Dumb question about scoping an AR
- Thread starter BobTheTomato
- Start date
- Status
RainDodger
Member
I've gone a different direction than most guys with most of my ARs. Instead of dedicated AR scope mounts, I have used a riser from GG&G, and then put standard (usually low) Leupold quick release rings on my scope. That means, in a pinch I can pull the scope off an AR and put it on a hunting rifle, and vice versa. Of course that doesn't happen often, but the option is there. All my scopes have similar rings and all can be moved from rifle to rifle.
cdb1
Member
Not a bad idea. I might try that on my next AR and see how I like it compared to my one piece QD AR mount.
Crunchy Frog
Member
When I was considering adding a 1-6x scope, some of which are pretty heavy, to my rifle I handled a couple in the store and was surprised how heavy they are. I asked a fellow in my club who is a Three Gun shooter. He recommended the Aero Precision mount and said that they held up well on match rifles that get tossed into barrels. I have since purchased two when they were on sale and am pleased with them. I like the sleek design as well as the light weight. They are not a quick detach mount but that feature adds cost and weight.
Armored farmer
Member
cdb1
Member
They are the only AR mounts I know of that will work with the P-223 fixed 3X scope, though there quite possibly could be more. That little scope is one stubby little bad boy. Raindodger's method of using a separate riser and rings would work perfectly.
cdb1
Member
Well, brilliant minds and all that noise.
1911 guy
Member
Armored farmer, our rifles are eerily similar. I've got an A2 stock on mine, as it is a dedicated varmint gun, but the free float handguard looks similar (but not quite exact) to the M.I. Gen 2 I put on mine. Scope is a Bushnel Elite with similar target knobs.
Armored farmer
Member
Its a good setup.
earplug
Member
I have used Nikon and Aero Precision with complete satisfaction on our flat tops.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,893
I'm not personally a fan of the Nikon mounts, they take a LOT of lapping to produce sufficient contact, which is compromised by the single screw design. They work, but are poor. I've had a lot of customers insist on using them for the cost, and I have spent a lot of extra time and effort (and customer money) to lap them to a point of suitable contact, to prevent damage to my customer's optics. I used them on one personal rifle, and only with a $78 (dealer cost) scope.
The PEPR's are good quality, but heavy. The Aero's and Larue's are fantastic.
I have used risers and conventional rings on a few builds, not really a fan.
The ability to transplant a scope without removing from the rings is presumptuous, and a poor practice.
The PEPR's are good quality, but heavy. The Aero's and Larue's are fantastic.
I have used risers and conventional rings on a few builds, not really a fan.
The ability to transplant a scope without removing from the rings is presumptuous, and a poor practice.
cdb1
Member
I agree.
RainDodger
Member
Sorry I took so long to get back... the risers that I have used, come from GG&G. Very nice quality pieces. They have a long "tang" for lack of a better word, that is as long as the rail itself - the part that clamps against the rail. I like that. I got it from these guys: https://www.gggaz.com/ . I have no affiliation with them.... and I've found all their stuff to be outstanding quality. Good people to deal with and their parts are made right here in the USA. 
Cool! I like this Mini 14 red dot mount, hadn't seen it before.
Jerry M
Member
I have had good luck with Armalite AR mounts, available in 1" and 30mm size. They are made to the proper height.
Good luck
Jerry
Good luck
Jerry
grampajack
AR Junkie
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 1,714
It depends largely on what scope is being mounted, or rather how upset you would be if said scope were to be damaged by a crappy mount. That is going to determine how much you need to spend on a mount, as you can find mounts with tolerances of between +/- .2'' and .0002''. If the rings aren't aligned perfectly, you can damage the scope body itself, damage the erector assembly, make it difficult to turn the adjustments, or distort the image. If it's a cheap scope, by all means buy a cheap mount. If it's a premium scope, you will probably regret a cheap mount very much, sooner or later.
One thing you might do is look at the mounts that are being sold by the company who manufactured your scope. So if you have a Nikon scope, look at what Nikon mounts are going for, and that's probably the level of quality and price point that you want to aim for. Now you might pay more if you want quick detach and things like that, but it should give you a basic idea of where to start.
Another thing that we need to know besides the scope you intend to mount is how your rifle is set up. Primarily your length of pull (along with your height) and what handguard you have on it. That's going to determine if you need a cantilever mount (you probably will), and what height the mount needs to be for the objective lens to clear your handguard. If you don't have any clearance issues, it's just a matter of personal preference. Most 1 piece mounts are going to be in the 1.5'' range, but some might like it a little lower to get a more aggressive cheek weld. If you go higher than 1.5'' (due to objective clearance issues), you will probably need some kind of cheek riser, for which there are many options.
If you haven't decided on a scope yet, I would look into Leupold's Mark AR series. That with a basic Leupold mount would be a winning combo that's easy on the wallet. http://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-mark-ar-mod-1-3-9x40mm-p5-dial-riflescope-matte-black.html
The VX1 would probably clear, as well, and it's a little cheaper. https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...yVYjRKK9xmzK0UsGYnldU_nuaGa-FlyXpihoCHKTw_wcB
Last edited:
I use THIS on my AR-10.
(Don't even think about nose-to-charge-handle)
Tigtened with a Torque Screw/nutdriver to 15 in-lbs. I can take it off/on at will and retain zero to 1/2 Inch
(Don't even think about nose-to-charge-handle)
Tigtened with a Torque Screw/nutdriver to 15 in-lbs. I can take it off/on at will and retain zero to 1/2 Inch
Last edited:
I like the armalite 30mm mounts. I use a.r.m.s. rings to bring it down to 1". I use the bsa mildot scope because I can see through it. If I decide to upgrade, or these bsa don't hold up, I can change to another scope without buying another mount system if it has a 30mm tube. Rock river arms sells a similar mount for about half as much, BUT it has sharper edges than the armalite. This can be uncomfortable, but quite damaging if banged around in the gun safe costing more money than you save. But it is a sturdy mount. I think the armalite is made in a couple heights . I mark the bottom of the mount with a pencil, and use rail covers trimmed to locate the mount when stored.
With ar rifles ( or any rifle ) the shapes vary so the physical size of the objective end may work well on one rifle but not another.
I started out with a variety of sale scopes to fit my various rifles before I standardized to the bsa mildot.
One scope had cross hairs so wide that when I zeroed it in, I thought I was missing because the blocked view of the bullet hole.
My original consideration for the varied cheap scopes or mounts was learning what I could see through, and a scope on every rifle. ( because sighting down a 24" bull barrel flat top ar15 sans scope/sights doesn't work )
Hope that my experiences and inexperience's help. Asking santa for flir and night scopes
With ar rifles ( or any rifle ) the shapes vary so the physical size of the objective end may work well on one rifle but not another.
I started out with a variety of sale scopes to fit my various rifles before I standardized to the bsa mildot.
One scope had cross hairs so wide that when I zeroed it in, I thought I was missing because the blocked view of the bullet hole.
My original consideration for the varied cheap scopes or mounts was learning what I could see through, and a scope on every rifle. ( because sighting down a 24" bull barrel flat top ar15 sans scope/sights doesn't work )
Hope that my experiences and inexperience's help. Asking santa for flir and night scopes
bikemutt
Member
I've had mixed results with the Nikon AR mounts. They slide just right onto some rails and fight like heck on others, I finally gave up on them.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,893
Interesting timing you have in quoting today my post from a couple weeks ago...
Went out with one of my 6.8 AR's today, the only one of my personal AR's which has a Nikon M-223 mount, and after a few hits at 300yrds, my shots started straying from the plate. It's not my most precise rifle, but it's a sub-MOA rifle... Hitting a 3MOA plate is child's play...
Yup... Mount came loose, AGAIN... I've torqued it to the MFG specs many times, and past them to try to keep it tight... No go, it's just a poor mount.
cdb1
Member
I have mounted a few scopes for customers using the SWFA S.S.A.L.T. and I believe they are the same as a PEPR, just in a different package.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
