Best Scope Mounts for AR 15 – Top Models Reviewed!
The AR-15 has been a darling rifle for enthusiastic hunters and shooters for the past five decades. Within the period, there have been perplexing arrays of configurations with the most current being the flat-top version.
This serves as a replacement for the traditional carry-handle models. The new configuration features a Pic-railed upper receiver to accept various mounting arrangements for optics and sights.
As such, many AR 15 owners are confused as to which is the best scope mount for their firearms. Since this firearm is optimized for using optics, many companies have ventured into producing such mounts thus saturating the market.
If you are confused about this, you will definitely benefit from our reviews of the top 8 best scope mounts for AR 15 along with a beneficial buying guide.
Best Scope Mounts for AR 15 Reviews
1. American Defense AD-RECON STD Riflescope Optic Mount
Proudly made in the United States, The AD-RECON STD Rifle Optic Mount is worth investing in. The quick detach is specifically designed for putting high-power glass onto a flat-top firearm.
American Defense Manufacturing precision-machined the mount from high-quality 6061 T6 aluminum and finished it in hard-coat T3 Mil-Spec anodize. These are hallmarks of strength and durability, ensuring the scope mount is lightweight.
The mount features an ingenious cantilever that throws the rifle scope out front, thereby giving you the right eye forgiveness.
Actually, you can configure the lever to lock to the rear or front. You will also like the Patented QD Auto Lock Lever system designed to accommodate both in-spec and out-spec rail systems. The superior clamping surface ensures optimal rail engagement.
The good thing about this quick-detach AR 15 scope mount is that you won’t require any tools for adjustment. You can simply adjust it with a flat blade screwdriver or just by the use of your finger. The ring design of the mount is also unique to this ADM.
However, the initial setup of ring style mounts can be a little bit challenging. While it can be a cause for concern, once you get it right for the first time everything will work just fine.
2. Burris Optics P.E.P.R. Scope Mount
For a budget AR 15 scope mount, the Burris 410341 AR PEPR is an excellent choice. Although its country of origin is China, that’s not a reason to doubt its quality, which speaks for itself.
It features up to 6 screws per ring to keep a strong and balanced grip on your scope to provide you with steady focus. The mount uses half-inch hex nuts to secure to your AR 15 Picatinny rail at a very high torque value, and thus ensure no chance of slippage during use
At the top part of each ring, you will find a small but nifty 3-row Picatinny strip to be used alongside an auxiliary item such as a red dot. However, this feature is seldom used by hunters and shooters.
The mount is available in three sizes to choose from, 1-inch, 30mm, as well as 34 mm. This means you can have the scope mounted on guns of different sizes. Such versatility and flexibility are admirable. It also means you can hold zero comfortably across many options.
This highly affordable scope will save your pocket, but it is the best choice for beginners as well as shooters who spend most of their time at the range and not the field because of its somewhat bulky weight (12 ounces or 340 grams).
3. CCOP MNT-1516 High Profile AR-ArmourTac Rifle Scope Mount
Even more affordable than the Burris 410341 reviewed previously, the CCOP MNT-1516 fits the description of a low-cost, high-profile to fit even the most oversized scopes and generous 30mm rings to enable you to take advantage of the various famous AR 15 scopes currently in the market.
It is crafted from rugged, durable, and lightweight T6061 aluminum alloy that will handle strong recoil and deliver impressive performance.
The dirty cheap price range is not a result of poor quality but the latest mass production technology that saves your money.
Despite this, the scope is rigorously field-tested to ensure it passes and even exceeds professional expectations. If it were not for its high performance and strong construction, the scope mount could not have maintained its influence in the market.
The drawback of the CCOP MNT-1516 High Profile AR-ArmourTac is its weight. Although aluminum is lightweight as a construction material, its use in this scope mount results in a weight higher than that on more expensive models.
However, this AR 15 scope mount still holds riflescope securely as long as the screws you use are of high quality. This may require you to replace the standard screws that come with the unit with upgraded ones.
4. Warne Scope Mounts Gen 2 30 mm, AR Mount
The Warne Scopes Mounts second generation SKEL 30mm AR Mount, the XSKEL, is an excellent quality scope mount for AR 15. This great mount is constructed from rugged, lightweight, and skeletonized aluminum with no chance of giving in to the heavy use that AR 15’s are designed for.
The caps too are made from similar quality aluminum to keep the overall weight of the machine low without compromising on quality.
The scope mount weighs just 8.8 pounds. It offers an additional 1 inch of the forward cantilever, as well as a single-piece clamp design responsible for additional strength and durability. The XSKE’s #8 Torx style fasteners featuring steel-threaded inserts are cleverly designed to minimize stripping.
The unit’s cantilever features a forward design to provide better eye relief. Furthermore, it places your optics at the optimal height for Modular Sniper Rifle, including the AR 15.
In other words, it will accept a bewildering array of eyepieces found in the various scopes in today’s market. The mount maintains a return to zero capability and is designed to use ½-inch hex nuts for study attachment.
5. Nikon P-Series Riflescope Picatinny Mount
Made in the US, the Nikon P-series scope mount is undoubtedly an incredible accessory to buy for your AR 15 rifle. The mount is perfectly engineered to uphold the accuracy, as well as the elegance of each Nikon riflescope, but it is also versatile enough to be used with the same performance attributes in other models.
The P-series mount enables you to obtain proper height and forward position for right eye relief as well as changing handle access.
The mount is made specifically for the most famous single-inch scope tubes. However, it is also reversible for the ultra-compact riflescope model. Like all high-quality scope mounts, this unit features rugged aluminum alloy construction, which gives it high levels of strength and durability and therefore long-lasting service.
It is unbelievable that such a high-quality AR 15 scope mount could be so affordable.
Since the rings are separate, the mount offers users high levels of flexibility. You can move that as you deem necessary for clearance as you work around turrets, charging handles, and a forward assist.
It is wonderful that such a great quality riflescope mount could be so affordable, but that is what great brands provide their valued user with.
6. TMS Flat Top 1 Piece Ring Mount Picatinny Rails
Although 2-piece ring scope mounts offer the flexibility of adjustability, the TMS Flat Top 1-piece Ring Mount has the advantage of providing better scope alignment and therefore better accuracy.
The mount boasts of aircraft-grade aluminum alloy construction giving it incredible durability. It is hardly possible to find such a durable and high-quality single-piece ring mount at such an affordable price. You can even use it for tactical purposes.
The mount fits Picatinny rails incredibly well and its center height rests at a more desired 40mm height. This does not mean you can use a 30mm and 60mm scope as well. That level of flexibility gives the TMS Flat Top 1-Piece ring mount an edge over most of its competitors.
Even more amazing are the additional accessories to make your shooting even more convenient. Such accessories include a ring top, accessory rail as well as hex screw tools.
You should not worry about the usability and performance of this highly competitive scope mount for AR 15. This is because the rings are optimized for scopes with large objective lenses and the unit is extremely lightweight.
One drawback is that TMS requires some amount of strength during initial installation to secure the screws tightly. Without proper installation, you can forget about stability.
7. Vortex Cantilever Ring Mount
As you may be aware, all quick detach mounts are great but they are costlier than fixed types. They also rely on the integrity and strength of their locking mechanisms. They also have the problem of wearing out pretty fast.
However, the Vortex Cantilever Ring Mount offers a better compromise. Except for the ring uppers and clamp, the remainder of the mount is a single piece adding to the much-desired integrity.
It is a 3-inch offset type of mount, although a 2-inch offset alternative is also available, which means the two scope rings are placed 3 inches away from the actual mounting base. This allows for correct eye relief and perfect head placement on AR 15 rifles.
The Vortex Cantilever is specifically engineered for mounting 30 mm telescopic sights onto flattop style AR-15 rifles. The mount places the telescopic sight at 1.59 inches in height from the base to the mid-point of the scope tube.
Similar to all high-quality scope mounts, this model features strong and durable aluminum alloy construction to serve you for years without bowing out.
Each ring features a top cap secured via 4x T15 Torx screws for strength and stability while the base fits any Picatinny rail. The base also comes with an integral recoil lug that attaches to the cross slots in AR 15s with the flat-top upper receiver.
8. Nikon M-223 XR Mount
If you own a Nikon M-223 riflescope series, then the best mount is the Nikon M-223 XR. By all standards, it is optimized for use with this series of riflescopes and will give you an admirable performance at an affordable price.
It consists of single-piece rings with multiple cross bolts to fit the rifle’s Picatinny rails perfectly for strength and accuracy.
Interestingly, the mount features a built-in 20-inch MOA incline ideal for extreme long-range shooting. This offers you extreme range variations for the improved range capability of your AR 15 rifle. The MOA incline also gives the mount the ability to serve tactical purposes.
To be exact, the M-223 XR provides an additional twenty minutes of angle to your riflescope’s elevation adjustment. The mount is made for 1-inch diameter tube scopes.
Most riflescope mount manufacturers aim to keep the weight of their mounts as low as possible to ensure convenience and high performance. The Nikon M-223 XR has succeeded in this regard as it weighs a paltry 8 ounces.
Such lightweight results from lightweight aluminum alloy construction. This material also ensures strength and durability, allowing you to use a scope mount in even the most adverse conditions without worrying about damage.
How to Choose the Best Scope Mount for AR 15
Owning an AR-15 rifle is the first step. The next step is to find the right riflescope to improve the accuracy and performance of your AR 15. No matter how great the scope is in fulfilling your purposes, it will not do you any good without proper mounting.
The last step, therefore, is to choose the best rifle scope mount in the market for your rifle and scope. Here are the most important considerations in making the choice:
Your Personal Needs
The right question to ask is how many weapons you will use the mount for. In the case of a single weapon, then the best choice would be a fixed scope mount that is compatible with the firearm. It will provide you with stability and sturdiness to improve accuracy.
You can buy universal scope mounts if you have lots of guns and you are not willing to incur the cost of many different mounts. The bottom line is that the mount must be compatible with the gun’s Picatinny rails.
Construction Material
Construction goes hand in hand with the weight and durability of any mount. A good AR 15 scope mount should be strong, durable, and lightweight in order to be portable and serve for a long period.
The best material in this regard is aluminum. Many different types of aluminum are available for use by manufacturers of these rifle accessories, but the highest quality is aircraft-grade aluminum. Other aluminum alloys may also be good enough.
Size and Position
Generally, low and small-scope mounts are ideal for all categories of ARs. They are usually simple and quick to detach from the rifle.
However, you can improve the accuracy and performance of your gun by going with the recommendations of the manufacturer in terms of the best size and position.
1-piece or 2-piece
One-piece mounts are advantageous because you can add height to get your scope into a proper as well as a comfortable position on the AR. Besides, the design allows you to push the scope forward over the rifle’s handguard for longer scopes and thereby acquire proper eye relief.
The 2-piece mounts, on the other hand, are great because of their flexibility. They are also lighter, easier to align, and are interchangeable among rifles. Learn more about these features before you make the decision.
Final Verdict
We believe you are satisfied with our in-depth reviews of these great and performance-oriented best-scope mounts for AR 15. If you want to make the most out of your AR 15 rifles, be sure to match the gun with an appropriate scope and mount.
Be careful and keen on making your choices lest you end up with an inappropriate, incompatible, and therefore worthless mount for your favorite rifle. Ease of use, precision, and accuracy are some of the most important guiding factors.
Using the information we have provided in this expert review, you will more likely find what you have been looking for.
