Scope mounting suggestions for AR build?

[CJW]

With A5B suggestion of using the Leupold mounts he uses a couple of months ago, I purchased 2 sets.......

3 recoil lugs , 5 screw bases... these are extremely heavy duty and not too expensive.

Most solid mounts I own. You will really like them.

[Jimla]

We've had at least one forum member break 3 or 4 of those Aero mounts.

Be extremely careful with your fastener torque when installing that mount.

The emphasis is definitely on lightweight, not strength when you look at the thin areas of the rings that hook together:



I have several Aero products that I love, but I'll never own one of these mounts after seeing where they sacrificed in order to make weight.

When I recommend a scope mount, rings, or any piece of gear, it's because I've lost count of how many different options in that segment I've had personal experience with and what works vs what doesn't. It isn't because I have one and think it's cool based on that single sample size and am self-validating. It's because I want to protect people from making the same mistakes I have made or have seen others make, thereby passing the savings off to you.

I would not trust that lightweight mount to even take a bump, just based on what I've seen. It's not worth the initial appearance of saving a few dollars if you lose zero in the field, and hunting rifles tend to take a beating.

I've installed a few and really backed off the torque spec with my Wheeler FAT Wrench.

If you don't have a torque wrench, I highly recommend them, especially if you're looking for the most accuracy from your rifles.

Own 4 of these mounts, have used them for years, they are a real pain to install, take 4 times the effort than other mounts to line them up, but always holds zero for me. I would recommend them over heavier mounts, tried two other heavyer brands and they would not hold zero on my 7mm-08 so I replaced all my rifles with Areo. Even dropped a rifle and broke a swfa scope and mount was fine. It been about 3000-4000 rounds ago, I think I used the tool that came with the mount to install it, I have Wheeler FAT Wrench but I don't think I used it.

[Wafavre2]

LaRue CAN QD SPR Mount $138.96, made in USA, awesome return-to-zero if you pull it off and re-attach.



If you find yourself paying more for a cheap import made from substandard materials and processes for the same price, get the US-made LaRue instead.

I didn't realize they were marked that low, as I was going to recommend the VFZ option on an LT-158.

If you want to be able to say WOW after you have sighted in once and have taken the scope off and on 40 times! Buy this.

[jackRyan]

You might want to check this out. Just finished mounting my scope. http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthrea...-P-R-E-P-R

[drewthebrave]

I just came across this discussion, and I have several Aero Precision ultralight mounts. While I have been happy with them overall, as my skill level is improving, I find that I'm struggling to shoot the rifles with the Aero mounts as well as my other rifles. I haven't been 100% satisfied with the accuracy on my 18" 5.56, and I suspect the Aero mount could be holding the rifle back a bit. Knowing what I know now, a solid mount is more important than a few ounces of weight savings, so I've decided to swap the Aero mount for an ADM Recon to test my theory.

I'll still keep an Aero Ultralight mount on my wife's lightweight carbine with 1-4x, since the weight savings is more beneficial to her and is adequate for her use (90% within 100 yards). But now that I'm starting to see my marksmanship abilities improve, I'm realizing that it's probably worth a few extra ounces (and dollars) to ensure a more robust optic-to-rifle mounting system on my rifles that are intended for longer range activities.

[Mustangfreek]

Had several Aeros, constantly checking and worrying about shifting was old. As they did and mounting was tricky as they want to rotate. Ditched them all.

Have 2 Midwest Industries mounts and lock up tight and no problems. Plus I don’t like the levers on the right side with the arm rifle mounts.

[biodsl]

I'll still keep an Aero Ultralight mount on my wife's lightweight carbine with 1-4x, since the weight savings is more beneficial to her and is adequate for her use (90% within 100 yards).

I have an Aero mount on my S&W M&P 15-22. It's perfect on that platform. It keeps a light weight rifle light for kids (and me!) and the .22LR doesn't abuse the mount with recoil.

[PVBoom]

I have an Aero mount on my S&W M&P 15-22. It's perfect on that platform. It keeps a light weight rifle light for kids (and me!) and the .22LR doesn't abuse the mount with recoil.

That might be the only saving grace about the Aero mounts, that they will function for .22LR.

Other than that, they can be recycled.

[SDW]

I decided I wasn't going to buy any more Larue mounts after my last experience with them. I wanted to buy just the mount portion of the LT204 mounts, the same mount shown above. Larue advertises it as costing $99. But can you buy JUST the mount for $99? Nope. You're forced to add a set of rings, which might be a necessity for some people. But for others, like myself, who already own an extra set of Larue rings? You can't add just the mount-base to a cart and check out with it, paying $99. I figured, maybe it's just a glitch in the web site design. So I phoned Larue and asked about buying just the base for $99, as they offer it. "Nope sorry sir. Can't do that. The computer won't even let me do that..... But you're still getting a really good deal." WTH. That's not the point. Why price them that way instead of like ALL their other mounts, total price to include the mount, e.g. $210 for the LT104 mount, and just pick the ring sizes that come with. Seems dumb. And also deceptive advertising.

https://www.larue.com/products/lt204/

I ended up later buying a Bobro mount that went on sale. I'll admit, even on sale it cost more money than the LT204 plus the unnecessary rings would have been. I was still stewing though.

[PVBoom]

LaRue CAN QD SPR Mount $138.96, made in USA, awesome return-to-zero if you pull it off and re-attach.

Yeah, I will look there for my next mount needs.

[Klem]

I decided I wasn't going to buy any more Larue mounts after my last experience with them. I wanted to buy just the mount portion of the LT204 mounts, the same mount shown above. Larue advertises it as costing $99. But can you buy JUST the mount for $99? Nope. You're forced to add a set of rings, which might be a necessity for some people. But for others, like myself, who already own an extra set of Larue rings? You can't add just the mount-base to a cart and check out with it, paying $99. I figured, maybe it's just a glitch in the web site design. So I phoned Larue and asked about buying just the base for $99, as they offer it. "Nope sorry sir. Can't do that. The computer won't even let me do that..... But you're still getting a really good deal." WTH. That's not the point. Why price them that way instead of like ALL their other mounts, total price to include the mount, e.g. $210 for the LT104 mount, and just pick the ring sizes that come with. Seems dumb. And also deceptive advertising.

https://www.larue.com/products/lt204/

I ended up later buying a Bobro mount that went on sale. I'll admit, even on sale it cost more money than the LT204 plus the unnecessary rings would have been. I was still stewing though.

SDW,

I'm not sure I agree with you here.

I followed the link and can see nothing deceptive about LaRue's offering. You buy the base and then choose the rings, it's pretty simple and up front. The $99 only fools us for a minute or so. There is plenty of time to pull out of the deal when you realise you can't buy the base by itself. It's not like predatory airfares or hire cars where you go down the rabbit hole of multiple pages and find yourself at the checkout with an inflated price, and just give up. Yes, Larue are the masters of marketing; leveraging their brand equity heavily in imagery, fan boys and Dillo Dust. But, their mounts are solid and well machined.

Just look past the marketing and compare the final price against the competitors. It should not be personal.

[FLshooter]

Haven’t read a post where someone has used scope rings on an AR15.I own a few dozen AR15 and although most have one piece cantilever mounts.I happen to have maybe a half dozen that have Vortex pro series or Burris Xtreme tactical scope rings.
I would agree it may not the perfect set up for some scopes.But I was able to get plenty of eye relief ,and I’m still being able to mount the rings on the receiver only. I was thinking about eventually swapping them out with one piece cantilever mounts.But these rifles are accurate, I doubt it will make any difference.