AR Sponsor
Posted: 6/14/2007 6:30:55 AM EDT
| Just got my first AR and am learning, need to mount a scope on it. The rifle is a rock river varmint, will be used for yote hunting and some target shooting. Planning to mount a 3-9X40 burris ballistic plex scope on this rifle, and had a question on rings. Rock Rivers catalog shows a high riser mount for AR's not sure that will get the scope at the right height though. Have had suggestions to go with warne QD ultra high rings, really not sure which to buy though. Anyone here have any suggestions? Thanks |
|
Be sure to consider eye relief as well as height - the Picatinny rail on a flat-top may not let you mount the scope far enough forward for a comfortable position, especially in prone. I use an extended riser (1/2" high) made by Accuracy Speaks (available direct or from Brownell's) combined with standard-height rings. There are now a similar ones available from Compass Lake and White Oak, among others. This gives me an extra 4" of rail to let me mount a Leupold 6.5-20x50 LRT (a rather long scope), and gives me the option for an extra 15' of built-in elevation for long range work. For ranges up to 600 yards, a simple rail extender like YHM's <http://www.yhm.net/store/rails.html> should do the job for less money. I'm using Burris Signature Zee rings - they are inexpensive and work well, even though they don't have the macho look many seem to like. They use a floating plastic bushing to minimize stress on the scope tube and simplify installation, and offset bushings are available. Bushings with a 0.010" offset are included with 30 mm rings, and 0.010", 0.020" and 0.030" bushings can be purchased for 1" rings. They're inexpensive and work very well. I use them on my spacegun to mount a VX-III 6.5-20x50 LRT and have never had a problem with them. Removing and replacing the scope has never shifted the POI. |
|
There are 2 options for getting more eye relief - one piece scope mount and extended rail. One-piece scope mount is solid and simple, with the fewest connection points to loosen or shift, but is not as flexible. LaRue makes the best with the most eye relief, Armalite is next, and then comes a variety of mounts that don't really move the scope forward much. I much prefer the extended rail with medium rings for flexibility. There are more connection points, but with care in snugging them down, it's not usually a problem. Here's a pic of an Armalite one-piece (barely enough eye relief for me):  and a RRA extended 1/2" riser rail with Warne medium rings:  |
| Thanks for posting those pics, that helps me out. Kind of thinking I am leaning towards the one piece mount and may go with the armalite, but will not go with the mount RR is selling. Looking at your first setup there, think I should be able to get the burris scope far enough forward. |
|
Yes, thanks for the pics and tips. I also recently bought the RRA scout rail that you have, as I wanted the flexibility to install a scope with extended eye relief. At first I was looking at the Larue extended mount (SPR-E), but then saw the price of $215 (gulp!), and decided I could get MUCH more mounting flexiblity on both height of rings I choose, AND in forward positioning--not to mention saving a lot of money--by going with the RRA rail. So I did. Problem is, the scope I want isn't out yet. I'm looking at the new Nikon Monarch scopes that haven't been released yet, supposedly later this month. |
Model 1 Sales makes an inexpensive yet durable one-piece scope mount.
|
I was very impressed with the quality. The alignment of the rings was very good and it fit will on my upper without issue. One thing to note is that this mount is solid steel. Surprisingly it isn't really that heavy, but I wanted to you know it is unlike all other mounts in this regard. I think you'll find you best deal on this mount at Midway USA. |
|
One thing to watch out for on this scope mount, as on most other one-pieces, is that you can get enough eye relief. Obviously you can see from the pics that you can only get the scope so far to the front, and if you like to shoot nose-to-charging-handle, and if you have a scope with an eye relief of 4" (for example), this mount would not cut it. I have definitely heard good things about it though, and if it'll work for you as far as eye relief goes, it should be a great buy. |
AR Sponsor