Scope height and proper cheek height?

[P89DCSS]

I'm setting up an AR with a 4-14x42 scope. I bought medium height rings which set the front scope bell about ⅛" off the picatinny rail. Everything I read says to set up a scope just like I have it. But now I can't get a good view of the eye piece. I have to press my cheek into the stock's cheek piece. I never had this issue on hunting stocks but the AR stock doesn't drop away like I'm used to.

It appears I need higher scope rings but I thought I'd check here before spending another $40.

 

[tbs]

You'll need to go with high -- extra high rings. AR's don't have the drop in comb like bolt rifles.

 

[LoonWulf]

I actually cant get by with most high/extra highs. Scopes still too low .
Switched to one-piece mounts which are taller yet, and those have worked well.

 

[troy fairweather]

You can get a riser pretty cheap.

 

[Laphroaig]

If you're happy with the eye relief, a riser will work. I need my scope mounted more forward so a cantilevered AR15 mount kills both birds for me.

I do have a red dot set up on a riser.

 

[I6turbo]

1.5" high rings fit me perfectly on a gun with the standard style collapsible stock and the built-in rail on top of the receiver. I pull the gun up (with the stock extended) and I'm naturally looking through the scope without lifting my head, pressing it down into the stock, etc. Here's 1.5" height on my AR-10.



The setup that you have would not work for me either.

 

[brasscollector]

Looks like your charging handle is going to be a lot of fun to manipulate with the scope that low too. I hate how tall most of my scopes are mounted on my ARs but a guy still has to be able to operate the gun and get low enough on the stock to see through the optic.

 

[Chuck R.]

I actually cant get by with most high/extra highs. Scopes still too low .
Switched to one-piece mounts which are taller yet, and those have worked well.

Same here.

For the last couple builds with scopes I've gone with the ADM "Recon" mount, which is a one piece cantilever design. Besides being the right height for me and allowing for good eye relief (for me at least) they have excellent RTZ. I'm a "nose to charging handle" kind of guy, so I like my scopes FWD.

ADM mount on my 3Gun rig with Leupold VX6 1-6X:



ADM mount on my SPR build with Vortex 4-16x50 PST:

 

[Varminterror]

AR height rings or Mount/rings will typically be 1.4-1.6” tall (rail to center-axis). Common rings can be used on 1/2” riser blocks, but it does add one more thing which can come loose and effect the rifle.

 

[P89DCSS]

Thanks for all the excellent responses. I'm going with a riser so I can keep my rings. I'm realizing the Magpul PRS cheek riser needs a high scope to come into play.

 

[JDGray]

I'm setting up an AR with a 4-14x42 scope. I bought medium height rings which set the front scope bell about ⅛" off the picatinny rail. Everything I read says to set up a scope just like I have it. But now I can't get a good view of the eye piece. I have to press my cheek into the stock's cheek piece. I never had this issue on hunting stocks but the AR stock doesn't drop away like I'm used to.

It appears I need higher scope rings but I thought I'd check here before spending another $40.

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Yup, you throw conventional wisdom away when you scope an AR. When your wearing that rifle right, the tip of your nose will be touching that scope too, so you might have to buy an offset mount, as putting rings on a hand guard might not be a good idea.

 

[herrwalther]

Higher and farther forward. Take off the scope and setup on the stock aiming down the top rail. Stick your nose on the left (or right for left handed) ledge of the charging handle. Then put the scope where you can see through it. That will show you about how tall and forward your scope will be. Your comb height on that stock is adjustable. Play around with it to find what is most comfortable, then go shopping for risers or higher rings.

 

[army_eod]

I go with the standard AR one-piece mounts.

 

[Walkalong]

 

[wiscoaster]

You can get a riser pretty cheap.

It looks like his riser is adjustable already.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I bought weaver see through rings for mine. It works alright don't have to crane or creep the stock.

 

[Varminterror]

It looks like his riser is adjustable already.

Different riser.

 

[LoonWulf]

It looks like his riser is adjustable already.

Different riser.

I had to look real close at the picture again before i figgured out what either of you were talking about

 

[wiscoaster]

I had to look real close at the picture again before i figgured out what either of you were talking about.

In high school we sat on risers to watch the basketball game, so ya, I get it.

 

[Sniper66]

The cantilevered mount works really well on mine.

 

[CraigC]

AR's are a totally different kettle of fish for two reasons. One is height, they require a much taller mount because the stock encloses the buffer tube, which is inline with the bore axis. Two is length. The AR receiver is much closer to the eye than on a typical bolt gun. Most AR-specific mounts are of the unitized/cantilever type to push the optic further forward, because you don't want your optic bridging the receiver/forend gap. You can see here if I used conventional rings, the front ring would be on the forend. Something another touched on, this also gets the scope out of the way of the charging handle.

 

[Txhillbilly]

AR height rings or Mount/rings will typically be 1.4-1.6” tall (rail to center-axis). Common rings can be used on 1/2” riser blocks, but it does add one more thing which can come loose and effect the rifle.

I've run riser's and standard style scope rings for several decades. If mounted and torqued properly, chances of anything coming loose is about the same as if you were using one of the 1pc AR style scope mounts that I have never liked since they came out with them.

 

[gotboostvr]

I've run riser's and standard style scope rings for several decades. If mounted and torqued properly, chances of anything coming loose is about the same as if you were using one of the 1pc AR style scope mounts that I have never liked since they came out with them.

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Not really relevant to the conversation, but that's a nice paint job on your rifle.