I've mounted a zillion scopes in my long life, all kinds of mounts, and rings, but never on one of these rails, and on a straight stock rifle.

I just purchased a M & P 15 "optics ready" 5.56 mm. Due to the flat top, do you have to order higher rings, compared to a bolt rifle ?

I usually use medium rings to mount 40 mm objective scopes. Do you need high, or extra high rings now ?

How about a 32 mm objective ?

Is your sight line uncomfortable, with the straight stock, and low mount ?

I have read that "most" Weaver rings fit the Picatinny. Explain "most", but not all.

Old dogs need to learn new tricks...............

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NRA Instructor

I've put a couple of different optics on my OR M&P15.

Here is a write-up with a few photos.

Smith & Wesson M&P15 - 1

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Stu

Great write up on the MP.

I plan to mount a Leupold VX1 2 X 7-33 mm on mine. Hate to spend the $$$ for an ACOG, but it would be nice.

I still don't understand the difference in picatinny, and weaver rail dimensions, anybody that can help this old codger with this?

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NRA Instructor

A Picatinny slot width is 0.206 and a Weaver slot width is 0.180. Therefore, Weaver rings are made to fit Weaver slots and don't fit tight in a Picatinny slot - but once tightened on the sides, do suffice on a low recoil gun like a .22

Thanks Ken, just completed a web search, and found those dimensions.

Another difference is Picatinny has a consistent spacing of .394", Weaver spacing is inconsistent.

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NRA Instructor

That is quite true. There are a number of "Weaver" rail dimensions floating around, depending on who made it.

I have a pre-ban Eagle Arms EA-15. It has something like a Weaver rail on it. LOL!!! It is more of a ******* rail than it is anything else. I have a high dollar riser on it that accepts a pair of quality rings.....at least I can put and optic on it.

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Stu

Timely thread. I logged on to post just about the very same question. I also have an optics ready M&P15. I was seriously looking at that Millett scope you bought, Stu, but I was afraid the outer ring might get too bright for loow-light coyote calling/hunting. I instead mounted a 30mm Bushnell red dot (and green dot) with 4 reticles. I think they're a 2 moa dot, a 2 inside a 30 moa ring, a 10 moa dot and a fine cross hair. the loest setting on green seems to work well after dark.

My question is the standard rings that came on the Bushnell are a bit too low. So what do I need? I can use it the way it is, but not quickly or comfortably. Looking in a MidwayUSA catalog, Burris makes an extra high 30mm ring for a picatinny rail for about $50. Unless I hear different, that's what I'll order.

I also just ordered a set of Daniel Defense rail mounted iron sights. They are not fold-down -- I figured to save myself about a hundred bucks to spend elsewhere. I mainly wanted them for the service rifle matches at my local club. I hope they'll stay fairly close in adjustment (as well as the red dot) when I swap back and forth for the red dot.

Nice write up Stu. That reminds me I have a couple of write ups I need to get done for work. Enough gun talk for a while!

Still learning, if I have this correct, Picatinny rings will NOT fit Weaver bases. (the cross slot in the bases are too small, i.e..180", vs. .206" cross bar in the rings)

Weaver rings, WILL fit Picatinny bases, but the cross slot is much wider in the bases than the width of the cross bar in the rings. You will have .026" of "slop" in the fit, so the rigidity advantage of the Weaver rings is lost.

One of the posters pointed out that Burris's Extreme Tactical rings, are in fact Weaver specs, and will "fit" on Picatinny bases, but with the aforementioned "slop".


Midway's catalog lists "true" Picatinny rings, all are $$$$ compared to most Weaver rings (save the Burris exception, which are NOT true Picatinny dimensions).

So, we have to pay triple for Picatinny rings, or tolerate a sloppy fit with Weaver rings, in the Picatinny bases.

Clear as mud yet ?

Does anyone know of reasonably priced Picatinny rings, in the $ 30 range ?

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NRA Instructor

Below should be a link to the Burris 30mm picattiny rings. My catalog showed a price of $49.99, though.

Burris 30mm Xtreme Tactical Picatinny-Style Rings Matte Extra-High Package of 2 - MidwayUSA

I guess I don't know for sure if the Bushnell rings I used are Weaver or not. Probably are. I suppose one way to use the Weaver bases is to mount one forward in the slot and the other rearward in the slot to minimize movement.

I would still like to know ring height recommendations. In reading the reviews of the Burris rings, one guy said the extra high were perfect for his AR15, and another said the mediums fit correctly. Does that mean I should choose plain high??? I'm leaning towards the extra.

Sven, those rings are for BOTH Picatinney, and Weaver rails, so the cross bar is the smaller of the two (.180").

Again, the dimension "slop".

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NRA Instructor

Funny (or NOT), in the catalog they're listed on the picatinny only page. Now I read the internet page closer, I see the "or Weaver".