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How to choose a scope mount

Bc. Michal Kuczaj

A decent airgun needs a matching riflescope. However, it is also crucial to choose the mount that suits not only the air rifle, but also you. This article focuses on how to choose the correct scope rings.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

Scope mounts, also known as mounting rings, used for attaching riflescopes or certain red dot sights to the airgun's top rail can vary in shape, materials, dimensions, rail type, and they can be one-piece or two-piece. Let's see which criteria are the most important.

RAIL TYPE

This parameter refers to the type of rail installed on the air rifle. It needs to match the mounting rings. The most common ones include 22mm wide Picatinny and Weaver rails, or an 11mm dovetail.

Picatinny

Standardized mounting system with 22mm width (actually just 21.2mm) having 5.35mm wide grooves with 10mm spacing. This type is popular for its durability, reliability and compatibility with almost any accessory.

Weaver

The predecessor of Picatinny. It features a different groove width with no defined spacing. However, most scope mounts are compatible with both Picatinny and Weaver.

11mm Dovetail

Highly popular compact rail without grooves, frequently used on air rifles and rimfire rifles. Recently it is being replaced by Picatinny / Weaver rails due to its lower durability.

Mount diameter

This parameter depends on the riflescope, more specifically on its tube diameter (dimension Z). The most common tubes are 25.4mm, 30mm and 34mm. Also, the majority of mounting rings are fitted with a synthetic tape from the inside to protect the surface of the riflescope against scratches.

Blog Montáž puškohled Z

Mount height

Even if you pick the correct type of mounting rail and the matching tube diameter, the scope still may not fit on the airgun - because the scope rings are too low. And they can be low from two perspectives.

The first reason is that the selected scope's objective is too large, reaching below the mounting rings' contact surface, which can interfere with the main rail of some airguns.

The second situation comes down to whether you are able to comfortably aim through the scope without having to press your cheek into the cheekpiece - a common problem with bullpup type rifles.

Low, medium or high?

Each brand produces mounts solely by their own standard, thus you can even encounter a low mount from one manufacturer higher than a medium mount from another. That's why I highly recommend focusing on the "saddle height" or "center height" parameters.

The saddle height refers to the distance between the bottom contact edge of the mount with the rail and the bottom edge of the ring on which the scope sits (dimension A).

The center height refers to the distance between the contact edge of the mount with the rail and the center of the ring (dimension B).

Quick maths

If you want to make sure that the rings are high enough, you need to know the parameter "Objective external diameter" of the chosen riflescope (dimension X). Then just divide the diameter by two (getting the radius), and if the value is less than the B dimension, the riflescope will fit. The objective lens diameter (dimension Y) plays no part in choosing a mount.

Blog Montáž puškohled XY
X - objective external diameter; Y - lens diameter

If you prefer to use the dimension A, proceed in a similar way - except that you additionally subtract the tube radius from the objective external radius. Again, if the value is lower than the dimension A, the scope will fit.

In either case, I recommend leaving some room for the lens cap.

OTHER FEATURES

To attach the scope to the rifle, you only need to follow the instructions above. Now we'll take a look at some of the other features you may encounter.

One-piece or two-piece?

One-piece rings are more durable and easier to install. However, they might not fit on rifles with a magazine sticking out in the middle of the rail. Two-piece mounts do not suffer from this problem, and you really don't have to worry about them being damaged by recoil when used with airguns.

Cantilever mounts

Some rifles may be fitted with a rail too short to position the scope to the desired distance from the eye (eye relief). This problem can be solved by Cantilever mounts, originally designed for AR-15 rifles, which allow you to push the scope further to the front or to the rear.

Quick Detach mounts (QD)

You can also find so-called quick-detach scope rings on our website, allowing you to remove the scope in few seconds and without any tools. In case of guns with such low recoil as air rifles, QD mounts posess no drawback.

Adapters

If you already own an airgun, a scope and mounting rings, but for whatever reason they don't all fit together, don't worry. In certain situations, you can solve this with an appropriate adapter - for example, by converting the 11mm dovetail to a 22mm rail or vice versa, or you can increase the rail height with a Riser adapter.

CONCLUSION

Choosing the correct scope rings can be a tricky business at first. However, if you follow a few basic rules, you can't go wrong. I do hope this article has helped you a bit and I wish you safe and enjoyable shooting experience.

All done? Learn to zero the riflescope in the following article.

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Autor článku: Bc. Michal Kuczaj

Copywriter

Ever since I was a kid I've been interested in everything that shoots, cuts, drives fast and makes noise. My hobbies include graphics, 3D printing, origami, gardening and playing videogames. As of 2023, working at Balistas, I create product description, write articles, take photos for banners and social media, and run 3D printers.

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