AR Scope Ring Help?

[jwarren116]

I'm about to order a 20" flat top rifle kit from Del-Ton. I was getting all happy that I was going to finally build my OLL on a budget (I'm a broke college student). I figure in the 3-4 months i have to wait for the kit I can scrounge a bit of money ($130) for a half-decent BSA Sweet 223 6-18x scope. It seems to have decent reviews. It's definitely not a Leupold, but will hold me over until I can afford one (a long, long time from now). Then it occured to me that I'd need rings to mount the scope on the flat top. I did my research and almost all of the rings and mounts I could find would run me almost as much as the scope. It seems there's a couple sets of rings for Picatinny flat tops that are in the $10 range, and the rest are $100 plus.

I've never purchased rings before. Is the expense really necessary? The only other scope I have is on my 22 rifle, and it came with the rings, and the mount cost me $15. So I was a little shocked with some of the prices I found online. I'd appreciate a little guidance. I'd rather not spend a good chunk of my budget on scope rings, but if it makes a huge difference, I'll make it work.

Thanks for the help folks.

[wash]

There are two issues that I see.

The first is height, because the AR straight pull stock requires extra tall rings.

Next is forward offset, scopes often wind up too far back when traditionally mounted, this is why Larue, GGG, ADM and others make special offset mounts.

Maxicon has a nice web page about it: http://www.maxicon.com/guns/optics/o...ece_mounts.htm

I tried the CAA mount. It looks great but it didn't fit the rail on my Spikes upper. I got an RMA# but CAA is out of stock so it will be a while before I get one that works.

I also bought an airsoft copy of a Larue. So far it's looking very good. Hopefully it will hold up to some 7.62*51 abuse at my next range trip, then I'll call it good enough for my AR.

Another cheap option is Leapers. They make two (1" and 30 mm) forward offset scope mounts. They are cheap but it looks like it would put the scope where it needs to be. They do look a little cheap, kind of boxy, but if it works, it might be a good option.

[Cal-Irish]

Irons or red dot will solve your issues. Not that you want that, just saying.

[jwarren116]

That's a tremendous help. I'm glad I didn't blow a bunch of money on bare rings. The offset mounts aren't too prohibitively expensive either. I'll see what I can find over the next couple months of waiting.

[fairfaxjim]

I know you want a scope on your AR, but let me offer some advice that may save you some money and make you a better marksman. Start your flattop out with a carry handle with iron sights - just like the kind the rifle was invented to use. Learn to shoot well with them, how to adjust them for battle zero, how the rifle shoots with them at different distances, essentially what it takes to be a rifleman. While you are doing this, try other's rifles and scopes, acogs, aimpoints, whatever and see what optics you REALLY want, not what you think you want now. See what mounts work with what and what doesn't work. Save up your money (use some for ammo to practice with) and when you have enough, buy a decent optic and mount - don't hurry, look for used but good, whatever works. All the while you will be improving your marksmanship, and will be able to impress friends, and enemies alike, with your shooting skill.

I've got OLL's, and a bunch of other stuff with scopes, red dots, etc., but I pretty much keep a carry handle on one of my carbine uppers and just really get off shooting with irons. Yeah, blasting at steel 600 yards out is fun, but putting every shot on a target at 100 or 200 with irons is really what it is about.