock rail, looking at target, and put your red dot there

 

[benEzra]

Another option is a small red dot at 45 degrees (i.e., at about 1:30) off a handguard rail. You cant the AR 45 degrees to the left to use the red dot. I've seem some videos around here of people who that use that setup for 3-gun.

 

[shazaam42]

BenEzra: That's an interesting idea, I'll have to look at that option as well, thank you!

 

[jpwilly]

Here's an inexpensive way...a scope for that has a rail on top of it...CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

 

[asknight]

A set of scope rings with picatinny rails on them are much cheaper than the $200+ it costs to get a good quality railed fore end. The ring-mount keeps your optics on the same bore plane and eliminates the trouble of zeroing a sight diagonally rather than vertical/horizontal.

That Famous Maker scope in the above mentioned link is a chinese clone of the Leupold Mk4 CQ/T. I'm not sure I would trust a $35 clone of a $700 scope on a business rifle, if that is what shazaam is putting together.

 

[GunTech]

Mount your scope of choice, then mount a JP, Docter or Burris Fastfire on a picatinny rind on you scope. TPS makes the Cora, which will do just what you want.

http://www.tacticalprecision.com/cora_I.htm

 

[shazaam42]

I think that placing the red dot on the scope makes the most sense, and while this rifle isn't going to be strictly business, I want it to start building a near professional quality recce style rifle. At some point in the not-so-distant future, I'm planning to add a quad-rail and vertical foregrip (having shot a few ARs with the foregrip, I'm sold), so that might be an option also. In looking at these suggestions, none of them are so expensive that I couldn't mount it up on the scope for now (I think either using the CORA or the Burris rings), with the possible change to quad rail mount after I add that. I think that's my plan. Once it comes together, I'll add some pics.

Awesome suggestions, guys, I really appreciate it.

-Caleb

----------------
Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Because by then you're a mile away and you have his shoes.

 

[Taurus44]

I don't have the pic-tops, but I do use Burris Xtreme Tactical rings on every single scoped gun I own (except the rimfires). They are the best rings for the money that I have ever found, and I've used all different heights in 30mm and 1" with great success on bolt guns, shotguns, ARs, etc.

I can also attest to the quality of the JPoint. I own one of those too, and it's stood-up to some pretty serious abuse.

 

[W.E.G.]

I just use QD attachment systems, and switch between scope and red dot (or iron sights!) depending on my activity. The gun is already heavy enough with all the other junk. I don't need TWO optic sighting devices simultaneously mounted.

 

[shazaam42]

Taurus44 - Thanks for the info, I've read good reviews on those rings, and the sight. That seems to be the way to go. Any suggestions on height with a flattop AR? It currently has a fixed front sight, but I'm considering pulling that off.

W.E.G. - I considered the weight issue, and if it's too clunky set up the way I'm planning it, I'll probably do that. The good news is that I can set it up this way, and if it doesn't work out, it's all based on pic rails and so can be easily changed around. I'll really only be out the $$ for the scope rings. If I grunt when I lift it, I'll go that way.

-C

 

[Taurus44]

People seem to like the extra-high rings on flat-tops, but I have been using the Burris high rings, and they seem to work perfectly for me.

 

[W.E.G.]

People seem to like the extra-high rings on flat-tops,

QD rings allow the option of swapping scopes between guns. A riser (B-Square) gives the extra height so you don't have to do neck-contortions to get behind the scope while still allowing the use of more conventional height rings.

 

[shazaam42]

WEG- Nice rifle, I very much like your setup... Does your scope maintain zero when removed and replaced?

 

[Gunsby_Blazen]

I have been looking to add a rail to my scope for a while. Here is an interesting ring mount I found at a place called Tactical Night Vision. I plan on buying one sooner or later to mount a Burris fastfire to. As soon as I get it rigged up, I will post again. The rings look pretty darn solid. The GG&G mount is similar but it only fits to 30mm tubes. The mounts at Tactical Night Vision come in one more scope diameters. If you’re looking for something like this, they might be worth taking a gander at. The GG&G has a battery case if you’re looking for something that has some added features but I don’t think it’s really a selling point and looks as if it might get in the way…..
Both look like good ones to me.

hope these images turn out

 

[HokieMattDude]

I'm kinda in the same boat here.

I'm trying to figure out what to put on my DPMS LR-308 AP4. It only has a 16in barrel so I'm not going to sharpshoot at something 600 yards away really so I was thinking about a Leupold Mk4 CQ/T (would have to remove my front sight I think). Might put a cheap-o red dot on top of it for really fast and close stuff and peek into the Loopy for shots >50 yards.

Found a good deal locally on a Loopy VX-III 2.5-8x but I think it might be a little too long for me (I climb on and off of 4-wheelers a lot) and don't want to bang up a nice piece of glass like that. Short and compact is the name of the game for me I'm thinking.

 

[JD0608]

eotech.. they are a little costly but in my opinion well worth the money.
check them out on the web.......

 

[Victor-TNVC]

I saw my name pop up and thought I would reply. Great to be here...
Our Scope Accessory Ring has turned out to be a great success and they do come in 1", 30mm" and 34mm. GG&G decided they liked our design as well it seems! Ours have been out for several years and in use with numerous military and LE folk. Thanks all!