Your mounting system is the crucial link between your firearm and your optic. That's why we make more than one million rings and bases every year, right here in the USA. Often overlooked, the correct rings and bases are vital to getting and staying on target. Our steel and aluminum blanks are machined, polished, and tolerance tested to ensure rock-solid performance, shot after shot. Only then are they stamped with the Leupold logo and guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Not sure which mount is for you? You’re in the right place. Below we'll take an in-depth look at each series Leupold has to offer and the key steps to finding the right Leupold mounting system for your scope and rifle.

4 STEPS TO FINDING THE RIGHT MOUNTING SYSTEM


DETERMINE WHICH MOUNTS FIT YOUR RIFLE

Determine which mounts will fit your rifle based on the rifle brand, model, and action length. Reference the fit guide below.

CHOOSE AN AVAILABLE MOUNT STYLE & SERIES

Choose a mount style based on your preferred features. (Ex: Backcountry for lightweight, QR for quick release).

DETERMINE RING HEIGHT

Determine the height of your rings (low, medium, or high) based on the objective diameter of your scope, the profile of the rifle barrel, and the rifle's action. The goal is to get your scope as low as possible without touching the barrel.

MATCH RING DIAMETER TO SCOPE MAINTUBE

Match your ring diameter to fit your scope's maintube diameter. (Ex: A scope with a 30mm maintube requires 30mm rings).

1. DETERMINE WHICH MOUNTS FIT YOUR RIFLE

The first step in choosing a mount is determining what fits your specific rifle model. Why? Because every rifle manufacturer has a unique action style, differing in shape, size, and mounting locations. We've compiled a detailed fit guide below that lists the most common rifle manufacturers. If you don't see your exact model or are having trouble determining what styles fit your rifle, give us a call at 1-800-LEUPOLD and our team will gladly help you out.


2. CHOOSE A MOUNT STYLE & SERIES

Step two is all about options. In the world of mounts, you've got bases and rings for traditional setups, ringmounts for streamlined durability, IMS mounts for integrated systems, and mounts specific for red dots. Each style serves a unique purpose tailored to specific scenarios and understanding these basics is fundamental in your decision. 

Bases come in 1-piece and 2-piece systems that fit directly to the receiver of the rifle.

Rings fit to their corresponding bases and come in a variety of heights from super low to super high.

Ringmounts are rings with an integrated base that fits directly to the rifle’s receiver.

Integrated Mounting Systems are rings with an integrated base but are fitted directly onto Picatinny rails.

Red Dot Mounts are specifically designed to fit pistols and rail bases.

Now that you know the basic styles and have located the available mounts that work with your rifle via our fit guide, it's time to choose your series. Whether you're hunting in backcountry terrain or hitting the range for some long-distance shooting, there's a Leupold mount series engineered for your specific needs.

Constructed with incredibly lightweight 7075-T6 aluminum, the Backcountry series is one of our lightest and most rugged hunting-style mounts. So if weight and durability are important to you, the Backcountry series is a great choice.

The Backcountry series is available in both cross-slot and ringmount styles. Backcountry ringmounts are machined with traditional styling and details and feature an integrated base and ring to streamline the fit on specific rifle receivers. Backcountry cross-slot mounts are offered with a 1-piece Picatinny rail base, while the low-profile rings will fit both Picatinny and Weaver-style bases.

Our Cross-Slot mounts include the PRW2, QRW2, LRW, and Open Range series with 1-piece and 2-piece bases available for many popular rifles. These mounts are all weaver-style rings that work with both Weaver or Picatinny rails and are ideal for standard to magnum calibers.

PRW2 mounts are very popular since many rifles come with Weaver-style bases or cross-slot rails. The QRW2s offer the same features as our Quick Release’s, including the same MOA accuracy when removing and replacing your optic onto your rifle, while also working with cross-slot bases. The LRW system mounts quickly and easily and offers a traditional look, while the new Open Range series is compatible with cross-slot bases and made with lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum.

Our Tactical series includes the Mark 4 and Integrated Mount System (IMS) mounts. The Mark 4 series is battlefield-ready and our most rugged mount available. It features steel 1-piece and 2-piece bases with rings available in steel or in 7075-T6 aluminum. 

Designed specifically for use with AR’s, our IMS series is our integrated mount system for Picatinny rails. IMS mounts feature a forward cantilever design, placing your scope forward on the rail to provide you will a full field of view. The mount also places the center of the optic 1.5” off the rail, the same height as open sights on a classic AR, making it easier to look through your scope without struggling to get low enough to the stock.

Quick Release (QR) mounts make it easy to remove your optic from your firearm and replace it, all while maintaining zero (+/- ¼ MOA). This easy-to-use system allows you to use multiple scopes on one rifle and is a great choice for hunters and shooters who travel by air and wish to remove the scope from their firearm.

Our steel QR 1-piece and 2-piece bases accept our QR rings and are popular for muzzleloaders and dangerous game rifles. 

Our Standard (STD) series is a traditional hunting style mount that comes in steel 1-piece and 2-piece bases with windage adjustment features. The front dovetail pivots, allowing the rear windage adjustment to hold the base in place while bore sighting. This is a helpful feature for mounting an optic on a rifle with a receiver that doesn’t line up perfectly to the barrel, or on older rifles that had holes drilled incorrectly.

STD bases and rings are perfect for standard calibers less than .300 Win. Mag, and not recommended for magnum or rifles with large, heavy scopes.

The Dual Dovetail (DD) series is also a traditional hunting style mount that comes in steel 1-piece and 2-piece bases, with the addition of Dovetail features on the front and back of the mount. Dual Dovetail mounts are popular among hunters. The rings come in a wide range of heights, and with certain scopes and rifles, this system will allow you to get your optic low to the receiver and appear more like an open sight.

DD mounts are especially known for handgun and dangerous big game rifle applications, making it a good option for standard to magnum calibers.

Leupold offers an assortment of mounting options for multiple handgun brands and various firearm applications. The DeltaPoint Pro cross-slot mount allows for multiple applications on any firearm you can get a Picatinny or Weaver-style rail on.

The DeltaPoint Pro AR mount is fixed and places the red dot at 1.5” off the rail on center. Our 45-degree rail mounts and ring top mounts are growing in popularity, with the latter featuring a mounting plate that can move to either side of your scope, placing your red dot at a 45-degree angle.


3. DETERMINE YOUR RING HEIGHT

Choosing the right ring height is a balancing act, where both your scope's objective size and your rifle's stock style should be taken into consideration. The perfect height aligns your eye naturally with the reticle when you get behind the rifle (also known as your natural cheek weld on the rifle stock). We offer a variety of ring heights to align with your scope's objective size and complement your rifle's stock, setting you up for that perfect shot.

Below is a basic guide for determining which height you may need based on the objective size of your scope. Get this right, and you'll achieve a seamless line of sight for quick target acquisition and unwavering accuracy. 


4. MATCH YOUR RING DIAMETER TO YOUR SCOPE'S MAINTUBE

The final piece of the puzzle is choosing the correct ring diameter. This isn't a one-size-fits-all scenario; it's about precision. Your ring diameter needs to match your riflescope's maintube size for a snug fit, ensuring zero movement and total reliability. Most riflescope maintube sizes can be found on the box, or in our case, on the dimensions tab on any product page. In the example below, item K (Maintube Diameter) is 30mm and would require 30mm rings.


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