Please explain scope mounts

[G P]

I'm kind of new to optics. I've only used cheap rimfire scopes that you can get at canadian tire. I've seen a few terms floating around and if anyone could shed some light on them I'd appreciate it. Searching the forum didn't help much.

So what's the deal with:
Weaver base
Pictatinny rail
Dovetail
The type of mounting rails on most .22/air rifles

I think some type of guide to scope mounts would be a good sticky.

 

[Cummins4x4]

Aweaver style base (1 or 2 piece) is the type that you mount weaver style rings on. The rings clamp on to the base and the base has a groove to keep the ring from moving.

Pickatanny rail also uses weaver style rings but is always a 1 piece and has multiple grooves to allow mounting of different optics. Can also be canted for long range applications.

a dove tail is machined into the reciever of most 22's and 22 rings clamp onto the dovetail, no base required.

Hope this helps

 

[daroccot]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_rail

One piece weaver rail

weaver mount will need two for a rifle

All of the above will need to be screwed to a rifle's receiver, some firearms have the rail integrated into the receiver (Ar-15 flat-top).

Dove tails come in different flavours 10mm(3/8") dovetails and european dovetails 9mm I believe. There are adaptors out there to change from DT to Weaver/Picatinny if you want. Typically one would just use scope rings that are Dovetail compatible.

To confuse things further some companies have proprietary mounting systems, this dovetail is on a Sako