Best way to mount a scope on a flat top AR?

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CoyoteSix

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Hey folks, I just got a S&W MP 15-22 on layaway.

I was originally gonna wait and buy it when I had the cash saved in a few more weeks but the LGS only had 3 left and they likely wouldn't survive the Holidays.

Anywho, I'm gonna save for a Leupy fixed 4x or an EOtech.

Meanwhile I'm gonna throw this on: http://www.simmonsoptics.com/riflescopes/22_mag.cfm

So I can shoot in time for wabbit season. Problem is I'm a newbie to the AR platform and need some advice.


How do I mount a scope like that on a flat top?

Thanks THR!
 
I would learn to shoot it with the iron sights which should be fine with a .22lr at first. Find out what ammo it likes and what's accurate at a good cost.

No rush to go to optics and the odds are you'll know exactly what you want after a few thousand rounds down range. And of course if you already have a cheap scope, see what it will do.
 
The EOTech has mounts built in. Your flat top has rails made into it.

Set the EOTech on the rails, tighten the screw, and rock on. It couldn't be simpler.

Mounting a scope is slightly more complicated. The scope doesn't include the mounts.

There's two common methods.

You can get individual rings designed to fit on the rifle's rails, that have clamps sized for your scope, or you can go with a one piece mount.

The two piece setup is cheaper and slightly more difficult to get a perfect mount.

The one piece mounts are super easy to install and cannot be misaligned. They are also super strong and will hold zero through amazing abuse.

One piece mounts can get downright expensive. Google "Larue Tactical".
 
I have a Weaver classic 1-3x on 15-22. I can shoot with both eyes open close up with 1x and it is easy to get squirrel headshots at 3x. the scope is on a Primary Arms mount ($30). Both were under $200.

Primary Arms has a lot of red dots that will work, if that is what you want.

I think a $400 eotech is overkill for a 15-22. I have a eotech on my 223, but they are pricy for a 22. There is a rimfire eotech. I'm not sure how much it costs.

edit: for mounting a scope on an AR, i like the one piece mounts. Primary Arms has 2 affordable and reliable mounts ($30 or $60), Burris P.E.P.R. ($80), American Defense Manufacturing ($150) is my favorite and LaRue ($200)
 
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Well the scope will be used for Rabbit season first, I'd learn it with Irons but I'm on a time frame.

I guess I'll have to see if a one piece fits my scope of choice? Any way to make the process a little simpler? sounds like a guessing game.
 
Regular scope rings won't be high enough. You need either an AR-specific mount or a riser block. I already had rings for the scope I wanted to use so I just used a YHM riser. Not as sexy as a Larue mount but it didn't cost $200 either.

IMG_7747c.jpg
 
you can use tall regular scope rings. your biggest concern is having enough scope clearance to work the charging handle.
 
Burris Zee rings. Yankee Hill risers. Higher than needed, but you can use lower rings. Lots of options.

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I don't own a .22/AR, but do own several real ARs. I like the YHM risers for mounting optics on my flat tops. I'd think that a 3 m.o.a. red dot, such as the Bushnell TRS-25 would be perfect for rabbit hunting, and would certainly be faster than a magnified "conventional" scope.
 
I'd go with the PEPR mount and Weaver 1x3 scope over any fixed 4 power.

In fact, I did!
 
DNZ Freedom Reaper are very strong one piece mounts and have them on three of my AR uppers including a 308. Stand up to lots of abuse and come in both 1" and 30mm as well as 20 MOA.
 
So I'm sure a lower cost scope mount will work. Will a basic one peice mount fit the scope I listed?

Not sure about the difference between 30mm and 1"?

Also will just any one peice mount fit?
 
Most of the options shown are available in 1" or 30MM. That is the diameter of the tube on whatever scope you choose to use. The Leupold you mentioned is probably 1", but it will say in the advertising what diameter tube the scope has.

A basic one piece mount in the proper tube diameter should work for you.

The eye relief on the scope also matters. I have a scope with a 5" eye relief, and it has to be mounted quite far forward on an AR. I used a YHM extended riser with it. Most scopes are around 3" of eye relief, and are easier to mount on an AR.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=520989

This rifle no longer exists. I bought a .300 BLK barrel and turned this gun into the one in the pic in post #10 in the thread.
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If you plan to mount the scope and leave it there, I've really taken a liking to the AR Stoner mounts from Midway. I have 4 of them at this point, in fact. Solid, lightweight, streamlined and made in the US for those that get wrapped up about that stuff. About $65, which makes it a cheaper solution than the PEPR and provides some forward offset which makes it better than standard rings.
 
+1 for the AR Stoner scope mounts from Midway. They frequently have them on sale, (like right now @ $50.99) Form fit and function is excellent.

Roger
 
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