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What to Look for in a 30MM Scope Mount for Hunting

Using a 30mm scope mount for hunting offers advantages for hunters who typically shoot at long range, but you’ll want to make sure you’re using a top-quality mount. In fact, your scope – and thus your aim – is only as good as the mount that it sits on. Skimping on this piece could undermine your shooting performance across the board.

Cheap, low quality scope mounting rings often become misaligned as result of shot recoil, and will apply uneven pressure on your scope. This will negatively impact your scope’s long-range accuracy, causing damage and potentially even resulting in the loss of its zero point.

Since you use (or are considering) a 30mm scope to hunt, having an excellent mount is even more important. At shorter distances, small degrees of misalignment between your scope and barrel won’t matter as much. But further out, these differences will scale out to a significant error that could cause you to miss – or be less satisfied with where your shot lands.

Thus, you’ll want a reliable mount for your 30mm scope that can handle the powerful recoil of a rifle for years, not to mention being out in the weather and any dings it receives with you out in the wild. Let’s explore some characteristics and features you ought to look for when evaluating 30mm scope mounts to use while hunting.

Good Materials and a Reputable Manufacturer

The first factor to look into is what materials the scope mount is made from – and who is making it. A good rule of thumb is to buy American-made products. Domestic manufacturers source quality materials, use the latest precision fabrication methods, regularly do quality assurance and you’re more likely to have legal recourse for any problems.

You’ll want scope ring mounts that offer strength and rigidity while being lightweight. We specifically suggest you select billet aluminum over steel or alloys.

Rugged and Low-Weight Materials

Your mount needs to be able to handle the outdoor conditions that go with hunting. It should be made from materials that don’t weather easily in the extremes of cold or hot and wet or dry. Quality materials are necessary to withstand repeated shocks from shot recoil without compromising your scope in any way. 

At the same time, you’ll want a mount that doesn’t weigh a lot. A heavier mount will subtly distort the balancing of your rifle, make it more cumbersome and add unnecessary weight to your hunting kit.

For these reasons, we strongly recommend finding a mount made with billet aluminum. We’ve found it checks both boxes: lightweight and rugged even after years of use, with no impacts to the scope.

Custom Fit for Your Rifle’s Receiver

It would be a shame to buy a mount that doesn’t fit your gun’s receiver, and doing the research can be a bit of a headache. Better to go with a mount manufacturer who will custom fit their product according to your specific model of rifle. Furthermore, if you buy a new hunting rifle, you can go back to that manufacturer to get a matching scope mount.

An Ultra-Light, Custom-Fit, Tough-As-Nails 30MM Scope Mount for Hunting

At DNZ products, we make our 30MM scope mounts for hunting – the Game Reaper and Game Reaper 2 – at our family-owned shop in Sanford, North Carolina, using the latest precision machining tools.

Game Reaper Scope Mount for Hunting

We make our precision scope rings from a block of top-quality 6061T6 billet aluminum, and weighs in at 2-3 ounces while offering excellent strength, rigidity and durability over time. Compared to steel mounts, our billet aluminum materials offer superior shock absorption and tolerance of extreme temperatures.

Check out this video by Jon D. on YouTube sharing his experience using the Game Reaper on his Savage brand rifle:

Our mounts are solid pieces with no moving parts in between your scope and hunting rifle’s receiver, reducing the need for maintenance and likelihood of failure. Furthermore, the original Game Reaper and Game Reaper 2 can be customized according to your specific gun for a precise fit and alignment. 

We’re obsessed with precision manufacturing and quality because we know accuracy is a must. For hunters who cut no corners with their shooting rig, we’re a favorite choice. Check out our customer reviews to see for yourself.

To learn more about our company and full line of products, please visit our website or contact us with your questions.

Don’t Overlook the Importance of Scope Leveling

Having a reliable method for scope leveling is an essential foundation for accurate long range shooting. If you cut corners in this process, it’s likely that your scope will be off of its X and Y axes. When your scope is not resting at 180˚ on the barrel, your crosshairs will also be out of level. Even a small degree of difference here will compound over long distances into a significant change in the bullet’s trajectory – and impact your accuracy.

Besides the frustration of missing your mark, troubleshooting becomes a real hassle when you don’t know if your scope is level or not. Are you miscalculating for windage and elevation adjustments, or other factors like bullet drop, wind speed or projectile dynamics? You may spend hours scrutinizing these questions, when your scope is simply out of level.

Additionally, you’ll encounter problems trying to zero your scope if it is resting unevenly on the rifle barrel. When your scope is level on a completely flat surface, it can be correctly zeroed with your barrel. Having established this, you can focus on making adjustments for the target without having doubts about your scope’s accuracy.

encounter problems trying to zero your scope

How to Know Your Scope is Level

Your rifle’s scope is intended to be level horizontally and plumb vertically with the barrel, rather than your line of sight. When the scope and rifle are aligned correctly on the X and Y axes, there won’t be any cant when sighting your reticle. It will be upright and aligned with the rifle.

For all these reasons, you’ll want to find a consistent and effective scope leveling method. You may have heard about methods that use bubble, line or triangular leveling tools to find horizontal or vertical alignment. Though these methods can work with time, patience and attention to detail, there’s either significant room for error or they don’t work with every firearm. Here’s what to know – and beware of.

Challenges of Using Leveling Tools

Considering a “simple” approach with a bubble or line level and plumb bob? There are a couple challenges you’ll want to know before trying this scope leveling approach.

Bubble level

First, you need to have a level table to work on. You may think your table or workbench is “level enough”, but have you actually checked it? Table surfaces and legs warp with time and weathering – don’t underestimate this factor. You’ll want to measure your table for level and may need to use shims to adjust accordingly. The same goes for a table-mounted vise grip.

Second, you will need to make careful manual adjustments based on readings from your leveling tool. Besides being tedious, you’ll have to make changes while not disturbing your leveling tool. Or you can take off the tool, make “best guess” adjustments and keep assessing for level until you get it right. 

In both cases, the potential for human error is high. What began as an interesting hobby project can quickly become a tedious hassle of guesswork and meticulous adjustments, when you really just want your scope and rifle to be aligned and accurate.

The Limitations of Triangular Scope Leveling Products

Alternatively, you could use a triangular level tool that fits into the rifle’s Picatinny rails. This tool can work in many cases, but they don’t fit every gun’s scope base and rail configuration. This is particularly an issue if your rifle’s scope sits higher or lower than most guns.

A Simple, Fast and Effective Scope Leveling Tool

Does scrutinizing your table with a bubble level or making tedious micro-adjustments with strings and levels sound like a poor way to spend your weekend? How about investing in a tool that may not even work for your gun (or guns)?

Consider the Nevel device from DNZ. The Nevel is easy to use, aligning your scope with the finest degree of precision within seconds. See how it works in the video below:

The Nevel is designed to work with DNZ’s scope mounts, which can be fitted to a wide range of rifle, including Browning, Benelli, Remington, Mossberg, Howa and more.

Additionally, the Nevel is available in 1 inch and 30 MM sizes, with Long Reach options for tall target turrets. It slides over the outside surface of the mount, and aligns the scope’s top turret at exactly 90˚. The Nevel can be used whether your scope has a flat top turret cap on the up/down scope turret, or you can remove the cap and it will work on the flat top adjustment area.

Ditch the hassle, guesswork and incompatibility of other scope leveling methods to easily align your rifle’s scope with the Nevel: https://www.dnzproducts.com/product/nevel/

At DNZ, we know accuracy is a must. That’s why we deliver the highest grade shooting accessories, made from the best materials at our shop in Sanford, North Carolina. We’ve got the reviews to back up our reputation as one the premier gun component manufacturers in America.

If you’d like to learn more about our company, please check out our website or reach out with any questions.

Comparing One-Piece Scope Mounts? Look For These 3 Things.

Your scope – and your accuracy – is only as good as the one or two-piece scope mount it rests on. A cheap rifle scope mount (or the stock piece that came with your gun) could be out of alignment and worsen from repeated shot recoil over time. An uneven mount will exert inconsistent pressure on your scope, reducing its long-range accuracy and potentially damaging it or losing the zero point.

A quality scope mount will stand the test of time, holding up against countless recoil shocks, weathering effects, and any accidental knocks it takes in the field. That’s why if you’re evaluating options for the right single-piece mount, you’ll want to know the key factors to consider. 

We’ll explore three essential things to look for in a one-piece scope mount.  

Quality Materials and Manufacturing

It starts with the processes and materials to manufacture the mount system. The material must provide stability, rigidity, and durability over the years to support shooting accuracy. This means it can’t be warped or damaged by exposure to weather, occasional impacts, and shot recoil. 

For these reasons, we recommend your first decision should be to buy an American-made product. It’s your best bet for getting quality scope rings. Domestic companies generally source good materials, use high-precision manufacturing processes, have quality control checks, and are accountable for product issues. 

Next, carefully examine which materials each manufacturer uses to make the mount’s base and rings. You’ll want it to be a robust yet not overly heavy metal used in fabrication. Our specific suggestion is to go with billet aluminum, which is strong, rigid, and ultralight, rather than steel or alloys. 

Lightweight and Durable

You don’t want your scope mount to add unnecessary weight to your rifle. The difference may seem small, but a few ounces could make your gun more awkward to handle in moments where you need to adjust quickly, such as hunting or tactical situations. It’s also extra weight you’ll have to lug around with all the rest of your gear.

In addition to weight considerations, the strength and resilience of the single-piece scope mount are key. You’ll want a rugged product that can handle being out in hot or cold weather, repeatedly absorb recoil shock, and any knocks out in the field without affecting your sighting and accuracy.

Billet aluminum checks all of these boxes: it’s lightweight yet tough as nails even after years of wear, tear, and gunfire. 

Customized for Your Rifle and Its Receiver

A scope mount is no good to you if it doesn’t fit your rifle or align precisely with the frame. You could research whether a gun and mount are a fit. Or you can find a manufacturer who customizes their product for your gun’s specifications. One benefit is that a custom manufacturer can create mounts for any new guns you get in the future. 

Accurate, Durable, and Light: Get One-Piece Scope Mounts from DNZ

At DNZ Products, we provide each of the essential elements outlined above. 

We’re an American company with our fabrication shop located in Sanford, North Carolina. We use cutting-edge precision machining tools to create premium one-piece scope mounts. 

Each of our mounts is made from a block of top-grade billet aluminum, as you might’ve guessed. This metal creates an ultralight product with maximum shock absorption and rigidity to ensure continual accuracy. The final product is a solid, single-piece with no movable parts between your rifle and scope. 

According to your rifle’s specifications, we will make a custom mount to fit and align precisely with it. 

We know accuracy is a must. This goal guides our whole process from start to finish. We’re proud to provide a superior, durable, and lightweight scope mount for those who want the best in every component of their shooting rig. 

Our customers love how precise and tough our products are, taking lots of punishment without impacting the scope or accuracy. Read their reviews.

Explore DNZ’s Line of Single Piece Scope Mounts

DNZ’s line of single-piece mounts includes the Game Reaper, Game Reaper 2, 215 Tactical, and Freedom Reaper. Here’s what you’ll get with each of these products:

  • Made from top-grade billet aluminum using precision machining
  • Perfect ring alignment
  • No lapping required
  • Fast Installation
  • Custom made to fit your firearm and align with its receiver
  • 67% lighter than comparable one-piece mounts
  • 4x the threads and socket-head cap screws for total strength and security
  • Built to absorb shock and withstand weather extremes better than steel mounts
  • Made in the USA

Our Game Reaper line is designed for hunters, while Freedom Reaper and 215 are intended for tactical purposes. Besides one-piece scope mounts, we have several other accessories. These include two-piece scope mounts, Picatinny rails for the Freedom Reaper, our Nevel scope leveling system, and other mounting accessories you may need. 

Curious to learn more about our premium machining company? Check out our website or reach out to us with any questions.