So I have a scope riser with these specifications

1 inch saddle height ; measures 5.7 by 1.75 by 1.2 inches (L x W x H)

I am curious as to the pros and cons of having the riser as opposed to not having it on there. Aesthetically, I feel it makes my rifle look boxy and a little chunky, but if there is a more functionality to it, then I will keep it on.

I don't have any irons on the rifle to co-witness with my scope/red dot.

The optics I have are a UTG 6.4-Inch ITA Red/Green Dot Sight with Integral QD Mount and a UAG QD 3-9x40 scope.

Why?? Are the scope/red dot in line? 45 angle? Do you need the riserfor scope clearance? Why?

__________________
I BACK OUR BLUE

Well the riser came as a set with both the red dot and the scope. I just put it on thinking I needed it. I'm a new shooter and I've been more of a handgun shooter and the 15-22 is my first venture into rifle shooting. I don't quite know as to why it should or should not be used in the first place.

Since I don't keep iron sights on mine, no riser is necessary for either my scope or my RDS.

Generally, risers are only used to lift your red dot sight so that one can use their iron sights as a backup, without removing the red dot. Many here use Magpul folding iron sights, so we put our red dot on a medium riser so that when the iron sights are raised up, you can see the front sight thru the red dot... even if it isn't working. Some put the red dot on a taller riser, so as to get it completely above the iron sights.

Seems to me, you just need to mount your sight directly on the gun's rails & forgo using any riser.

On an AR platform, the scope is typically mounted so that the centerline is about 1.5in above the rail. Whether that is done with just tall rings, a riser and short rings or a one piece scope mount designed for an AR patform isn't of great significance. I prefer a one piece mount like a Burris PEPR.

Thanks guys! I just came back from the range after just mounting the optics on the actual rail instead of the riser. I was blowing out the bullseyes at 35yds with no real effort. The riser is a nice piece of kit and maybe when I get flip ups, I'll put it back on but until then, WOW. It made a huge difference.

Thanks again for the input!

I think the UTG riser was about $8 at Amazon with free 2 day shipping (Prime). 3/4" rise for absolute co-witness. Magpul BUS, so if Red-Dot fails, quick pop it off and use iron sights and everything is in alignment.

Attached Images

	M&P 15-22 001.jpg (80.9 KB, 187 views)
	M&P 15-22 012.jpg (98.7 KB, 154 views)

I keep buis on everything. I also have 45 deg. off sets on a couple larger Sporting Rifles.

To each their own weirdness.

And the reason it it raised the 1.5" is because there is no drop in the stock like on a "typical" rifle.

Raising the sight 1.5" can help with cheek weld issues.

In addition to raising the optic up to a more natural position for me, I used a riser for my scope to allow it to clear the rear MBUS and for easy removal so I can use the irons or mount up an RDS w/o out losing zero on it.

I kinda like the way it looks as well.

Attached Images

20121208_MP1522_Scope.jpg (56.7 KB, 166 views)

This......

I generally mount red dots right on the top rail, but put my scopes in cantilever mounts. And that applies to both ARs and 15-22s. I have a few risers but stopped using them because I get a more consistant cheek weld when bringing the rifle up in matches if they are close to the rail top.

Opppps. Forgot to mention,those 45 off sets are on larger scoped Modern Sporting Rifles. An easy flip to the left and the offset BUIS are centered perfect to my "weird" eye and a great field of view. I have those scopes "hard mounted" insted of QD mounts. So ifI did have a scope failure,I still have sights in an emergency. I can still point shoot well,but my "weird" eye likes peeking through that small hole