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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There are two terms found for similar thing: quick release scope mounts and quick detach scope mounts. Term quick release scope mounts is used mostly in Europe and quick detach scope mounts is used mainly in USA, although they mean the same thing. With these terms we describe a scope mount that can be quickly removed from the rifle in the field without using any tools and quickly attached back on the rifle when needed.

Main advantages:

possibility to use multiple scopes on the rifle,
easy transportation of the scope and the rifle separately,
if scope fails, it is possible to immediately detach it and use iron sights.

FIXED vs DETACHABLE scope mounts

Fixed scope mounts are mounted to the rifle with screws and sometimes even with glue. This means that it is impossible to attach or detach the scope mount using bare hands without using tools. It also means that they are not meant for constantly being attached on or detached off the rifle. Once you screw the mount on the rifle, it normally stays there for a longer period of use.

Detachable scope mounts offer possibility to attach or detach them without using any tools. This is extremely handy while transporting the rifle and the scope separately and it also offers multiple solutions of different optics on the same rifle. Detachable scope mounts can be attached or detached from the rifle in a matter of seconds, using bare hands.

Fixed Mount

Fixed Mount

DETACHABLE vs REPEATABLE scope mounts

It is important to know and understand expressions “detachable” and “repeatable” while talking about scope mounts. Term detachable scope mounts implies scope mounts that can be quickly attached or detached without using any tools. However, when you detach this kind of mount and attach it back on the rifle, it is recommended to zero the rifle before using it again. Procedure of detaching and again attaching the mount will probably need a sighting in before next shooting, because mount will not be secured on the rifle in the perfectly same position and conditions as it was before detaching it off the rifle.

On the contrary, repeatable scope mounts are most sophisticated mounts. These scope mounts are also detachable, however – they provide removing scope from the rifle and attaching it back again without zeroing the rifle every time. This means that they are made more precisely and that they are offering a possibility of using different optical sights / scope on the same rifle. These mounts are ideal for hunters who can use optical and iron sights interchangeably, depending on the needs in different situations. With the repeatable scope mounts, it is useful to keep them oiled as well as the upper part of the rifle, so that repeatability is more ensured. With a touch of oil, the repeatability might be better, because parts of the mount will always return to their previous locations.

Different types of repeatable scope mounts:

Pivot mounts,
Dentler mounts,
Picatinny repeatable mounts,
12 mm dovetail repeatable mounts (for break barrel rifles, such as Steyr Duett, Blaser B750, Fair Combi, Fair SLX 800, Bettinsoli rifles, etc.),
Original repeatable mounts, made by manufacturers of rifles for their rifles (Blaser mount, Sauer SUM mount, Mauser M03 mount, Steyr Monoblock mount, etc.).

Repeatable Mount

Repeatable Mount

TIP OFF / ROLL OFF vs SLIDE ON mounts

Nowadays, there are a whole lot of different possibilities, made for attaching riflescopes on the rifles. There are also a lot of different expressions, having the same meaning. It is good to know that tip off and roll off mounts are basically the same thing. They represent quick release scope mounts for dovetails and rails which can be rolled or tipped off the rail vertically to the side of the rail. On the contrary, there are also slide on mounts available on the market. They represent quick release scope mounts that can be slided on or off the rail or dovetail from front or rear side of the rail / dovetail. All of these expressions are mainly used for separate rings that can be attached to the rails / dovetails. As far as functioning the rifle, it does not matter which one of these mounts you choose – tip / roll off or slide on mounts. If they are installed correctly, they are all going to work. However, the main difference between them is the principle of attaching them on rails on dovetails.

Slide On Mount vs. Roll Off Mount

Slide On Mount vs. Roll Off Mount

Direct Mounts

Introduction

PROS

CONS

Is lapping needed with Direct mounts?

Conclusion

MAKmilmont QR Base for Picatinny with Adapters

VIDEO

FIXED vs DETACHABLE scope mounts

DETACHABLE vs REPEATABLE scope mounts

TIP OFF / ROLL OFF vs SLIDE ON mounts

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Direct Mounts

Introduction

PROS

CONS

Is lapping needed with Direct mounts?

Conclusion

MAKmilmont QR Base for Picatinny with Adapters

VIDEO

FIXED vs DETACHABLE scope mounts

DETACHABLE vs REPEATABLE scope mounts

TIP OFF / ROLL OFF vs SLIDE ON mounts

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