Weaver rail

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Mounts

The History of Weaver Rail

The Weaver rail was invented by William Ralph Weaver in 1975 in his company W.R. Weaver Co. that focused predominantly on the production of telescopic sights. At the time, gun manufacturers mostly relied on supplying the customers with their own scope mounts that were designed for a specific firearm and were usually attached to the receiver directly through the drilled and tapped holes. Apart from some popular mounting systems like Suhl, Redfield, and numerous dovetails, there really was no universal solution available on the market. When Weaver appeared, it quickly took the lead as the first standardized scope mount for rifles.

The inventor of Weaver rail, William Ralph Weaver

Figure 1: The inventor of Weaver rail, William Ralph Weaver (Source: https://www.digie.org/en/media/24591)

First systems were offered as two-piece bases that were installed on the front and rear end of the rifle's receiver using the holes and screws to create this secondary bridge-like mounting surface that would then accept a large number of different rings suitable for Weaver. However, such a system was often unreliable because of alignment issues greatly increasing the possibilities for the axis to be crooked, overlapping, and out of line. Therefore, in later years of production one-piece rails became available to the users.

Weaver standard remained present on the market as the mounting system that came closest to the universal standard before Picatinny rail was officially introduced in 1995.

Despite some manufacturers continuing to offer Weaver rails and two-piece bases, the system is gradually phasing out in the market as the Picatinny standard has largely replaced it.

General Description of Weaver

Weaver rail consists of slots that are placed 3.8 mm apart from one another and are 3 mm deep. Considering the age of the Weaver standard and the fact that it is becoming somewhat obsolete, it is safe to say that most rails are made of steel – the common choice for the scope mount systems of the past. The slots are narrower compared to Picatinny – they are placed 3.8 mm apart and are 3 mm deep. The widest part of the rail measures 21.2 mm across and shares this dimension with the Picatinny standard.

One downside of the Weaver is that the manufacturers often positioned the slots anywhere on the rail in any desired number. The inconsistent spacing between the slots on different Weaver rails means that scopes with installed rings may not be easily transferable from one rail to another. While it is true that Picatinny rails are more advanced in comparison to Weaver ones, both mounting solutions are very reliable.

Back when they were the main standard, they effectively served the scope mounting market and led to the eventual development of the Picatinny rail. Once installed on a rifle, they performed reliably, leading many users with the same firearm and scope setup to see no need for replacement, as they consistently did the job they were designed for. Therefore, despite its age and certain limitations, Weaver rails can be found on numerous firearms even today.

Weaver vs. Picatinny

The main difference between Weaver and Picatinny rail is the spacing of the slots. Contrary to Weaver, they are evenly spaced on Picatinny, each precisely 5.23 mm apart and 3 mm deep. This uniform spacing ensures consistent and repeatable mounting options across the board for different firearms that utilize the Picatinny rail standard. Depending on the rail's overall length, it also permits the horizontal adjustment of the mounting assembly along the surface, allowing for movement both forward and backwards.

The 3.8 mm wide slots on the Weaver rail allow producers to place the slots anywhere on the rail and in any desired number. This means that scopes with rings installed may not necessarily be easily moved from one Weaver rail to another.

Are Weaver and Picatinny Mounts Interchangeable

Picatinny rail and Weaver rail share one more thing. It is possible to install the Weaver and the Picatinny mounts on the Picatinny rails, but it is impossible to use the Picatinny-suitable mounts on the Weaver bases. The reason is the above-mentioned positioning and spacing of the slots. Picatinny mounts have a 5 mm recoil stop that goes into the rail slot and since Weaver rail only has 3.8 mm 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 likely oust the Weaver rail from the market completely.

Best Scope Mounts for Weaver Rail

As the Weaver rail gradually makes way for newer standards like the Picatinny, it still maintains a loyal user base. Consequently, numerous manufacturers continue to produce a range of mounting systems compatible with the Weaver standard. The available scope mounts for Weaver rails, much like those for Picatinny, come in various designs, including both fixed and detachable-repeatable options.

You can see our full offer of scope mounts that are suitable for Weaver rail here:

Fixed Scope Mounts for Weaver Rail

For those considering a fixed mounting solution for Weaver rail, we recommend these two-piece steel rings made by the Croatian manufacturer Rusan. They will fit both Weaver and Picatinny rails and come with a 10-year warranty.

Detachable Repeatable Scope Mounts for Weaver Rail

This INNOMOUNT QD scope mount rail is one of the most popular choices among our users when it comes to detachable repeatable systems for Weaver. It is manufactured in Germany by the renowned company INNOMOUNT and is backed by a 10-year warranty.

Note that scope mounts designed for Weaver rails can also be fitted onto Picatinny rails, but the reverse – fitting Picatinny-specific mounts onto Weaver rails – is not possible.

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

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