Leapers SKS reciever cover scope mounts

[poweredbybeer]

Before anyone decides to be a #####, yes I have made extensive use of the search function, there's no specific information that answers my question.

My question concerns these two mounts;

Does anyone have practical experience with these mounting systems? Do they effectively hold zero? If not, how far off are they after the reciever cover is removed and re-installed?

The reason I ask is because I can get two of these mounts (1 of each) for the same price as a Choate drill-n-tap mount, not to mention the fact that I can't find a canadian source for Choate mounts or other products. I have a Tasco boresight w/mandrels, so rough re-zeroing is no big deal even when I'm out hunting, but I need to know if the mount will hold zero during extensive operation, like a day at the range. Any help would be much appreciated Thanx!

 

[ollie]

I have heard mostly bad things about this type of mounts, which is why I haven't tried one. I've seen rear sight replacement peep sights that looked neat though...

 

[Holleyman]

My question concerns these two mounts;

Does anyone have practical experience with these mounting systems? Do they effectively hold zero? If not, how far off are they after the reciever cover is removed and re-installed?

I have the above mount, it is sitting on a shelf and never to be used again. It doesn't hold zero between two shots, let alone ten. I couldn't group better than 14 - 18" at 100 yard, open sight was way more accurate (this mount has the side screws that jam against the receiver) It is crap, its cheap because its crap! I paid the extra and got the Choate drill and tap model, shoots 3-4" at 100 yards. Zeroed the scope last fall, still holding zero. Best of all, the scope does not have to be removed to clean the rifle.

 

[m1978]

crap! the only way to go is to drill in a side mount, its the best

 

[poweredbybeer]

I have the above mount, it is sitting on a shelf and never to be used again. It doesn't hold zero between two shots, let alone ten. I couldn't group better than 14 - 18" at 100 yard, open sight was way more accurate

When you install it on the rifle, is there any movement without the screws locked down & the cover pin installed? Did you have to file the ears at the front to make it fit?

Actually, for that matter, can I take it off your hands? I'd like to experiment w/it a bit, if that's ok with you. How much do you want?

 

[desporterizer]

I brazed mine in the front & filed it down for a perfect fit to my gun. Still crap, with no movement in the cover, I can't say why. I was so disgusted with it, I sold it. I think it may have warped as the gun heated up, as it was such a tight fit in the reciever.

 

[Big Guy]

Here is my set up. I bought the scope and reciever cover and mounts from Cabela's Cheap a few years ago. Shoots great but I haven't taken it off and checked the zero.

100 yds 5 shots from the bench, norinco soft point steel case ammo.

 

[poweredbybeer]

I brazed mine in the front & filed it down for a perfect fit to my gun...with no movement in the cover...I think it may have warped as the gun heated up, as it was such a tight fit in the reciever.

I think you're right. I have a few more theories as to why these mounts get such bad press, but until I get my hands on one and mess with it I can't say for sure.

 

[Raider556]

I had a Choate drill and tap style installed on a Yugo. By far the best way to go. It was rock solid and you can disassemble the rifle without removing mount or scope.

I would have questioned my rifle if I was always re-installing my scope and expect it to return to zero.

 

[Joel]

You can get a new receiver cover and just epoxy a rail to it. It'll be nice and lo-pro and solid as all get-out but the receiver cover still moves every time it gets slammed around.

The Leapers mounts are straight up junk. That's why they are so cheap. You might just have to do some filing to install it too. The tolerances of the mounts vary just like the tolerances of an SKS vary.

Drilling and tapping is the best bet. If not that, a scout mount or Millet.

Weaver makes an interesting mount too.

 

[RUPZUK]

I tried several like what you pictured , all sucked . period .
I am considering a posp style side mount for kalinka .
If its good enough for the Russian military , it otta be ok for me I'm thinking .

 

[poweredbybeer]

Drilling and tapping is the best bet.

As I mentioned, I can't find a canadian source for these mounts, otherwise I probably wouldn't have asked about the Leapers mounts.

If not that, a scout mount or Millet.

I dislike extended-eye-relief scopes, and the Scout mounts are roughly 6 times as expensive as a Leapers mount. Not that the Leapers mount is better than the Millet or Scout mount, I'm saying the Millet/Scout mount is out of my price range, and even if it were in my price range I probably wouldn't buy it anyway (due to my dislike of EER scopes).

Weaver makes an interesting mount too.

What is this weaver mount you speak of? Is it like the reciever-cover one described on http://www.surplusrifle.com/sks/quickdetach/index.asp, near the bottom of the page? The writeup says it's a good choice because "the mount is fixed by a large pin at the front and a bolt and nut at the rear of the base" but I can't find any mounts for sale that match this description. Shed some light on the subject?

 

[Holleyman]

When you install it on the rifle, is there any movement without the screws locked down & the cover pin installed? Did you have to file the ears at the front to make it fit?

Actually, for that matter, can I take it off your hands? I'd like to experiment w/it a bit, if that's ok with you. How much do you want?

PM me with your address and it's yours... for free!

 

[PerversPépère]

If you look at the second mount, the one with the adjusting screws, I think it would be easy to make a small steel flatbar that would fit under the screw bosses and be silver brazed or low-temperarure soldered to the receiver.
Then, I'd drill and tap that part to allow two allen bolts to pass through the adjusting screws holes and screw into the reinforced part of the receiver. To remove, one would unscrew the two Allen bolts, then unlock the rear cover latch to slide the mount out.
That way, the anchoring would be ridgid but easily removable.
PP.

 

[Joel]

That's actually a really good idea.

I think Marstar sells the rails you can glue or attach to the top of your receiver cover...Maybe thats what I would do. Buy a new receiver cover from Districorp and attach that rail to it.

I can show you the Weaver later, when I get home. Right now I can't surf gun sites much because of the office firewall. (Thank God it's spelled gunnutz and not Gun nutz)

 

[poweredbybeer]

Funny you mention firewalls, I caught hell yesterday from my boss for surfing gun sites at work I asked him how he knew, and he said the IT guy sent him an email that a lot of "gun" related URL's and junk were going through the firewall. I guess he knew it was me, right away

I think I found the Weaver mount;

It attaches via the rear cover pin. Looks pretty good, although it has less set-screws and surface area than the B-square one;

Regardless, I took a quick look around and couldn't find a canadian source for either of these mounts. I'm starting to consider looking in the US and getting some junk shipped across the border, how hard can it be?

 

[Joel]

Hehe, some days my firewall doesn't work and I can surf gun pages freely.

Districorp has the Bsquare mount

 

[55recce]

SKS scope mounts

I have a couple of the cheap Norinco mounts.

They seem to work fairly well for me. They hold zero reasonably well. I remove them for cleaning every time I shoot. I find that they are pretty close to zero when I go for the next range session and a few rounds will dial them back into the right place.

If you are expecting perfection and SIG like quality you will be disappointed.

If you are expecting something that is cheap and works reasonably well then you wont be.

 

[SubZero]

I have a couple of the cheap Norinco mounts.

They seem to work fairly well for me. They hold zero reasonably well. I remove them for cleaning every time I shoot. I find that they are pretty close to zero when I go for the next range session and a few rounds will dial them back into the right place.

If you are expecting perfection and SIG like quality you will be disappointed.

If you are expecting something that is cheap and works reasonably well then you wont be.

Similar to my experience. Not as bad as others have experienced, but better than I expected.
No matter how good the scope mount, the SKS will never be a target gun. YMMV

 

[poweredbybeer]

If you are expecting perfection and SIG like quality you will be disappointed.
If you are expecting something that is cheap and works reasonably well then you wont be.

Similar to my experience. Not as bad as others have experienced, but better than I expected.
No matter how good the scope mount, the SKS will never be a target gun.

I think this may be what leads so many people to be disappointed with these mounts. I agree with both of these statements, I'm fully aware that the SKS is not designed to be a tack driver. I do, however, desire to shrink my groups by 1 inch or so. I firmly believe that such a goal is entirely possible, with the right combination of parts and a thorough working knowledge of the rifle. If I can consistently hit a 7" pie plate at 100 yards with cheap surplus FMJ, I'll be perfectly happy.

Part of the reason I'm dead-set on the Leapers mount is the fact that there are so many of them out there, they're so cheap and available, and the design seems sound (to me, at least) but everyone hates them and claims they're inaccurate. How can a design that looks perfectly fine and makes perfect sense be denounced as junk by so many people? There's some sort of common denominator that makes these things inaccurate, and I intend to find out what it is. I'll keep everyone posted, and yes, I am prepared to eat my words