What are Adjustable scope mounts

Mounts, 1 and 2 piece which allow for various adjustments, making them useful for precision shooting and compensating for range or elevation changes or improving eye relief or positioning problems.

Why mighty you need adjustable mounts

The biggie - Running out of Elevation

One of the most common rifle scope problem reports we get is that I have used all the elevation and it is still shooting too low / high. The scope is defective I want to send it back!!

We won’t go into detail on this, it needs a blog article. But a summary can be said to be that if the scope is visibly adjusting but runs out of clicks then defect is 99% unlikely, other factors in set up, rifle barrel alignment or range are probably involved.

Major reasons for running out of elevation when set up error not involved

Long Range Shooting: If shooting very long range then the scope may simply not have enough elevation range to adjust for bullet drop.

Barrel droop: Some air rifles, especially older ones have barrels that have been mounted in the receiver so that its axis points downward (full article here) May seem crazy but it is so. This can cause many scope mounting and especially elevation range problems.

Incorrect or bad mounts: The mounts you have might be faulty causing the scope to align badly. Or they may be too high for the scope and reducing the adjustment range.

High Magnification = Fewer clicks

As a rule the higher a scopes magnification the lower it’s adjustment range is. Thus if one of more of the above are involved on a high mag scope the chances of having a problem shoot up (pun intended) Feel free to spend £4000 on a top end scope with massive adjustment range and high mag – or maybe £100 on adjustable mounts!

To solve the above and some other problems a great solution is an adjustable scope mount.

But the adjustable scope mount is not just to solve elevation problems. Adjustable mounts also offer flexibility in positioning and alignment of a rifle scope and can help with zero tweaking as well as simply not having to use the turret adjustment as much.

Adjustable Mounts key features and benefits:

  • Height/Elevation Adjustment: Adjust the vertical alignment of the scope.
    1. Useful for long-range shooting to compensate for bullet drop over distance. Common in mounts designed for extreme long-range shooting (ELR).
    2. Or for when a bit more height is needed so a scope does not touch the rifle body, to get the distance over rifle body “just right”

  • Windage Adjustment: Adjust the horizontal alignment.
    1. Helps correct for wind drift or scope misalignment with the rifle’s barrel.
    2. A handy way to adjust zero horizontally in order not to take away elevation clicks

  • Cant/Angle Adjustment:
    1. Some adjustable mounts allow for setting the scope at an angle (like a 20 MOA or 30 MOA tilt) to maximize the elevation adjustment in the scope for long-range shooting.
    2. Extend the effective elevation adjustment range of the scope without running out of adjustment in the optic.

  • Eye Relief and Positioning:
    1. Adjustable mounts offer flexibility in moving the scope forward or backward to accommodate proper eye relief.
    2. This is especially useful for different shooting positions or rifles with limited rail space.

Common Features:

  • MOA Adjustability: Many adjustable mounts feature a built-in tilt (e.g., 20 MOA or more) to aid in compensating for long-distance shots without adjusting the scope too much.

  • Tool-Free Adjustments: Some mounts allow for quick, tool-free adjustments, while others may require specific tools for more precise tuning.

  • Quick-Detach (QD) Options: Certain adjustable mounts come with QD mechanisms, allowing for easy removal and reinstallation without losing zero.

Advantages:

  • Precision: Ideal for long-range shooting and competitive shooting where accuracy and fine-tuning are crucial.

  • Adaptability: Adjustable mounts are versatile, allowing for quick adaptations to changing shooting conditions.

  • Enhanced Range: By adjusting cant and elevation, shooters can effectively increase the range of their scopes.

Applications:

  • Long-Range and Precision Shooting: Shooters who frequently engage targets at varying distances or extreme ranges benefit most from adjustable mounts.

  • Tactical and Hunting Scenarios: Adjustable mounts provide flexibility in mounting and aligning optics for various field conditions.