Why One-Piece Scope Mounts for AR15 Style Rifles
Since the buffer tube is in the stock of an AR15 and is in line with the bolt carrier group and barrel, the comb of the stock does not slant downward at the rear like bolt action rifles or other gas rifles with the return spring above or forward the bolt. Because of this the iron sights on an AR15 were set on top of a raised sight channel, what most call the carry handle. In order to mount a scope on an original carry handle AR15 it had to be mounted on a special mount that fit in the sight channel.
The problem with mounting optics to the carry handle was it put the optic high from the bore and above the normal cheek weld. So, Colt® introduced the flat-top Picatinny railed upper receiver so that optics could be mounted lower to the receiver rather than on top of the carry handle, allowing for multiple positions for all kinds of optics. They added the flat-top upper receiver to its commercial line in 1992 and many manufacturers followed.
Because the flat-top Picatinny rail was lower, extra high rings were required to mount an optic and get a good cheek weld. Warne cantilever scope mounts were designed to be the ideal height for cheek weld and to push the scope forward in a more eye-friendly manner without having to attach any part of the mount to the handguard.
Best AR15 Scope Mounts
What is best for you may not be best for others. It comes down to what is the main function of your AR15. Are you using it for multi-gun competition, tactical, law enforcement, long-range precision, hunting or weekend fun. We have you covered with some of the best US Made AR15 scope mounting in the industry.
The Warne XSKEL is one of the most popular AR15 scope mounts. It's called the XSKEL because of its skeleton design, engineered to put weight where it is needed and reduce where it is not. Made of aerospace aluminum with steel inserts for where the screw caps screw in, it is made stronger than it needs to be with reduced weight making it popular with 3-Gun, multi-gun and practical rifle competitors. The XSKEL was not designed big and bulky to survive being run over by a tank (who does that) or with fancy cosmetic grooves that cost you but do nothing but look cool. It was designed to be a workhorse, with each cut and angle done to make it durable and still lightweight.
The XSKEL is also popular on AR10/SR25 rifles. The XSKEL was made with the competitor in mind, making it well-suited for Tactical purposes.
The XSKEL comes in 5 colors and 3 different models: bolt-on, quick disconnect, and the bolt on extra high. We have one of each design for 1-inch, 30-mm, and 34-mm scope tubes. Both of the bolt on models are also offered in 20MOA for long-range shooters.
The bolt-on XSKEL is preferred by those who do not switch between optics. It is also popular with those who run backup red dot sights on a 45-degree mount like the Warne A645.
Quick Disconnect AR15 Scope Mounts.
Warne is well known for QD rings. The Warne Quick Disconnect QDXSKEL is preferred for those who switch between optics. Using a QDXSKEL, a shooter can switch between a red dot for close-range targets and a scoped optic for long-range targets. Some use the QDXSKEL to save space in their gun safe. One can store more rifles in a gun safe by storing the optic separately on a shelf.
Extra High AR15 Scope Mounts
The Super High bolt on SHXSKEL gives shooters more heads-up room. It is 1.9 inches in height, which provides more room for shooters wearing gas masks, night vision or body armor where shooting with their neck slouched or scrunched position is difficult. Having more heads-up room also gives the shooter a better view of their surroundings which is good for tactical and speed shooting competition where the shooter has to spot multiple targets under stress. Sometimes an extra high scope mount will require a cheek riser to get proper cheek weld on an AR15 which are widely available, and some AR-15 stocks come with them built in.
All the XSKELS have the return to zero feature by installing and reinstalling the scope in the same Picatinny slot, pushing forward, and torquing the nuts back to 65-inch pounds.
Warne Skyline Precision Scope Mounts for AR15 Style Rifles
The Cantilever Skyline Precision mount was designed for long-range precision chassis bolt rifles and long-range AR10 and AR15-style rifles. They cost more than the XSKELs because they can have accessories attached to them, such as a data card holder and bubble level. They also use 2 integral recoil lugs and 4 mounting cross bolts. Although this mount can be used for 3-gun Speed Competitions and Tactical purposes, it’s a lot more scope mount than needed for speed and tactical purposes of the average AR15/AR10 shooter, but for those who push the limits of their AR15/AR10s then this mount is for you.
The Cantilever Skyline Precision Mount is made to fit scope tubes in 30mm, 34mm and 35mm with 20MOA versions of each.
AR15 Scope Mounts for Low Power Variable Optics (LPVO)
The growing popularity of LPVOs, which perform similarly to a red dot optic at one power but can zoom in to distant targets, makes the Warne XSKEL and Skyline Precision mount a great choice for LPVOs. They both push the scope further up the rail, allowing the fingers to get under the scope bell and reach the charging handle.
Warne scope mounts are Made in the USA and have a lifetime warranty. Warne is a world-class mounting solution manufacturer.
Let Warne Scope Mounts help you find the best scope mounts for AR-15 firearms and how to mount a scope on an AR-15 if necessary.