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LM rail Mounts

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Repeatable Mounts

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The LM rails were a popular mounting solution in the previous decades in Europe. It has since then been almost entirely replaced by other, more modern mounting types. This rail is prismatic in its cross shape, with the angles of the rail placed at a 70° angle – therefore it was also known as the 70° prism rail. At the base it was 15 mm wide. The old rifle scopes had the LM rail attached to them at two points. The first point of securing the scope was on its objective. It was done quite similar to that of the Suhl or German Claw mount. The other point of contact was situated on the rifle scopes main tube, about the same place as it is done today. For this reason the LM rail was thin at one end and thick at the other. There was also a difference of height of both rails and in most cases, custom mounting solutions had to be made to compensate for this difference.

In the past there weren't so many standards. That is why almost every single LM rail was individualy fitted and custom finished to join the rifle scope with its firearm. The results were higher costs and non-interchangeable parts. In order for the rail to stay in its place and not to compromise the shooting accuracy, it was fixed to the rifle with a hole bored through the rail and the rifle, which was later fastened with a screw. It acted as a recoil stop as well. In today's world, there are almost no producers of scopes with LM rail on the market.

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VIDEO

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