Scope Removal on AR15 - The Firearms Forum

Hugh357 · 03-01-2012, 07:46 PM

I have a Picatinny rail system on my Rock River and recently installed a Rock River cantilever scope mount. After every shoot I have fully disassembled the rifle and gave it a good cleaning with Ballistol. Now with the scope it is a little awkward to clean so now I remove the two screws for the mount and remove the entire assembly. Cleaning is like it was before, much easier. What are your procedures for cleaning your AR with a scope?

muddober · 03-01-2012, 08:54 PM

I don't take the scope off of mine to clean it but I would caution you if you are removing the picatinny rail each time with the scope still mounted to it you will soon wear the threads out of the gun. It wasn't clear to me if that is what you are doing or are you removing the scope off the rail? If so that is OK because those threads are replacable.

Ron

Hugh357 · 03-01-2012, 10:32 PM

I am removing the scope and cantilever off the rail. Not removing the rail off the rifle.

Zane71464 · 03-01-2012, 11:55 PM

I have never taken my scope off my AR to clean it.
It is indeed awkward cleaning with a scope on. The scope I have
isnt a tacticle style scope, but a rifle scope.
(BSA 8-32x40AO) And I clean mine on a regular basis and I'm just a bit
carefull while cleaning the AR.

Snakedriver · 03-02-2012, 10:31 AM

I have a Rock River AR with the RRA 1-piece Cantilever Scope Base installed too, but I don't dismount it to clean the rifle. The good news is that when you do dismount the whole assembly with the scope installed in the mount, it goes back on without any loss of zero on the scope. I was just at the range today practicing with my iron sights and when I put the scope back on the rifle it was still dead on where I had it before.

OP, why do you feel the need to take the scope off of the gun for cleaning? The gun's design is for harsh combat conditions and while it's good to keep it clean, I don't feel that you need to be excessive with it on the outside. Keeping the inards good and clean are much more important to the gun's performance in my opinion.

zkovach · 03-02-2012, 03:08 PM

I use an American defense quick detatch mount. Great to take off in a snap. Always holds its zero too!

Zane71464 · 03-02-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakedriver

I have a Rock River AR with the RRA 1-piece Cantilever Scope Base installed too, but I don't dismount it to clean the rifle. The good news is that when you do dismount the whole assembly with the scope installed in the mount, it goes back on without any loss of zero on the scope. I was just at the range today practicing with my iron sights and when I put the scope back on the rifle it was still dead on where I had it before.
OP, why do you feel the need to take the scope off of the gun for cleaning? The gun's design is for harsh combat conditions and while it's good to keep it clean, I don't feel that you need to be excessive with it on the outside. Keeping the inard good and clean are much more important to the gun's performance in my opinion.

Hello Snakedriver, is there any way you could post a pic of your set-up?
I sure would like to see what you have as I'm wanting to change mine over.

Snakedriver · 03-02-2012, 04:21 PM

Sure, not a problem!

Zane71464 · 03-02-2012, 10:19 PM

REALLY nice, Snakedriver!
Thanks.

American Leader · 03-02-2012, 10:29 PM

Very SWEET, Snakedriver! Nice setup. AR's are sooooo pretty!

03-03-2012, 06:13 AM

Never had a problem cleaning with the scope on my AR and my SCOPE IS BIG.

Zane71464 · 03-03-2012, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpttango30

Never had a problem cleaning with the scope on my AR and my SCOPE IS BIG.

And I thought mine was big Tango!!! lol
I have a BSA, 8-32x40 bit it's a bit long on the AR and been thinking
of going with a Tacticle style scope to put on mine.

Snakedriver · 03-03-2012, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zane71464

And I thought mine was big Tango!!! lol
I have a BSA, 8-32x40 bit it's a bit long on the AR and been thinking
of going with a Tacticle style scope to put on mine.

Zane, I'm using a 2-7X32 scope on my AR and for out to 300 yards it is more than adequate. I use a 50/225 yard zero, so my POI is always within 2" out to 225 yards. At 300 yards I use a two-dot hold over to be on target.

I really like the smaller sized scope with longer eye-relief (mine is around 5") like I'm using.

Zane71464 · 03-03-2012, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakedriver

Zane, I'm using a 2-7X32 scope on my AR and for out to 300 yards it is more than adequate. I use a 50/225 yard zero, so my POI is always within 2" out to 225 yards. At 300 yards I use a two-dot hold over to be on target.

I really like the smaller sized scope with longer eye-relief (mine is around 5") like I'm using.

Nice set-up Sankedriver and good information!
When I first got my AR I was thinking the bigger the better and
that's why I went with, that I thought would be, a "bigger" scope.
As per your example, a person really dont need that with an AR, IMO...(now)

As of yet, I havent had the opportunity to shoot past 500. And
that's just been a handfull of times as in target shooting.
Mostly with mine and coyote hunting/shooting, most shots never
go beyond 2-300yds.
I appreciate your post.

03-01-2012, 07:46 PM	#1
Hugh357 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 73	Scope Removal on AR15 I have a Picatinny rail system on my Rock River and recently installed a Rock River cantilever scope mount. After every shoot I have fully disassembled the rifle and gave it a good cleaning with Ballistol. Now with the scope it is a little awkward to clean so now I remove the two screws for the mount and remove the entire assembly. Cleaning is like it was before, much easier. What are your procedures for cleaning your AR with a scope? -->

03-01-2012, 08:54 PM	#2
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 I don't take the scope off of mine to clean it but I would caution you if you are removing the picatinny rail each time with the scope still mounted to it you will soon wear the threads out of the gun. It wasn't clear to me if that is what you are doing or are you removing the scope off the rail? If so that is OK because those threads are replacable. Ron

03-01-2012, 10:32 PM	#3
Hugh357 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 73	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 I am removing the scope and cantilever off the rail. Not removing the rail off the rifle.

03-01-2012, 11:55 PM	#4
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,408	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 I have never taken my scope off my AR to clean it. It is indeed awkward cleaning with a scope on. The scope I have isnt a tacticle style scope, but a rifle scope. (BSA 8-32x40AO) And I clean mine on a regular basis and I'm just a bit carefull while cleaning the AR. __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

03-02-2012, 10:31 AM	#5
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 I have a Rock River AR with the RRA 1-piece Cantilever Scope Base installed too, but I don't dismount it to clean the rifle. The good news is that when you do dismount the whole assembly with the scope installed in the mount, it goes back on without any loss of zero on the scope. I was just at the range today practicing with my iron sights and when I put the scope back on the rifle it was still dead on where I had it before. OP, why do you feel the need to take the scope off of the gun for cleaning? The gun's design is for harsh combat conditions and while it's good to keep it clean, I don't feel that you need to be excessive with it on the outside. Keeping the inards good and clean are much more important to the gun's performance in my opinion. __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision Last edited by Snakedriver; 03-02-2012 at 04:15 PM..

03-02-2012, 03:08 PM	#6
zkovach Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,005	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 I use an American defense quick detatch mount. Great to take off in a snap. Always holds its zero too! __________________ Liberalism: Poverty for ALL!!

03-02-2012, 04:21 PM	#8
Snakedriver Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW. Florida Posts: 1,219	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 Sure, not a problem! Attached Images __________________ Fear is a reaction..........Courage is a decision

03-02-2012, 10:19 PM	#9
Zane71464 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio NRA Member Contributor Posts: 5,408	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 REALLY nice, Snakedriver! Thanks. __________________ Two Words; "Simple Man", song by Charlie Daniels sums up my thoughts on a "few things"!

03-02-2012, 10:29 PM	#10
American Leader Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,630	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 Very SWEET, Snakedriver! Nice setup. AR's are sooooo pretty!

03-03-2012, 06:13 AM	#11
cpttango30 Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Re: Scope Removal on AR15 Never had a problem cleaning with the scope on my AR and my SCOPE IS BIG.