Dumb question: Could someone explain STANAG scope/mounts?

[Golden Hound]

I want to put a scope on an HK91 and the most common type of scope mount available is the "STANAG Claw Mount." Made by various makers, it ranges in price but the cheapest one I could find was this one for 80 at Cheaper Than Dirt. Seems like a good deal.

Now, to actually put the scope on the mount. What do I need? Where do I get the "STANAG" scope rings? What sorts of scopes do these rings work with, and where can I find them? What does STANAG even mean anyway?

There are other mounts for the HK91 some of which have a rail on top. Would I be better off going with one of these?

 

[Golden Hound]

Also if I do get the mount with the Weaver rail on it (top on this page what is a good scope I can put on the HK91 without breaking the bank? (I'm fairly new to scopes and mounts.)

 

[stubbicatt]

Couple of things.

1) If you can find a genuine HK mount, you will more likely be pleased with the quality. The generic Stanag mounts seem to vary quite a bit in the quality department. That said, I'm pretty sure that this mount http://www.copesdistributing.net/product_info.php?cPath=32_41&products_id=226 is good quality. (You will need to remove that odd rail and install rings.)

2) IOR Valdada make rings that will fit the Stanag mount. Others may too, but I know for certain that IOR does.

3) The rail on the Stanag mount if it is a "Weaver" rail is not the same as a "Picatinny" rail, and many accessories that fit the pic won't fit on the Weaver.

4) The link you provided may indeed be a good value, but I don't know for sure. Perhaps a call to the retailer and a few questions will pin it down for you.

5) This one is designed to work perfectly with your rifle and NATO ammo. http://www.copesdistributing.net/product_info.php?cPath=32_41&products_id=219

 

[rfurtkamp]

If you're going to use a claw mount, get a real one. And at that point, might as well just get the surplus scope/mount package.

For low-profile mount options, look at the B&T mounts - I tried a couple cheaper alternatives, but it was the only one durable enough to live through my HK-51s.

 

[jburnett]

STANAG is a European "screw" mount... Very similar to, let's say, an AR carry-handle mount. There is a milled trough in the base (female) and the rings have and a corresponding male end on the rings... They are attached to the base via hardened mounting bolts (as opposed to a dovetail style mount like Weaver or Picatinny). Very positive engagement but not very user-friendly. I've got an ARMS claw-mount for my MP5 that will take either STANAG rings or Weaver/Picatinny... But the OEM H&K claw mount I have on my 91 is pure STANAG...Screws only...
-J.Burnett

 

[Golden Hound]

Scope and mount combo seems like a decent deal.

The Stanag rings will fit any 30mm scope right?

If I got the mount alone, the rings, and a halfway-decent scope, that would all add up to around the price of the scope and mount combo, so I think I'll probably go with that.

 

[marktx]

What does STANAG even mean anyway?

Stanag = Standardization Agreement

It's sort of a milspec standard for NATO countries. The "M-16" mag and 5.56 cartridge are both good examples of STANAG equipment. There are lots of other things that are STANAG. If you are interested a link the the STANAG e-library is below

http://www.nato.int/docu/standard.htm