There are a lot of different components and parts that can be customized for any type of long gun. Two of the components that are often overlooked are the combinations of scope rings and scope mounts.
Together, these two parts have the role of securing the optics or the scope to the gun. Incorrectly pairing scope rings and mounts or choosing mounts that don’t correctly position the scope will cause problems for the shooter in maintaining accuracy.
Know Your Gun
Not all scope mounts will work with all types of long guns. It is essential first to ensure that the gun you are working on will be suitable for the type of mounts you are considering. A very important factor to note is the configuration on the gun for the mounts. Some guns will have a groove down the barrel to locate the mounts while others may be pre-drilled.
The Scope
While the scope rings will hold or attach the scope to the mounts, the rings themselves have to be compatible with the mount. The scope manufacturer will typically recommend a mount and ring configuration that is ideally suited to the scope. For example, some rings will be designed for a cantilever mounts while others may be designed for a Gator Grip or even a Galil style of mount.
Keep in mind, the height of the scope mounts and the specific style of rings can move the scope up or down off the barrel of the gun. While clearance is critical for performance, a scope that is too high off of the gun will create an issue for the shooter.
A scope that is too high is going to cause the shooter to elevate his or her head off the natural line. This will reduce accuracy as the head and shoulders move up, creating tension and increasing the challenge of holding the weapon steady when sighting and firing.
