If you enjoy shooting, you want to consider shooting a rifle. Shooting rifles is a great hobby that lets you test your marksmanship to its fullest.
If you really want to enjoy your rifle you want to invest in rifle scope mounts. This is the stand that helps you hold the scope (used for aiming) in place.
But all rifle scope mounts are not equal?
There are different types of rifle scope mounts and you need to consider which are the best for your rifle scopes.
We’ve prepared this guide to help you understand these different scope mounts.
The Guide to the Types of Rifle Scope Mounts
Before you look for rifle scope mounts, you want to also invest in a few great rifle scopes. You should consider buying used tactical scopes to enhance your rifle-shooting experience.
Once you’ve found your ideal rifle scopes, here’s how you distinguish the different rifle scope mounts:
What Makes a Great Mount
When learning about what are the different types of rifle scope mounts, you want to know what makes a great mount. This helps you determine which is best for you.
The best mount is what works for your shooting style and your experience. What one shooter prefers might not be ideal for another. You want to consider the level of sturdiness.
You want to consider the reliability of the material. For example, stainless steel is the most reliable and least likely to deteriorate. Aluminum is best for ensuring water resistance – perfect if you expect heavy rain when you go out shooting.
You want to test out rifle scope mounts whenever possible. If you know fellow rifle shooters who have scope mounts, ask if you can borrow them to see which works best for your needs.
Weaver Scope Mounts
This is the most popular type of rifle scope mount. These have a flat base that is also wide. These have recoil slots that are cut into the base. These help create a stable connection for the scope to the rifle.
The recoil slots are usually 7/8th of an inch and cut into the scope’s base. The recoil slots on Weave style bases are about .180″ wide as are there recoil lugs.
To prevent movement and to ensure stability in the mount, the rings and the base are fastened tightly. The bases for Weaver Scopes are usually in one or two pieces. These are connected to the rifle. The base of a Weaver Style is usually made of steel or aluminum.
Attaching weaver scope rings to the base is simple. They can also be easily taken off and reattached when needed. This is also a great scope for taking your rifle on the go. If you are planning to travel with your rifle, this is a great scope mount to consider.
Picatinny Scope Mounts
This is another popular rifle scope mount, loved by many seasoned rifle shooters. This mount has a wider and deeper slot when compared to weaver scope mounts.
The major advantage of this mount is that you have more space to mount the rings for the scope. This mount is also adjustable so that the shooter can adjust it to get the eye relief of their choice.
The grooves on a Picatinny Scope mount are .206″ wide. These mounts are made with fixed specifications and aren’t as flexible as weaver scope mounts.
Dovetail Scope Mounts
This is another great mount where the grooves are shaped like a dove’s tail. The mounting base has a hole that is oblong-shaped. This hole has bevels inside that are perpendicular to the bore. This mount has a standard way for scope rings to attach to the base of the mount.
A great benefit to this mount is that it is very stable. It also allows for replacing Dovetail rings of different sizes. This can be done without affecting the Dovetail scope mounts’ base system.
This is a great scope mount for both beginner and seasoned shooters.
Leupold Scope Mounts
Also called “Redfield” or “Burris” this is another popular type of rifle scope mount. These are usually made of steel and come in one or two pieces.
These are among the most reliable scope mounts and are often used by hunters and long-range shooters. They are renowned for their sturdiness as well. Leupold scope mounts, unlike Weaver-style, cannot be easily removed and attached to other rifles – so this is better suited once you have more experience with shooting rifles.
In order to remove the scope, you have to separate the top half of the scope’s rings from the mount. The front ring has a beveled metallic rectangle under it. This front ring turns tightly into a dovetail slot. The location of this ring is at the front of the base.
Adjusting and implementing the scope can be a strenuous process. It cannot be done by hand alone. It requires using a scope ring tool or a screwdriver handle. You might want to consult with a rifle expert or with a gun shop owner to assist you in attaching this scope mount to your rifle.
Integral Scope Mount
Finally, this is the simplest type of scope mount and a great option for beginners or anyone who prefers a minimalist approach to their rifle. These are mounts that are built-in to a scope that attaches easily to the rifle’s rail system.
This type of rifle scope mount works best for traveling and on-the-go hunting. You might want to consider adding a few of these to your arsenal when you don’t have the time to affix another scope mount to your rifle.
Get Your Rifle Scope Mounts
Now that you know the different types of rifle scope mounts, you are ready to start shopping for the ideal one. You want to consider choosing a few different ones from this guide to see which works best for you.
It’s best to consult rifle experts to get feedback on which are the best rifle scope mounts.
Please pass on this guide to other rifle enthusiasts. You can also find more great content on shooting, lifestyle, and technology on our website.
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