11 mm Rounded Top Dovetail

Sub Categories

Weaver Bases

Pivot Mount Bases

General description

The dovetail is a unique design which allows the installation of mounts on various rifles. Regardless of the rifle type and dovetail width, this unique design is grooved onto the rifle's receiver, barrel or slide. Rifles are designed with different dovetail widths. The most common are 11 mm, 3/8”, 12 mm, 14.5 mm, 16.5 mm and 19 mm. The 11 mm dovetail is by far the most common of all dovetail designs. In terms of frequency and recognizability, it even surpasses Picatinny rails. The 11 mm dovetail can be found on small caliber (rimfire) rifles, air rifles and even some centerfire rifles (sport, tactical).

While the 11 mm dovetail cannot often be found on centerfire rifles, it is, however, dominating the market of rimfire rifles. More than 90% of all rimfire rifles feature an 11 mm dovetail on their receiver. The same also applies to air guns.

Physical properties and dimensions

For a better hold on the rifle, the upper side of the dovetail is wider than the lower side. Dovetail dimensions are measured across the top, which is wider, in our case 11 mm. Generally speaking, dovetail designs offer the possibility of mount installation without the use of screws. Scope mounts simply clamp onto the dovetail with sufficient force, so that there is no movement from recoil. Additionally, some 11 mm dovetails are designed with a recoil lug, which offers even better resistance against recoil. This is most common with centerfire rifles. For an even more versatile mounting, some rifles have holes in the receiver. On such rifles, you can choose either to use the dovetail or the holes in the receiver.

The slopes on the 11 mm dovetail are at an angle of 60 degrees. The mounting surface can be designed in two length styles on the receiver – as a full-length dovetail or as two separate dovetail parts.

Round Top vs Flat Top 11 mm Dovetails

There are two types of rifles with 11 mm dovetails available on the market: some have a flat top and others, such as most Anschutz or certain Savage models come with a round top receiver.

This page refers to the rifles featuring the round top; however, we do have a separate landing page for rifles with the flat top 11 mm dovetail which you can see here:

It is important to note that scope mounts suitable for rounded-top receivers will fit rifles with a flat-top, but mounts made for rifles with a flat receiver will not fit the round-top style receiver.

11 mm Round Top Dovetail

An example of a round top 11 mm dovetail as used on Anschutz 1761

Figure 1: An example of a round top 11 mm dovetail as used on Anschutz 1761 (Source: https://www.anschuetz-sport.com/en/jagd/kleinkaliber/)

11 mm Round Top Dovetail

Here are some rifles with a round top 11 mm dovetail:

Centerfire rifles with a round top 11 mm dovetail:

Best Scope Mounts for 11 mm Round Top Dovetail

There are not many manufacturers providing scope mounts specifically designed for the round top versions of 11 mm dovetail. However, Contessa, BKL, Burris and Rusan do have them available. You can see some of the options below.

Fixed Scope Mounts for 11 mm Round Top Dovetail

One-Piece Fixed Scope Mounts for 11 mm Round Top Dovetail

Fixed one-piece scope mounts require tools for attaching and detaching from the rifle's mounting surface. One-piece, two-part mounts use a base onto which the two rings are attached whereas the monoblocs or one-piece one-part mounts are usually milled from a single piece of material, with the lower end of the rings merged with the base.

This one-piece BKL adjustable scope mount with 30 mm rings is one of the few out there that is compatible with the round top 11 mm dovetail mounting surface.

Two-Piece Fixed Scope Mounts for 11 mm Round Top Dovetail

We recommend BKL Dovetail Rings due to their balance of affordability and quality. They are made of aluminum and come with a two-year warranty.

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for 11 mm Round Top Dovetail

Within this category, you will find scope mounts that provide repeatability. This means that the scope will retain its zero even when it is detached and reinstalled because the mounts will always clamp onto the dovetail base with the same force. Quick release (QR) or quick detachable (QD) abbreviations are typically used to identify Detachable Mounting alternatives.

If you plan on using different scopes on your rifle, this Rusan pivot mount is easy to detach and stays on point when reattached without the need for zeroing. It comes with a ten-year warranty.

Picatinny Rails for 11 mm Round Top Dovetail

Since its creation in 1995, the Picatinny rail has become recognized as the industry standard for attaching optics. The Picatinny rail, which was based on the Weaver pattern, has the advantage of being used along its full length, as opposed to Weaver, which has predesignated mounting slots, restricting its usability and versatility. Its advantages include interchangeability and simplicity of use. Slots in Picatinny are evenly spaced, measuring precisely 5.23 mm apart and 3 mm deep. As a result, all weapons that employ the Picatinny standard have the same mounting.

If you wish to install a Picatinny rail on top of your round-top dovetail rail, this is the best affordable choice by the Italian manufacturer. It is made of steel and comes with a thirty-year warranty.

Please note that scope mounts suitable for round-top receivers will fit rifles with a flat top, but mounts made for rifles with a flat receiver will not fit the round-top style receiver. We strongly recommend the mounting surface of your rifle before purchasing the scope mounts.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the scope mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu