I’m at the moment publishing a collection of posts that spotlight the gear the 200 top-ranked shooters within the Precision Rifle Sequence (PRS) are operating in long-range rifle matches. (Study concerning the Precision Rifle Sequence.) This group of opponents represents the very best precision rifle shooters within the nation. My final put up targeted on the rifle scopes this group of shooters was operating, and this one will cowl their scope mounts and rings these guys are mounting these in.
I do know so many shooters who save and save for his or her first precision rifle, after which save and save for a succesful scope … however then purchase no matter low cost rings the native gun store has in inventory. The scope mount is the bridge connecting what you’re utilizing to goal with what is definitely firing the bullet. I’d strongly suggest that if you happen to purchase a pleasant rifle and scope, please don’t lower corners on the mount. That’s like a participant within the NFL who has an unbelievable kickoff return, however he begins celebrating a bit too rapidly and unintentionally fumbles on the 5-yard line as a substitute of scoring a landing. Doh! Low cost rings can permit the scope to maneuver beneath recoil (in erratic methods which might be arduous to diagnose) and even injury the tube of your scope. That doesn’t imply you must spend $400, however it most likely does imply a minimum of $100.
Most In style Manufacturers of Scope Mounts
The chart beneath reveals a whole breakdown of the manufacturers of scope mounts that have been utilized by 2 or extra of those prime 200 ranked shooters within the PRS. There have been just a few extra manufacturers that 1 of the shooters surveyed stated they used, and people are listed in direction of the tip of the article.
On the chart above, the varied colours signify the place a shooter landed when it comes to season rank within the PRS. For instance, black signifies shooters who completed within the prime 10, the darkest blue is individuals who completed 11-25, and the lighter the blue, the additional out they completed in general standings. The chart legend itemizes the ranks every shade represents, however principally, the darker the colour, the upper the shooter’s general rating.
I’ll dive into every of the highest manufacturers beneath, however earlier than we do this – let’s take a look at what number of of those guys want to run a one-piece mount vs. rings.
The chart beneath represents all manufacturers and opponents that have been ranked within the prime 200 when it comes to PRS Season standings.
You’ll be able to see that one-piece mounts are greater than twice as standard as conventional scope rings amongst these elite shooters. 71% stated they’re utilizing a one-piece scope mount, and 29% stated they’re utilizing rings.
However let’s take a more in-depth take a look at those that completed on the very prime. The chart beneath is proscribed to those that completed within the prime 50 on the season.
9 of the highest 10 shooters stated they used a one-piece mount. Nonetheless, there are clearly world-class shooters utilizing each techniques.
Hawkins Precision Scope Mount: 30%
Hawkins Precision was the preferred model of scope mount, representing 30% of those prime marksmen. That included 3 of the highest 10 shooters: #1 Kahl Harmon, #4 Austin Orgain, and #5 Austin Buschman.
Hawkins affords each rings and a one-piece mount. Final yr, I interviewed each Austin Buschman and Austin Orgain. Buschman was utilizing the Hawkins Heavy Tactical Rings, and Orgain was utilizing the Hawkins Heavy Tactical One-Piece Mount. Each guys are PRS Season Champions – so clearly, these are each nice choices. I’d suspect most of those shooters are utilizing a type of Heavy Tactical merchandise as a substitute of the extra light-weight rings that Hawkins affords.
So, what number of have been utilizing Hawkins rings vs a one-piece mount?
60% have been utilizing the Hawkins Heavy Tactical One-Piece Mount, and 40% have been utilizing their rings. There have been prime 10 shooters in each teams, so both one are a fantastic choice.
Andy Hawkins, the founding father of Hawkins Precision, is a aggressive shooter himself and completed forty seventh general within the 2023 PRS Season Open Division! Clearly, Andy is aware of first-hand the type of gear that you should compete on the highest ranges.
The road value of Hawkins Heavy Tactical One-Piece Mount is $342, and their Hawkins Heavy Tactical Rings are $223. However, one factor to bear in mind whilst you’re evaluating in opposition to different prime manufacturers is that Hawkins contains each an integral bubble degree AND a “diving board” picatinny rail.
The “diving board” is a picatinny rail that mounts above the target bell. A picatinny rail in that location is usually additionally known as a RAPTAR rail as a result of it’s the place some individuals mount a rangefinder, just like the Wilcox RAPTAR. For PRS-style capturing, that rail gives a spot to place stress down on the rifle together with your hand whereas capturing positionally with out inflicting a point-of-impact shift. In case you put stress down on the target bell of your scope, it might trigger some extent of impression shift. You will note most of the professional shooters use the approach that Austin Orgain is demonstrating within the photograph.
A few of the different manufacturers (e.g., Spuhr, Grey Ops, Space 419) supply scope mounts the place you may add a diving board on the entrance, however they cost $80 to $120 for that extra accent. So, if you happen to have been deliberate so as to add a diving board, the all-in price of the Hawkins Precision one-piece mount or rings are a fairly clear worth as compared.
Spuhr Scope Mount: 21%
The 2nd hottest model of scope mount was Spuhr. The final time I surveyed the professionals was 5 years in the past, and Spuhr was the #1 model again then, with 27% of the top-ranked shooters. They aren’t far off that mark this yr, with 21% of those top-ranked shooters operating a Spuhr mount.
There have been 4 shooters who completed within the prime 10 who have been operating the Spuhr mount: #6 Kyle Mccormack, #7 Jeff Guerry, #9 Chris Kutalek, and #10 Nick Gadarzi. That was yet another than Hawkins, which makes Spuhr the preferred choice among the many prime 10.
The Spuhr Ultimate Scope Mount is without doubt one of the most extensible scope mounts with attachment interfaces protecting it for mounting equipment. This might embrace dope card holders, cosine indicators, reflex sights, lasers, different rails, nightvision tools, and so forth. There are actually no limitations to what could be hooked up – I’ve even seen a GoPro digital camera mounted to a Spuhr. The extensible interfaces present most flexibility with a minimal footprint.
It additionally options an integral bubble degree and has a really compact design that shouldn’t get in your approach of seeing your elevation turret.
Spuhr does supply impartial rings, however you may see within the chart beneath that the majority of those guys want to make use of their one-piece mount.
The draw back of the Spuhr mount is the value. The road value is $475 (when this was written), which makes them the most costly mount on this checklist. The separate rings aren’t a lot much less at $430. If you wish to add a diving board on the entrance, you’ll add one other $107. (Notice: After making an attempt just a few completely different Spuhr diving board sizes, I ended up preferring the Sphur A-0029 rail, which is their medium measurement.)
Masterpiece Arms Scope Mount: 12%
12% stated they have been operating Masterpiece Arms (MPA) Scope Mounts, which was about the identical proportion as 5 years in the past. That included one shooter from the highest 10 operating the MPA BA Scope Mount: #3 Morgun King.
In actual fact, if you happen to take a look at the highest 25 – MPA had as many scope mounts represented as Hawkins or Spuhr. All 3 corporations had 6 shooters represented among the many prime 25.
Of these operating MPA mounts, all of them stated they have been operating MPA’s one-piece mount (not rings).
The MPA BA One-Piece Mount has a road value of $275, which makes it the lowest-priced one-piece mount that was utilized by 5 or extra professional shooters. So, if you happen to’re searching for worth, the MPA BA Mount brings loads to the desk.
MDT Scope Mount: 8%
8% of those top-ranked professionals stated they ran an MDT Scope Mount, together with Andy Slade, who completed 2nd general and received the 2023 AG Cup.
MDT makes each a one-piece mount and conventional scope rings, so here’s a breakdown of what these shooters selected to run on their match rifle:
You’ll be able to see world-class opponents run each choices. MDT solely has one mannequin of their one-piece mount, however I’d suspect these guys have been all operating the MDT Elite Rings (not their light-weight fashions).
The road value on the MDT One-Piece Scope Mount is $400, and the MDT Elite Scope Rings are $280.
Grey Ops CNC Scope Mount: 6%
6% of the shooters have been operating a scope mount made by Dave Preston over at Grey Ops CNC, together with #8 Ken Sanoski.
Grey Ops solely launched these scope mounts in Might 2023, and I did this survey across the finale on the finish of the 2023 season. Most of those guys are very hesitant to vary any side of their competitors rifle mid-season, so the truth that 6% had already moved over to them says loads. You would fairly anticipate that proportion to be greater as soon as the product has been out a whole yr – particularly over the low season when professional shooters usually experiment with new gear.
After I reached out to Dave to substantiate the discharge date, he stated, “The mounts have been gaining steam, and folks actually appear to love the top quality and slew of equipment for them.” You’ll be able to see a few of the equipment, like a diving board and bubble degree, within the photograph.
Grey Ops at the moment solely affords one-piece scope mounts (not rings), so that’s what all of those prime shooters have been utilizing.
I’d anticipate that most individuals studying this have some expertise with Grey Ops merchandise, however for those who won’t – they’re very, very well-made and thought-out merchandise. Dave Preston is the proprietor of Grey Ops CNC and is a previous PRS Season Champion and engineer. Dave remains to be very aggressive and completed twenty first within the 2023 PRS season rankings. Something that Grey Ops CNC makes is an especially succesful product, and I’m positive these scope mounts are not any exception.
The road value of the Grey Ops Scope Mount is $390, and the optionally available diving board accent is $120.
American Rifle Firm Scope Mount: 3%
American Rifle Firm (ARC) had 3% of those top-ranked shooters operating their scope mounts and rings.
American Rifle Firm is understood for revolutionary engineering. They definitely aren’t a “me too” producer that copies current designs or makes incremental enhancements. You’ll be able to see an instance of that of their scope mount and ring design, which has a really distinctive design with 2 hinges on every ring.
The hinged, split-ring design places stress on the scope tube in a extra uniform method, and helps hold the scope degree and aligned as you tighten it down. In addition they are low profile so you will have a transparent view of all your turrets.
ARC affords each rings and one-piece mounts and these top-ranked shooters have been evenly cut up on which they most well-liked to run in competitors:
ARC affords a ton of various sizes and heights of scope mounts/rings. Many scope producers have low, medium, and excessive rings – however they add additional low and additional excessive choices – and likewise supply them in 1”, 30mm, 34mm, 35mm, 36mm, and 40mm scope tube diameters!
The road value for the ARC One-Piece M-Brace Mount is $279, and the M-Brace rings are $179 – making them a few of the most reasonably priced merchandise on this checklist.
Leupold Scope Rings: 3%
3% of the 200 top-ranked shooters within the PRS stated they ran Leupold scope rings. Leupold does make one-piece scope mounts, however all of those shooters who stated they used a Leupold scope mount stated they have been utilizing rings. Not one of the shooters utilizing Leupold as a mount have been within the prime 10, however there have been a pair within the prime 50.
A type of guys who stated they have been operating Leupold rings was Doug Koenig, who’s a world champion pistol competitor and now could be a high-ranking competitor within the PRS’s Manufacturing Division. I met Doug at Clay’s Cartridge Traditional PRS Match earlier this yr, and I’ve watched just a few of his movies and it appears to be like like he’s utilizing the Leupold Mark 4 Scope Rings. These are Leupold’s beefier, tactical rings – and I’d guess the opposite shooters operating Leupold rings are doubtless utilizing those self same rings, too.
The Leupold Mark 4 scope rings have a road value of simply $111, making them the lowest-priced scope mounting choice that was utilized by 5 or extra of those pro-level PRS shooters.
Different Scope Mounts Used By The Professionals:
The scope mounts listed above signify 84% of those shooters who have been ranked within the prime 200 within the PRS and embrace all the manufacturers utilized by those that completed the season within the prime 25. However, there was a listing of different scope mounts and rings represented amongst these world-class marksmen. The checklist beneath are all the mounts utilized by 1-4 shooters.
To be clear, I’m not making an attempt to say these are “not nearly as good” as these others, however the information merely says they weren’t as standard. Usually, that is the place you may discover new, revolutionary merchandise that haven’t been extensively adopted but.
Used By 3-4 Shooters:
Used By 1-2 Shooters:
Road Value of Most In style Mounts & Rings
Lastly, here’s a recap of the road costs for all the one-piece scope mounts and rings that have been utilized by 5 or extra shooters. This appeared like a useful view to match the completely different choices, particularly for these on a price range. They’re within the order of recognition amongst this group, with the preferred on prime.
It would shock some to see how a lot these guys are spending on their scope mounts however bear in mind: it’s the bridge connecting the factor that truly launches the bullet with what you’re utilizing to goal it. That could be a crucial bridge! I’m not saying you must spend $400 if you wish to be aggressive or hit targets at long-range, however it additionally isn’t a spot you wish to be reducing corners both.
In the end, the query comes all the way down to this: “Is It Price It?” There isn’t a one-size-fits-all “proper” reply. The reply to that query largely will depend on your private circumstances and the supposed software. One thing is price it if the profit exceeds the fee – to you. If “it’s price it“ largely will depend on what cash means to you. All of us come from completely different circumstances. I get individuals commenting about whether or not one thing is “price it” or not so typically that I wrote what I really feel is a mature and complete view of that query: Is It Price It?
Coming Up Subsequent
In case you loved this content material, there’s extra to return! Over the following few months, I’ll be publishing a ton of knowledge on what the highest precision rifle shooters are utilizing. Try the opposite “What The Professionals Use” articles which have already been revealed.
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