Tried to get some response on the AR15.com site,but no luck.. So here goes..
Recently ordered a Bushmaster A3 with the detachable handle. Also had Lew Tippie build a complete receiver with a heavy 24" barrel.

I've never owned an AR much less scoped one. I believe the flat tops come with a picatinny mount. I want to use Talley QD rings. Or something similar.

Does someone make QD rings that mesh and clamp into the picatinny-- or are there bases that lock into the picatinny and then you use the QD rings? I dunno-but would sure like to have the correct mounting setup in hand when the carbine and the barrel arrive. Help?

Millett makes rings that clamp right onto the rail. They aren't QD, though. I use them on my Colt Accurized Rifle CAR-A3. Make sure you get them high. I also had to get a one inch A-2 stock extension from DPMS to get enough eye relief with my Leupold Tactical 4.5-14x50mm scope.

i found with a leupold scope you usually must raise it to the same height as the original rear sight in the handle or you will not get the proper cheek weld on the stock. it usually has to be pushed forward so you get the proper eye relief to get rid of the shadow. several people make a 1 inch spacer that bolts to the pic. rail and also allows the scope to be pushed forward enough. mine goes with me on potentially unpleasant missions at times and i don't want to be searching for the reticule.

Thanks for the replies fellers! Could you give me some "specifics"? Who makes the best "risers" as I do plan to use a 4.5-14x50 Leupold and hopefully QD rings.. Thanks again.

I've had excellent results with the Armalite one-piece scope mount. It raises the scope high enough to clear large objectives, has forward set rings that allow you to mount the scope farther forward and have a good anchor with your cheek and is quick detachable and returns to zero. With any high rings I've used they haven't been high enough although I haven't tried out the Millets which are supposed to work OK.

Get the one-piece scope mount from www.model1sales.com Model 1 Sales, Inc. I got mine this past week and it is what you want, trust me. It is a hefty, well-machined item, has two big thumbnuts that you can get really tight with just your fingers and has four socket-head screws to clamp down the upper half of the ring. I advise you also get two 1/2" scope risers to provide sufficient clearance for your fingers under the rear eyepiece for charging. The mount if $65 and the risers are $15 each. If you really want to go nuts, you can also get one of the extended charge handle latches that allow you to work the charging handle with one finger but I have found that they are not really necessary.

[ 10-26-2003, 11:31: Message edited by: rootbeer ]

Bushmaster sells a nice set of riser blocks. You could use extra high Leupold Mark IV rings, have a set on my PCR-16. Millet makes a set of their angle-lock rings in extra high for the AR, no need for riser blocks with these or the Leupolds.

Warne makes, and Brownells sells, "MAGNUM SPECIAL APPLICATION SCOPE RINGS." A buddy and I both have them and they work great.

At Brownells website: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=15492&title=MAGNUM+SPECIAL+APPLICATION+SCOPE+RINGS

I use the Warne Ulta High QD rings on my Armalite M15-A4 flat top. It sports a Springfield 6.5-20x scope and has plenty of room to clear the forend. Also, as a big plus, it returns to zero withing 1/2 MOA. The Warne rings will fit Picatinny and Weaver type rails.

Don't know where in East Texas you live, but a call to K2 Sports in Richardson (972) 234-5537 will hook you up with the premier AR15 experts in Texas. A.R.M.S. mounts are highly regarded detachable units that adapt to many different optics.

A.R.M.S. Website

K2 Sports Website

Talk to John or James at K2. They are GOOD FOLKS.

**Oh yeah, if you talk to Lew tell him I recovered from his .458WM CZ550 taking a bite out of my face. Tell him my .458 Lott is hungry and ready for HIM to try. (G)

[ 10-26-2003, 21:11: Message edited by: Arock ]

Gentlemen, I really appreciate the information! Will post when I decide and let Ya'll know how it turns out. This is going to be fun. Expensive, but fun!
Skipper Miller Dallas, TX

I like the Armalite scope mount. It lets the scope move forward for good eye relief, and puts it up high enough to have a good cheek position on the stock. They are pricey, but good. I have them on my site If you want to see it mounted.

Do yourself a favor and get a mount from Derrick Martin at Accuracy Speaks. It is made for Match rifle shooters, some of the stuff out there is on the market for the "mount a flashlight and laser" crowd.

I was just about to mention Derrick Martin's mount but Kevin beat me to it. Like some of the Swan rails, it extends far enough forward over the handguard to be useful to position shooters (and stock crawlers) like myself.

I had the Millet rings on a 20" Bushy and they work fine provided I'm shooting from a bench or a very upright sitting position. The Accuracy Speaks mount replaced 'em. If you want them, I'll send them for $20 shipped. Howzat?

Redial
markriedl@yahoo.com

Gents, again thanks for all the good advice. I called Warne Co. in WA/OR? and chatted with them. They have a set of QD rings that they guaranteed to fit and work with the big Leuplod scope. I've used Warne on some of my big bolt guns and they have always been excellent. We'll see. Will pass along my experience with them. Again, thank you.

Just last night I put my Aim-Shot laser boresighting diode into my gun and was happy to see that the one-piece mount had moved the dot quite a bit closer to the crosshairs than the Millet Angle-loc rings I was previously using. The dot was two mil-dots right and five mil-dots low. So how do I get the dot to align with the crosshairs? Are the crosshairs not supposed to stay in the middle of the field of view?