Direct Mounts

Introduction

Direct scope mounts seem like a reasonable, simplest and most logical idea of all mounts. Mostly, direct mounts are made as two piece mounts in most cases. Naturally, there are exceptions, for example DNZ mounts, which are known for single piece direct mounts.

Direct mounts can be recognized by the fact that each piece / ring is made from one single part and by the fact that such mounts are mounted directly on the rifle. Such mounts are usually mounted either on dovetail that is part of the receiver or directly on the mounting surfaces and on prepared (in advance) holes, drilled in the receiver.

PROS

Advantages of direct mounts can be found in

affordable prices,
elegant looks,
lightweight,
simple design and therefore – they are reliable because of small number of parts.

Small number of parts also means less chances of failures if everything mounted correctly.

CONS

If direct mount is made of two pieces, it might be hard to install it on the rifle. This is because it is often very hard to achieve perfect alignment of both rings (especially if the rifle is not made precise enough).

If it comes to strain because of poor alignment of both rings, it can flex the scope or even damage it. We would suggest to use a help of a skilful gunsmith who should mount them as they should be mounted.

What else does not go in favor of direct mounts, is the fact that they are always only fixed and if they are quick detachable, they are usually not repeatable.

On the market, there are both – aluminium and steel mounts. It usually depends on what you need and what material is the receiver made of. If mount is made of one piece, there can also be a problem with linear thermal expansion. This occurs two piece mounts too, but it causes more problems on one piece mounts. Temperature changes around the mount and the scope create linear thermal expansion of the materials.

In extreme cases – taking your rifle from cold weather outside to a heated room in the house (big difference in temperature of the environment) causes higher linear expansions than normal. Therefore, linear thermal expansion causes material strain which can be followed by damage on the scope or mount. The bigger the length of the one piece mount is, the bigger the linear thermal expansion is (and it causes bigger problems). Linear thermal expansion basically represents how much will some material change in length when heated (or cooled) for each degree of temperature changed.

Note: Thermal linear coefficient of expansion for aluminium is approximately twice the value of steel (or iron).

This info in theory means that in real life aluminium stick will expand twice the size, compared to the steel stick with the same dimensions, when heated for one degree of temperature. In other words: An equal temperature change will produce twice as much change in the length of a bar of aluminium as for a bar of iron or steel. Problems with linear expansions might occur when we have a aluminium direct mount installed on the steel receiver. Their different thermal linear coefficients of expansion can cause strain in screws that hold together mount with the steel receiver on the rifle. In worst case, these screws can brake or get damaged in other ways.

Is lapping needed with Direct mounts?

Lapping procedure during mounting process of direct mounts, is always needed. It is the easiest way to achieve 100 % alignment of both rings, while reducing material stress and deformations of scope and mounts, caused by the strain in materials.

Alternative to lapping process might be bedding of the scope. Usually, one of these two methods should be applied to mounting procedure of direct mounts.

Conclusion

Direct mounts might be very handy (because of its simplicity and rigidness) on rifles with dovetail on the receiver. Most known representatives of such rifles are Tikka’s, Sako’s, CZ 527’s, CZ 550/557’s etc. One of the most popular dovetail dimensions is also 11 mm wide dovetail. This is used small Tikka’s (T1x), SIG Sauer 200 STR and so on.

Correctly mounted direct mounts might be very appealing because of its slim and elegant design, yet they are also very robust and rigid. Their popularity is also connected to affordable prices, but have in mind – you might consider about the additional cost of the gunsmith’s work to it!

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Osuma Mount for Blaser, Picatinny Rail

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VIDEO

Introduction

In recent years we can observe that a trend of Picatinny rail has become widespread and global. It is driven by the NATO standardized rails, more commonly known as the Picatinny rail standard. Picatinny rail being the New Jersey Arsenal that developed it in 1995.

These mounting options are revolutionary. The biggest and best advantage being that the Picatinny rail can be used its entire length and not bordered to a few pre-designed slots like for example the Weaver rail standard was before.

The other main advantage is the ease of use and interchangeability. If a product is meant for a Picatinny rail design it will fit all Picatinny-rails, no matter the manufacturer or date of production.

Picatinny/Weaver Rail

Picatinny Rail and Weaver rail profile

Design

The Picatinny rail is almost exclusively crafted from a single piece of metal (in some cases aluminum). In this manner, the axis of the Picatinny rail is perfectly straight and aligned with the axis of the firearm. Therefore the rifle scope which is mounted onto this kind of configuration is certainly aligned with the rifle / gun and the trajectory of the ammunition.

Weaver rail design on the other hand is usually manufactured in two separate pieces, greatly increasing the possibilities for the axis to be crooked, overlapping, and out of line.

It is always harder to align two separate pieces to a third line than it is to align one piece to another. In this way, the lapping of two mounting rings on a single-piece Picatinny rail is no longer required.

The single-piece rail will assure that both rings are perfectly aligned to each other and that no unwished stress is transferred to the riflescope.

Picatinny compare to Weaver Rail

The Picatinny rail itself is an evolutionary step forward from the older Weaver rail. The main difference between Picatinny rail and Weaver rail is the spacing of the slots. Picatinny rail design has them evenly placed exactly 5.23 mm from one slot to the other, 3 mm deep. For this reason, the mounting options are repeatable and the same as other firearms using the Picatinny rail standard.

Interchangeability was a major driving force in the development of the new standard as different NATO armies need to be compatible with each other.

Weaver rail has 3.8mm wide slots and these slots can be placed anywhere on the Weaver rail and in any number that the producer wished.

Advantages of Picatinny design

A big advantage for using the Picatinny rail design is the ever-present recoil stop. Furthermore, the manufacturing of the rail is not very technically demanding and can be done without the use of state-of-the-art machines which greatly reduces the cost of the finished product, making it very affordable.

The Picatinny rail is easy to mount and usually, this type of configuration does not transfer negative stresses and forces from the fired weapon to the rifle scope.

In addition, the Picatinny rail with its very long useable surface works well for mounting longer rifle scopes or to achieve optimum eye relief.

The durability and toughness are other big pluses for this solution.

Manufacturers of Popular Models

A majority of the Picatinny rings are fixed, but a number of best rated European manufacturers (EAW, MAK,..) have, in recent years, put a lot of effort into the development of detachable ring with100% repeatability, with which it becomes easy to remove the scope from the weapon without the use of tools.

No re-zeroing is needed with such mount options, but these models tend to be expensive.

Weaver and Picatinny Rings

Picatinny rail and weaver rail share one more thing. It is possible to use the Weaver ring and the Picatinny ring on the Picatinny-rails, but it is usually impossible to use the Picatinny ring on the Weaver base. The reason being the above-mentioned positioning and spacing of the slots.

Picatinny mounts have a 5mm recoil stop that goes into the rail slot and since
Weaver rail only has 3.8mm wide slots such rings do not fit on Weaver rails.

Due to this reason, the Picatinny-rails are popular and prevailing on the market in recent years and eventually, these options will completely oust the Weaver rail from the market.

Direct Mounts

Introduction

PROS

CONS

Is lapping needed with Direct mounts?

Conclusion

Osuma Mount for Blaser, Picatinny Rail

VIDEO

Introduction

Design

Picatinny compare to Weaver Rail

Advantages of Picatinny design

Manufacturers of Popular Models

Weaver and Picatinny Rings

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Direct Mounts

Introduction

PROS

CONS

Is lapping needed with Direct mounts?

Conclusion

Osuma Mount for Blaser, Picatinny Rail

VIDEO

Introduction

Design

Picatinny compare to Weaver Rail

Advantages of Picatinny design

Manufacturers of Popular Models

Weaver and Picatinny Rings

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