The best offset mount can solve a lot of scope mounting issues, can improve shooting accuracy, and can provide more eye relief. When you use a standard ring that attaches to a scope directly above each mounting point, it will usually end up too close to the shooter’s face, hindering their vision and preventing them from seeing through the scope properly. Additionally, it can also hit the user in the face when they’re trying to take a shot. An offset mount is an affordable solution and one that will easily improve a shooter’s performance and accuracy.
However, since many manufacturers are now releasing their own take on the offset mount, finding one that’s comfortable to use and offers the type of quality most gun enthusiasts are looking for can be a challenge. Because of this, I decided to put together this buyer’s guide, which includes four of the top offset mounts currently on the market, each of which scored well in a variety of areas. My buyer’s guide includes all of the information you need to know to make an informed choice when you’re shopping for an offset mount. Below, you’ll find a comparison chart that includes each of the models that made it onto my top four list, their best features, and how they rated.
Offset Mount Comparison Chart
| Product | Offset Angle |
Material | Weight | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arisaka Defense Offset Mount   Shop On Amazon! |
45 Degrees | Aluminum | 1 Ounce | |
| TRUGLO Offset Red Dot Sight Mount   Shop On Amazon! |
45 Degrees | Aluminum | 2.15 Ounces | |
| Vortex Optics Razor Offset Mount   Shop On Amazon! |
45 Degrees | Aluminum | 0.05 Pounds | |
| Pinty Offset Angle Rail Mount   Shop On Amazon! |
45 Degrees | Aerospace Grade Aluminum |
4.94 Ounces |
Arisaka Defense Offset Picatinny Mount
Our Rating:
Ariskaka is one of the leading manufacturers in the industry, with a reputation for producing some of the best optic mounts, offset mounts, and light mounts in the industry. Their mounts are top quality and often chosen by the serious shooter.
This offset mount by Arisaka is made out of 6061 aluminum, in addition to type three hard coat anodized, for improved durability. This model is specifically designed for Surefire X300 or Inforce WML. It’s a great upgrade for the picatinny stock rail adapter. Less than 0.165 inches thick, this is a very low-profile mount that’s also compatible with the Arisaka 600 and 300 series light bodies. On the M-Lok handguard, this model will place the light at a forty-five-degree angle, tucking it closer to the handguard. The light is oriented upwards, at the 1030 or 1:30 clock positions. When oriented downwards, the light is located at 6:30 or 4:30 clock positions. This model also provides a total of four lateral mounting positions for the light body. This will allow the shooter to position the light farther away or closer from the front sights, top rail, and other types of accessories. Each of the four positions span approximately 0.320 inches. When the mount is used on the Arisaka 300 or 600 series, most shooters have noted that it provides additional clearance for larger front sights.
Pros
- Designed specifically for Inforce WML and Surefire X300
- Easy to install
- Affordable upgrade
- Provides four lateral mounting positions
Cons
- Price
Conclusion
This mount is CNC machined and made out of 6061 aluminum with type 3 hard coat anodized. This package comes with the mount, screws and M-Lok nuts. The mount itself is easy to install, and is a great, affordable upgrade for a stock picatinny mount, and works to draw light close to the rail, just like the manufacturer advertises. The mount is well-machined, sturdy and does not disappoint.
TRUGLO Offset Universal Red-Dot Sight Mount
Our Rating:
This offset red dot sight mount utilizes interchangeable base plates that are designed to fit a wide range of micro dot optics produced by major manufacturers. This model is compatible with weaver and picatinny style rails. Additionally, it’s designed for versatile placement and can be mounted on either the right or left-hand side of a rail.
Pros
- Rated for all calibers up to 45 to 70
- Ambidextrous design
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Universal base plates
- Affordable
Cons
- Needs a spacer
- Screws can easily become stripped if overtightened
Conclusion
This is a low priced, versatile offset mount that’s compatible with a wide variety of picatinny and weaver style rails. Despite the mount’s low price, this model works surprisingly well. Overall, the mount offers a clean setup and a durable design. The included mounting screws don’t come with any Loctite, however, this is an easy enough fix. In the end, most buyers can agree that this mount works as advertised, as long as you Loctite everything before use, considering the included hardware can easily get stripped should you overtighten them. This mount is definitely worth the purchase, especially for the gun enthusiast on a tight budget.
Vortex Optics Razor Red Dot Sight Offset Mount
Our Rating:
This offset mount by Vortex Optics is made out of precision-machined aluminum, complete with a hard-coated anodized finish that promotes durability. The mount can attach to either side of a picatinny rail, so it’ll work for both right-handed and left-handed shooters. While the manufacturer claims that the design helps to keep the mount’s weight down, some shooters had complaints stating that the mount is very heavy, with a length that’s too long. The longer length of the mount can cause the optic to float inches off the side of a rifle, which can make it difficult to use.
Pros
- Hard-coat anodized finish
- Durable
- Low price
- Can be attached to either side of a picatinny rail
Cons
- Only works with razor red dot
- Heavy
- Length can make it difficult to use
Conclusion
Overall, this model earned top marks from many shooters who claimed the mount worked as intended and helped to improve shooting accuracy and speed. For some, the length of the mount will make it unusable, while others will find that the well-machined design, hard-coat anodized finish, and overall quality of the mount make this model a steal for the price.
Pinty 45-Degree Offset Angle Rail Mount
Our Rating:
This Pinty offset mount is made out of aerospace-grade aluminum, for a durable, lightweight design. The mount has been coated with a matte black anodized finish that protects against corrosion. This model’s mounting versatility helps by eliminating any interference with rifle scopes and vertical grips. The mount features an innovative design that creates easy access to on and off switches for red dot sights, laser sights, and flashlights. This model comes with three picatinny mounts that will work with a wide range of rifle types. Additionally, the mount is designed with ease of installation in mind, so setting it up is fast and easy.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Made out of high-quality aluminum
- Versatile
- Design eliminates interference with vertical grips and rifle scopes
Cons
- Loose threading
Conclusion
The biggest issue you’ll come across with this product by Pinty is loose threading. In fact, be prepared to retighten the screws repeatedly throughout the day. Of course, gun enthusiasts really can’t complain considering the low price. Overall, this product does perform as advertised. While the loose threads can be a major issue, this package is a great buy for the gun enthusiast on a budget and the beginner who’s new to offset mount use.
Offset Mount Buyer’s Guide
If you’re shopping around for an offset mount, you may be looking for a model that allows you to easily and quickly transition between your sights faster. These mounts work great for pistol caliber carbines, tactical rifles, and competition guns.
The offset mount is the solution many gun enthusiasts are looking for. The offset mount’s base attaches to the receiver, however, the rings on the mount are positioned well forward of the mount position. This design will allow the scope to be mounted directly on top of a receiver, resting well forward of the mounting position, so the shooter can position the scope at the ideal distance from their eye, instantly improving user comfort and shooting accuracy, since vision issues are eliminated.
Benefits of Offset Mounts
- There are a few good reasons you may want to use an offset mount. They can come in handy when you‘re mounting red dot sights. Positioning the scope further forward will give the shooter more room behind in the event they want to put something, such as a magnifier, behind it.
- The mount will also change the firearm’s center of balance, which can lead to improved shooting accuracy.
- More rail space
- Moving the scope forward increases the field of view since the lens will only take up a small amount of space when it’s moved further from the eye, increasing the shooter’s peripheral view.
Other Important Features
If you typically use normal rings that directly attach to the scope above the mounting points, then you can expect the scope to end up sitting too close to your face, preventing you from seeing through it properly. Additionally, it can even end up hitting you in the eye when you take a shot. When you want to put a scope on an AR, the perfect solution is an offset mount. The base of this type of mount attaches to the receiver, however, the rings are placed farther forward of the mount’s position, allowing the scope to mount directly onto the top of the receiver. And the result? The shooter is able to comfortably position the scope away from the eye, so there’s plenty of eye relief. These mounts are available in separate rings, each with its own mount or in a one-piece design. When you use a magnified scope on a rifle’s receiver-mounted rail, then you’ll always want to use an offset mount. However, most models of traditional fixed stock rifles will not require this style of mount.
Design
With the different types of mounts out there, choosing the right one for your shooting needs can be confusing. The scope mount is probably the most important piece for your performance and there’s several types and styles available to choose from.
The offset mount pushes a scope forward, allowing for more rail space located behind the optic. Pushing the optic forward this way will give the shooter improved eye relief, in addition to a larger field of view.
Balance
An offset mount is placed slightly more over the barrel, instead of over the receiver. This changes the weight or balance of a rifle and can make it feel front heavy. You should keep this in mind when you’re coupling the mount with a scope, since some scopes are already pretty heavy. The offset also adds some height to a scope which, depending on how you shoot, can be seen as a disadvantage or an advantage.
Weight
Whether you’re using a low power variable optic or a long-range scope for a rifle, the odds are your rifle is probably already eight to thirty-five ounces heavier depending on what you have. Most models of offset mounts weigh under three ounces, so the weight of the mount won’t be the biggest issue. Instead, what you need to do is ensure that the rest of your firearm is lightweight so you can comfortably pick it up and shoot it.
Bore Alignment and Optic Height
Depending on the type of firearms you have, there are many different mounts to choose from. Most gun enthusiasts are looking for a mount that allows their optics to align with the bore of their gun, which ensures accuracy. With a slight offset between the bullet trajectory and canted sight, you’ll notice issues with zeroing and accuracy.
You will also need to pay close attention to the mount’s height while canted in respect to how comfortable the cheek weld is.
Styles
Just like with any other shooting accessories, an offset mount comes with many options and features depending on how much you’re willing to spend and how fancy you want to get. You can get these mounts with a quick release if the tactical forward projection isn’t enough. Additionally, you can also find models that come with extra rails for mounting accessories on top of your rings, such as a green light. You can also find models with see-through for simple co-witnessing.
One-Piece
A high-quality mount will feature a one-piece design with the mount and rings incorporated into a solid single piece. The one-piece design makes it easier to position the mount since the shooter gets the entire mount positioned without having to customize the placement of each individual ring. These mounts are attached to the picatinny rail, located on the upper receiver.
Rail System Compatibility
The rail segment on a rifle is the base that the shooter directly mounts scope rings. Some rifles, such as AR-type rifles, usually come with a rail segment that’s machined or mounted into the receiver.
Back in the 1980s, A.R.M.S. developed the picatinny standard. The purpose of this rail system was to mount heavier accessories in a standardized way. Considering the rail system’s intended use, it was named after the military research and manufacturing facility, Picatinny Arsenal, the group that was evaluating the system. Both Picatinny and weaver rail systems are compatible with a wide range of accessories. However, weaver systems might only come with one slot or several slots that are irregularly spaced. The Picatinny system features slots that are evenly spaced. These slots usually cover the length of the rails. Most rings and mounts that are compatible with weaver systems will work well on a Picatinny. Unfortunately, not all rings and mounts that are compatible with Picatinny rails will fit on a weaver rail. Rail compatibility is definitely something you’ll want to research when you’re shopping for a new offset mount, before you hit that buy now button.
AR Scope Mounts
There are several scope mounts for AR 15s that mount at an offset in order to accommodate scopes that have large objective lenses. This allows for proper clearance. If you’re using a scope that has a large objective lens on an AR 15, then you’ll want to use an offset mount to offset it.
Typically, scopes that are designed for an AR 15 are made with a diameter of thirty millimeters or one-inch, so the best mount will be able to house either a one-inch or thirty-millimeter tube.
Price
Offset mounts are often reasonably priced, so they can work for a wide range of budgets. Models produced by major companies tend to be on the pricey side, coming in at $100 to $200, but these mounts are often the most versatile and durable. Of course, it’s possible to find a high-quality mount easily, for under a hundred, if you know what features to look for. These well-built, moderately priced mounts have a price that ranges from $40 to $60. Under $40, you’ll find mounts that are not quite as durable, but they can be a great option for the new shooter or the buyer on a tight budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Use Offset Scope Mount?
This style allows the scope to mount directly on top of the receiver in a well forward position. You’ll need to use this type of mount when you’re dealing with a magnified scope.
Do I Need an Extended Scope Mount?
The type of mount you’ll need to use should be determined by the scope’s eye relief. An extended mount isn’t needed for a 1- 4 X 24 scope; however, a shorter user will need a scope to be mounted more forward for proper eye relief because the stock won’t be pulled out as far.
How High Should a Scope be Mounted on an AR?
1.40 inches is the height of sight. Using the same height for a scope will improve shooter comfort and accuracy.
Are See Through Scope Mounts any Good?
These scopes are a good choice if you plan to take a shot at a target within fifty yards, but after this point the scope is off. This is because the scope is placed so high off the barrel that it’s not able to intercept the line of sight in the same point each time. However, these scopes are good to keep on hand during deer drives.
Why Use a Cantilever Scope Mount?
The position of a cantilever scope gives the shooter more room behind in case they want to put something such as a magnifier behind it. Additionally, it will also change the rifle’s center of balance which can help improve the user’s shooting accuracy.
Final Thoughts
There are times when the red dot scope is just too close for shooting comfort, allowing it to dominate the field of vision. In other cases, you may want to fit a red dot on your firearm, but you won’t be able to do so with a basic scope mount. That’s where the best offset mount comes in. These are the mounts that are very useful when it comes to mounting red dot sights. Positioning one of these scopes further forward will give shooters more room behind, in the event they want to place a magnifier behind it. As I mentioned earlier in this guide, this will also change a rifle’s center of balance which will help improve shooting accuracy.
The right offset mount will make it easy to transition from short range to long range shots in a fraction of a second, allowing the shooter to use the same rifle, without swapping optics. With this guide and the products I’ve included in my lineup, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect mount, one that can take your shooting performance to the next level and beyond.
source https://readyandarmed.net/best-offset-mount/
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