Rings v. Mounts on LR308?

[omgwtfbbq]

Hey fellow calgunners, I'm shopping for optics to put on the new 308 AR I have serving it's 10-day jail sentence and I've come up against a dillemma. As far as retaining zero, is the advantage to the use of scope mounts v. Scope Rings? I know some high priced mounts are very well made, but I am on somewhat of a budget.

My plan is to have this gun function as a Designated Marksman style of rifle, capable of engaging short and mid-range targets.

For this reason, I like the idea of a 1-4x scope, but I've never used one before so I figured I would save the money and invest in a Primary Arms 1-4x 24 scope and see how I like the configuration then invest in a more expensive set up if necessary.

So back to the dillemma: I know there are some reasonably prices mounts available that would work this this application and that look very cool, but I'm less concerned with the looks and more the ability to retain zero with the recoil of the full sized cartridge. Rings are just as cheap, but don't have the "cool" factor. So...Is there a difference?

[HK Dave]

Most rings are not tall enough to give you proper cheek weld. Rings would need to be at 1.5" or so.

You would be better served getting a unimount that places your optic at the proper eye level.

The best non QD unimounts imo are Spuhr (ultra pricy, but the best period), and Aadland (newer ones come with integrated level).

The best QD mounts are GDI (ultra pricy, but the best period), and Bobro.

Any of these will have no problems maintaining zero... and the QD mounts I listed will return to zero no matter how many times you remove them.

[omgwtfbbq]

What about so-called "AR Height" scope rings?

Of course if I could afford it at the moment, I would go for something like the GDI PROM, but I don't have 500+ to spend on a mount right now.

I have to consider value as well as quality, as much as I wish I didn't have to.

[FMJBT]

The receiver on the LR 308 is long enough that you can get away with using individual rings in most cases instead of the offset mount that is nearly mandatory to get the proper eye relief on the shorter AR-15 receiver. You can also use a slightly shorter ring height because the receiver of the 308 is slightly taller than the AR-15.

If you are on a very limited budget, the LE grade QD rings from UTG (six screw version) are actually pretty decent. I'd rate them about the same as the Burris PEPR mount in terms of fit and finish and ability to return to zero. Not perfect, but close enough for range use. I've used the "high" version of these rings on an overgassed, heavy recoiling LR 308 for around 400 rounds without issue.

[Packy14]

bobro for the win (or larue)