Are you looking for the best AR-10 scope mount? If so, then you’re in the right place. A scope mount is definitely a must if you plan on adding a scope to your rifle, in the interest of firing more accurate and precise shots.
You’ll also want a scope mount that can hold its own while you fire each and every shot. The last thing you want is a scope that won’t hold zero after you’ve fired 100 or so rounds.
To get you started on your search, we’ve handpicked five of the best scope mounts on the market. Hopefully, one of these will end up on your AR-10 rifle if there’s something about it that piques your interest.
Before we get to our list, we’ll be talking about the types of scope mounts that are available on the market and how to distinguish a good one from the low-quality mounts that currently flood the market.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for AR-10 Scope Mounts
- OUR TOP PICK: Midwest Industries QD 1" Offset Scope Mount
- RUNNER-UP: Aero Precision - Ultralight Scope Mount
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Talley - Light Weight Scope Mount
Comparison Chart of the Best AR-10 Scope Mounts
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Types of Scope Mounts
There are a few popular types of scope mounts that are considered reliable for most AR-10 rifle owners. And yes, there are those who have their own personal preferences for a certain type. If you’re new to buying a scope mount for your AR-10 rifle, here are some of the types of scope mounts that are available:
One Piece
This type is the most simple of them all. They’re easy to install and will accommodate most scopes that will fit it perfectly. They are strong and they are rigid. And since they’re pretty straightforward, you won’t have to worry about any kind of alignment issues.
Nikon P-Tactical 1 Piece 1" Scope Mount
Scope Rings
This is a scope mount that has been around since the beginning of time. Your father used them. So did your grandfather. And probably your great-grandfather. That’s how long they have been used.
Even today, they’re still reliable like no other. Scope rings these days are light in weight, so they won’t add unnecessary weight to your gun. They’re quite affordable and are a long-range shooter’s best friend.
Rail Style Mounts
Do you fancy yourself a fan of the Picatinny Rail or the Weaver Rail? Either way, you’ve got scopes that can fit one or both rails. They allow for easy installment and easy detachment. If you simply want to add a scope or optic without having to make adjustments to get it properly sighted in, what more could you ask for?
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Rather than hit the “add to cart” button on a whim or pick a random scope mount off the shelf, it’s important to do some deeper research on a few scope mounts of your choice. There are a few aspects that will play a role in your final purchasing decision. If you’re a first-time buyer, follow this list so you’ll know what might base your decision on:
Price
If you’re a budget shopper, then almost everything you buy will probably be based on the price tag. The price should not be the only reason why you bought a scope mount; you should also pay close attention to the overall quality of the scope mount. The last thing you want to do is buy something that’s reasonable in price, but subpar in performance and quality. You’ll want to rise above the old “you get what you pay for” schtick.
Material
The materials that are used for scope mounts will more than likely be high in quality. Most gun manufacturers will most likely use materials like aluminum, steel, or even polymer to ensure the best in quality. These materials are more likely to stay strong and handle all kinds of abuse. They can even have the ability to handle shock that is associated with recoil, which will help your scope keep aim while you are firing.
Installation
We get it; not every AR-10 owner will have expert level gunsmithing skills. And if that’s the case, you’ll want to find a scope mount that is considered a “drop-in” type. The words “drop-in” basically mean easy to install. With these mounts, you won’t need anything other than a few tools and a few minutes of your time to install your scope mount before installing the scope itself.
Review of the Best AR-10 Scope Mounts
Below are five of the best AR-10 scope mounts that are currently on the market. This list will obviously be subject to change between now and the next year, but you'll be hard pressed to find anything else on this list as of right now. So it's important to find something that might be best used for your AR-10 rifle for years or maybe decades to come.
As you're going through each one of these scope mounts, pay close attention to the unique features that might stick out as ideal for your wishlist. With that said, let's start with the best overall scope mount for an AR-10:
Best Overall:
Midwest Industries QD 1" Offset Scope Mount
Pros
Cons
First, we’ll be taking a look at the Midwest Industries QD 1 inch Offset Scope Mount. When you first look at it, it looks like a hybrid of a one piece and ring mount. The rings are designed to handle one-inch rifle scopes and are easy to secure in place.
This scope mount is ideal if you’re using your AR-10 rifle for possible long-range shooting. Hunting or target practicing, you’ll have a scope mount that will be ready for action the second you install it along with your scope of choice.
The clamping ability is so good, it won’t coin or damage the rail surface on your rifle. It’s even fully adjustable without the use of any complicated tools. So if you’re looking for a scope mount that is easy to use and adjust, this might be the one you’ll want.
This is precision machined from high-quality aluminum that is designed to give you a lifetime of usability, which means that it can hold its own for years and maybe even decades. All you’ll need is a reliable scope that will last you a lifetime as well.
If you want a mount that might end up being the last one you’ll ever buy for a long time, then the Midwest Industries scope mount could be exactly what you’ll need for your AR-10 rifle.
Bottom Line
The Midwest Industries scope mount is an excellent scope mount to get for long-term use.
What really impressed us was that it gives you the ability to make adjustments without ever having to use tools. That’s good enough for a lot of shooters who need something like this. Because the scopes they use might have a good amount of eye relief, while others may not.
Either way, you’ll have the ability to adjust your scope so it will be more accommodating for you.
Runner-up:
Aero Precision - Ultralight Scope Mount
Pros
Cons
Next, we’ll be taking a look at the Aero Precision Ultralight Scope Mount. This is our best scope mount for those who are on a budget and are looking for an excellent scope mount that will fit most AR-style mounts. Of course, that means it can fit all kinds of scopes. Mid-range or long-range, it doesn’t matter.
This is a very lightweight scope mount, so you won’t have to worry about your rifle getting heavier once it’s completely installed. On top of that, it’s very durable thanks to the high-quality materials its made from.
Lightweight and durable, you can’t lose with a scope mount like this, especially when it’s affordable for most budgets. If that hits a lot of buttons in your mind, you’d be insane not to pass up on the opportunity to own this.
Even if you’re not on a budget and can afford any mount you want, you’d be surprised how something like this can hold up. The Aero Precision is the ultralight scope you want if you want something that’s sturdy, reliable, and won’t break the bank.
Plus, once you add your scope of choice on there, you’ll be good to go at the range or in the field, whichever is best for you.
Bottom Line
Overall, we’re quite impressed with the Aero Precision scope mount. Light in weight and also super strong, it does a great job of supporting the scope and makes sure that it holds zero for as long as possible.
In fact, this exceeds the expectations of any other budget mount on the market. You get more than what you pay for with a mount like this.
If you’re on a budget and want something that will last you a long time, the Aero Precision ultralight scope mount might just do the trick for you.
Best for the Money:
Talley - Light Weight Scope Mount
Pros
Cons
Next, we’ll be taking a look at the Talley Light Weight Scope Mount. These ring mounts are probably the most sturdy and reliable ring scope mounts on the market.
Plus, they’re light in weight and won’t make your rifle any heavier. Each ring is measured at ⅝ of an inch and is designed to fit most rifle scopes.
Plus, this mount does a good job of keeping your scope in place so that it won’t wiggle or shift during use. Even if you have a large scope, it won’t move around. It will be secure and will hold its own over time.
The mount is constructed from high-quality aluminum and will accept one-inch rifle scopes. Also, it can handle scopes with objectives measured up to 30mm. If you have a scope with the exact measurements that match, then this mount might just be exactly what you’ll need.
Bottom Line
The Talley Light Weight Scope Mount is probably the closest thing you can get to good old-fashioned ring mounts these days. And best of all, they’re very reliable regardless of what scope you use.
If you want to get the look and feel of an old-school style rifle, then mounting these puppies on your AR-10 might be what the doctor ordered. They’re durable, lightweight, and best of all, they are affordable for most budgets.
4. American Defense - No Offset Scope Mount
Pros
Cons
Next, we’ll be taking a look at the American Defense No Offset Scope Mount. The first thing that we’ve noticed is that it has a quick release lever. This is quite an impressive feature to have if you just want to add on a scope mount and your scope in a matter of seconds, not minutes.
On top of that, this will fit most Picatinny or Weaver rails. If you have either rail, you won’t have to worry about whether or not it will fit. This is also easily adjustable just by simply using a coin or a flathead screwdriver.
So it’s not only easy to install, but also easy to adjust. If the ease of use isn’t impressive enough, we don’t know what is.
This is a one-piece mount that also has rings that can hold your scope in place and won’t allow it to wiggle around. If you hate when that happens, then rest assured you won’t be able to see it with this scope mount in particular.
For a mount that is easy to attach and detach, plus allowing you the best secure fit for almost any rifle scope that can fit, the American Defense No Offset Scope Mount might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Bottom Line
If you hate the idea of spending minutes installing a standard scope mount, then this might be the best possible option. It’s clip on and clip off. That’s it. Best of all, you don’t even have to resight your scope or worry about it losing its zero after switching your scope from one rifle to the next.
Of course, the scope will stay in place and won’t fall out easily. As long as the nuts are tightened, it will stay in place no matter how many times you switch rifles. It’s even affordable for most budgets as well. Not bad at all.
5. Nikon P-Tactical 1 Piece 1" Scope Mount
Pros
Cons
Our next product is the Nikon P-Tactical 1 Piece 1” Scope Mount. Nikon is best known for having excellent optics for their scopes. But can they make awesome scope mounts that will complement them? The short answer is yes.
This scope mount is a scope ring mount that is designed to handle not just Nikon brand scopes, but also scopes that are designed for long-range shooting or hunting.
If you have a long-range scope, you need to have a mount that can support it. This mount is at the right height and is fitting for scopes that have a great deal of eye relief as well.
To note, this handles one-inch riflescopes. If that’s the type of scope you have, this is the mount that will be best for it.
This mount is made from a high-quality alloy that is designed to keep the scope in place and will also be able to withstand a lot of recoil and shock.
If you’re looking for a scope mount that won’t give the scope itself any kind of wiggle room, the Nikon P-Tactical scope mount might be your best option.
Bottom Line
In our opinion, the Nikon P-Tactical scope mount is one of the best for all the right reasons. It will fit most one-inch rifle scopes and also has the reliable ring-style mounts that have been trusted by shooters for generations.
Plus, it is the ideal scope mount for long-range hunters, competitive shooters, and even target shooters. If you want to shoot targets accurately from about 500 yards or more, then you’ll need a scope mount that can hold your favorite scope in place. The Nikon P-Tactical might very well be the mount you’ll end up with if you’re a long-range shooter.
How to Mount a Scope on Your AR-10
Mounting a scope may be a hard thing to do if you have no idea how to do it. However, we’ve taken the liberty of providing you with a quick guide on how you can mount a scope on your AR-10 rifle:
- First and foremost, always check to see if your rifle is clear. Check the magazine well and the chamber. Once you’re clear, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
- The tools you’ll need are a torque wrench, screwdrivers, and a torque wrench. You might need some Loctite just in case it’s needed. Other tools like cantilever mounts and a bubble level.
- Take the cantilever mount and place it on the upper receiver. If you have a free-floating rail or handguard, don’t put the mount on the receiver and the rail at the same time. Take the torque wrench and tighten it.
- Take the scope and add the rings on top. Tighten them in an X-Pattern. Using the level, check to see if the scope is level. Check the reticle to ensure that it is level.
- Screw on the scope securely. Double check to see if it’s nice and tight. At this point, you’re done.
Conclusion
Finding the best AR-10 scope mount may be a challenge. If you know exactly what you're looking for in a scope mount, the search will be much easier for you. Whether you prefer a ring mount or a straightforward one piece, you'll find a great scope mount that will hold your scope up quite well and help it deliver the best performance that it can give.
Not only will your scope be reliable for use, but it will also be able to hold zero for as long as possible. Find a scope mount that is easy to install, tough as nails, and will work to your advantage for years to come.
