Here are a few quick tips to consider when choosing the appropriate Rifle, Shotgun, Muzzleloader, or Handgun mount / mounts for your new gun.
1 piece base vs. 2 piece bases
There is a common misconception that 1 piece bases are much stronger than 2 piece base sets, in most cases this simply is not true. Today’s precision machined two piece base sets are often just as rigid as their one piece counter parts when mounted properly. While 1 piece bases are the best choice in many cases, there are some advantages to 2 piece sets as well. 1 piece bases are often machined to fit a “standard” receiver, these can often hang over the opening on your particular caliber and/or fall quite a bit short and look somewhat sloppy. Two piece bases do not straddle the opening therefore they often give a better fit and finished look.
Universal Dovetail, Double Dovetail, Weaver, Dovetail, Tip off, etc……? What mounting system is for me?
1. Universal Dovetail is a long time favorite mounting system that has been around for quite a few years. This mounting system continues to be a favorite as it is fairly simple and has limited “weak points”. Basically the universal dovetail mounting system uses a dovetail ring in the front and a windage cap screw ring in the rear. The dovetail ring generally in the front has a male machined portion on the bottom of the ring. The mount has a female machined portion. You simply insert the male portion of the ring into the base and turn the ring 90 degrees to lock it into place. The rear ring has 2 small notches machined in the sides. The matching base has 2 large tapered cap screws. You simply loosen the screws, set the ring flat on the base, and tighten the screws equally against the ring locking them into position in the grooves. With this design, the front ring can pivot to match the rear ring for windage (side to side) adjustments. Windage adjustments are accomplished by loosening on of the cap screws and tightening the other this slides the rear ring from side to side. This system is tried and true and is an excellent choice for most applications.
2. Double Dovetail to put it very simply double dovetail is exactly what it states. Two dovetail rings. The DD system uses the male dovetail ring bottom with a female mount. Both the front and rear rings are locked into position by inserting the ring into the base and rotating the ring 90 degrees. The primary advantage to this system is the absence of the 2 rear windage cap screws. 2 less screws means, 2 less screws to come loose. The disadvantage to this system is the loss of the windage adjustments; however with the release of the New Burris Signature Ring system this can now easily be overcome. The Double Dovetail system is an excellent choice for magnum calibers.
3. Weaver / Picatinny / Cross slotted The cross slotted rail systems have tapered edges with small channels or slots machined perpendicular across the top. The rings for these systems are generally attached by either removing the clamping screw and sliding the ring on, then re-inserting the screw or by loosening the screw and tipping the ring from one side to the other while aligning the screw with one of the corresponding base slots. A primary advantage to these systems is that the often have multiple slots for both the front and rear ring. This allows the rings to be moved forward and back ward from one another easily changing the spacing between the rings. This versatility can be handy as it allows a wider variety of scopes / accessories to be mounted. It also allows for a wider adjustment of eye-relief as not only can the scope be slid forward in the rings, but the rings them selves can be moved both forward and backward. (On other mounting systems the rings are basically fixed and the only adjustment is the amount that you can slide the scope forward and backward.) The cross-slotted systems tend not to give as streamlined an appearance as the other systems yet are very practical and continue to be an excellent choice for both tactical, target, and hunting applications alike.
4. Dovetail or Tip-off The traditional dovetail clamp on style mounting system continues to be the most popular mounting system utilized on the market for rimfire, air gun, and paintball applications. This system utilizes a grooved dovetail base with reverse grooved rings that simply clamp on to the base rail. This system is often integrated into the guns receiver top. In the case of integrated receivers no mount is necessary. One must simply buy the clamp on style rings or mounting rings.
5. Ruger Rings, Tikka, Sako, CZ Rings etc… Today several manufacturers make after market mounts, rings, and mounting rings for factory mounting systems. A myriad of these mounting system exist. Almost all have advantages and disadvantages. The good news is that most factory mounting systems can be converted if the disadvantages cause you problems. The bad news is that availability can be limited on some applications.
Most Universal Dovetail, Double Dovetail, and Weaver style mounting systems are interchangeable between manufacturers. Example, Leupold bases will work with Burris ringsand Weaver bases will work with Burris Signature Zee Rings.
Check out this link to see why I think Burris Signature Rings are the best choice for any most mounting styles.
I hope this helps.
Happy Shooting
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