Gun scope mounts are available in many styles and sizes and even different colours. There are many variables including height, dovetail rail width and bore size. Probably the most popular type of scope mount is the 11mm ringmount where the ring and the base are combined into an integral unit. The reason the 11mm ringmount is probably the most popular gun scope mount in the world is because this type of mount is used on 95% of 22 rimfire and .17 rimfire rifles as well as the vast majority of airguns. The air rifle in its many guises along with the .22 rimfire rifle are very popular the world over with huge quantities being sold in the US.
Possibly the second most popular type of scope mount is the weaver or picatinny style mount. A large number of centrefire or fullbore rifle manufacturers use the picatinny or weaver system to enable scope mounting on their rifles. From an engineering perspective the picatinny system is an extremely solid scope mounting solution as it uses a different angle of 45 degrees instead of 30 degrees and this allows the scope mounts to kind of wrap around the rail. A cross bolt then locates into a slot on the picatinny rail which guarantees no movement of the rifle scope even if subjected to large calibre recoil. In recent years the picatinny scope mounting system has been increasingly used on air rifles or airguns as known in the US.
Another fairly popular type of scope mount is the fixed 15mm, 16mm, 17m and 19mm dovetail mount for Tikka and CZ centrefire rifles. This is basically the same system as the 11mm type but just wider to suit the wider dovetails of rifles such as the Tikka T3 and CZ527 etc. This type of mount is also available to fit Parker Hale bases.
Some gun scope mounts are available in a black gloss finish but this is not always good for hunting applications as it may cause a reflection giving your position away to a wary predator you have been trying to ambush. A matte black finish is normally the most practical and they are readily available.
For long range shooting adjustable scope mounts are a good choice as they allow the objective lens of your scope to be lowered which will mean you will not run out of vertical adjustment on your scope turrets. The angle of your scope will then follow the trajectory of the bullet as it drops away as the range increases.
If you are a spring gun user and many shooters are as spring guns are the most popular type of airgun then you may have experienced problems with the recoil breaking your scope. This is particularly a problem in countries that do not have a power limit and high powered rifles are the norm. Don’t worry a solution is available – the ‘dampa mount’ The dampa mount allows the top half of the mount to slide on the bottom half as the shot is fired. This then stops the recoil from being transferred from the airgun to your scope. Precision machined slideways mean there is no loss of zero and it’s like an insurance policy for your scope.
Whatever type of scope mount you end up with its best practice to buy from a reputable company who manufactures in the US or Europe. Chinese made scope mounts are not the same quality and this reflects in the price. The humble scope mount is more important than many people realise and always choose a good quality brand and be prepared to pay more than the budget versions cost. This will pay dividends and enable you to optimize the accuracy of your rifle along with the feeling of confidence in your equipment which is such an important part of good shooting.