QD scope mount repeatability?

[GrapeApe]

My thermal scope came with a QD mount.
Having never used a QD mount, I'm curious how repeatable they are.

I'm sure some of you have used QD mounts, so I'm curious how repeatable it is. I understand that I'll need to make sure I put it back in the exact slots it came off of. When I do that, can I expect POI to be within 1", 6", 12"?

Just looking for the experience of the collective regarding them.

[CPJ 2.0]

I swap mine on my ar with a regular scope on a Burris mount. Never had any issues with either.
Same slots as you mentioned, but more importantly
The same torque as applied by the lever. Meaning…get it mounted with the proper gronk on the lever, sight it in, then don’t add or subtract gronk to the lever when removing it.
Everything is rubber, everything moves when force is applied. A .005 shift here…..is a lot more shift……there.

As to an actual number on my thermal, it’s not high enough resolution for me to accurately determine an impact shift. I view it as a minute of softball setup.

[GrapeApe]

Thanks. That is the type of information I was hoping to get.

[GrapeApe]

Got it mounted. The QD mount that came with it is a steaming pile of crap

[Justsomedude]

The only style I have any experience with is the type that cams over to lock and unlock it and from the mount, but they don't show any discernable movement at all with my laser aligner at whatever the distance is from my chair to my wall.

[Orchidman]

I use my Pulsar thermal on 3 different rifles and interchange it daily with scopes most outings when doing pest destruction.
My observations are as follows.
1. Buy the best quality Pic rails you can afford and use the same brand on all your rifles you want to play 'Switcherydoo' with.
2. Buy the best quality QR mounts you can afford and use as above.
Because we are limited in choice down here, I went with Contessa rails and Leupold QR mounts.
3. Eye relief is important. ( Well it is to me cos of eyesight problems.)
What I did was fit the pic rail to the chosen rifle, then mount the scope and sight it in.
I then placed the thermal as per the attached pic and lined up the rear with the scope mounted on the rifle to 'set' the eye relief.

20240525_090651.jpg (3.6 MiB) Viewed 1493 times

Rifle shown is my T1x in 17HMR
Note that the QR mounts are using the rearmost and front slots on the rail.
When I sighted the thermal and scope in at 100m, I removed and replaced them numerous times to check the repeatability of the zero. I found that the point of impact varied by up to 2 inches or more. I didnt think that was satisfactory and came up with a hillbilly solution.
Here it is.....

20240525_090755.jpg (2.52 MiB) Viewed 1493 times

I used my Wheeler Fat torque wrench and one of the unused 'bits' from my Wheeler Screwdriver set. After experimentation I found that 15 Inch/pds was the setting that gave me the best repeatability.
To swap the thermal for the scope I do the following.
Use the wrench to loosen the scope QR mounts and wind them right out with my fingers. Place the thermal in place and push it forward against the pic rail with hand pressure while tightening up the QR mounts finger tight..... doing the front mount first. When both mounts are finger tight and still keeping the forward pressure on I use the torque wrench to tighten them until the wrench lets go......again doing the front mount first. I can do the changeover in less than 2 minutes.
Repeatability of zero for this method dropped the groups to within .5-8 of an inch with both the scope and the thermal.
The QR levers are a bit scratched as using the wrench is metal to metal but I am not worried about it...see next pic

20240525_093528.jpg (2.26 MiB) Viewed 1493 times

On thurs afternoon I was up at the farm shooting magpies at ranges up to 140m with the scope fitted...most were head shot using a solid rest. When it got dark I switched to the thermal and was shooting rats and possums out to the same distances. In the morning I switched back to the scope and knocked off a few more magpies before moving cattle took priority.

I have the same setup for my T1x in .22 and my T3x Lite in 243....All show the same repeatability.

YMMV but it works for me.
The 5 guys I hunt/do pest destruction with have a competition called the meat waster trophy when culling deer with both scopes and thermals. They have all held the trophy over the past 18 mths except me. With this setup I have full confidence to take head/top of the neck shots with the 243 out to 150metres on deer.

Hope this helps.

[CPJ 2.0]

That’s the drawback to that style QD. If you need to torque it, all you’re really getting is a ring that doesn’t require a tool (other than yourself) to remove.
The cam action latching style are going to be the most repeatable.

[CPJ 2.0]

Actually….unkess you do have the cam action locking style….just use a torque driver and forget about the QD.

[GrapeApe]

Actually….unkess you do have the cam action locking style….just use a torque driver and forget about the QD.

That's basically what I've decided to do even though mine is a "cam lock" design

[Orchidman]

That’s the drawback to that style QD. If you need to torque it, all you’re really getting is a ring that doesn’t require a tool (other than yourself) to remove.
The cam action latching style are going to be the most repeatable.

Would have preferred to use cam action rather than what I have got.......but over here cam action rings start at $750nzd...Thats about $550 usd....and with 4 sets needed I would prefer to spend that kind of money on a trip to visit you guys....If I had that kind of money...

[CPJ 2.0]

I’m probably going to experiment with these. They don’t lock, but I’m not as concerned about that as repeatability, which they should. Yes, a total home brew setup.


https://www.kippusa.com/us/en/Products/ ... evers.html

[Zee]

Have 2 of these and have been very pleased with their repeatability.
Older Leupold and LaRue, not so much.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2626162354?pid=162354

All QD are not created equal.

[Bigslug]

I've got pretty good trust in the Leupold MK4 / QRW system, or any other quality Picatinny system. I used to shoot a monthly 600 yard match on which I found myself back in the X-ring on the first shot after a re-mount. Have had a few similar experiences to boost that confidence further.

Browning knows I've tinkered with optics on enough AR's at work. Have had good luck with American Defense and similar style throw levers. We qualify on irons, then on optics, and if the optic is not a see-through, it has to come off for the iron qual. There are typically zero issues with RTZ for a 100 yard qual when the scope goes back on.

The trick is to put forward pressure on the scope as you tighten the mount in order to keep the cross slot "recoil lug" of the rings flat against the rear of their Picatinny slot. Provided you do that with the rings before you even mount a scope in them, and continue to do it when re-installing, you should be able to count on a pretty tight RTZ.

[Diver43]

Have 2 of these and have been very pleased with their repeatability.
Older Leupold and LaRue, not so much.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2626162354?pid=162354

All QD are not created equal.

For what LaRue costs, one would think they would be top tier for performance. Good info as I have been contemplating making a purchase

[Orchidman]

The trick is to put forward pressure on the scope as you tighten the mount in order to keep the cross slot "recoil lug" of the rings flat against the rear of their Picatinny slot. Provided you do that with the rings before you even mount a scope in them, and continue to do it when re-installing, you should be able to count on a pretty tight RTZ.

What he said......