How To Mount an LPVO To Get the Right Eye Relief [Guide]

How you mount your LPVO scope will decide whether you’ll make accurate shots. If you don’t get it right, your scope won’t hold zero and you’ll miss shots consistently.

While most people assume the process is technical, it’s actually pretty simple. Let’s get started.

For more reading on LPVO mounts, see our guide to the best LPVO mounts.

Key Takeaways

• To mount an LPVO, ensure you have the right tools for the job.
• The average LPVO eye relief distance is about 3.5 inches, but you should also check the manufacturer’s recommendation for accurate target acquisition.
• The right mounting position of an LPVO is the one that gives you the perfect eye relief.

How Do You Mount an LPVO?

So, how do you mount an LPVO? The good news is that if you’ve ever mounted any type of scope, then you’re already familiar with the process involved. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Gather the Right Tools

I’ve learned that using the right tools ensures that you do the work right and reduces the time you’ll spend doing it. That rule applies when mounting an LPVO scope. The tools you’ll need for this task include the following:

• Torque wrench: This is for tightening the screws and ensures you don’t damage anything during the mounting process.

• Loctite: Go with blue Loctite, which keeps the screws in place but also allows you to remove the screws whenever you want to change the mounts.
• Bubble levels: Levels the rifle and optic, ensuring your scope adjustments will align with your rifle’s bore.
• Gun vice: Keeps the weapon secure as you mount the rifle.
• Screwdriver or wrench: For tightening the screws.

Step 2: Ensure the Scope Base and Scope Rings Match

Modern rifles already have a scope base attached to them when they’re bought. So, this makes your work easier. But if yours doesn’t match, find the right base and scope rings. This allows the LPVO to fit nicely and work as it should.

Step 3: Mount the Base

This step is for if your rifles don’t come with an attached scope base. You may also need to apply a bit of Loctite to help secure the base.

Step 4: Attach the Rings to the Base

The next step is securing the rings to the base. Now, a common mistake I see among new shooters is that they attach the rings to the scope before attaching the scope to the base. 

While this may seem like a simple way of doing things, it’s wrong because it messes with the positions of the rings.

What we want to do first is to attach the rings using the recommended torque value. You can also apply Loctite to the screws you used to keep the rings secured. 

When you place the rings on the base, push it as forward as possible. Why is this important? Well, when you fire a gun and it recoils, the LPVO will move forward relative to the rifle. Placing the rings as forward as possible ensures the rings don’t move as much.

Step 5: Insert the Scope

Insert the scope on the bottom half of the rings and put the top half on, then screw them loosely to allow the scope to move a little.

Step 6: Check for Eye Relief

An eye relief is the distance between your eye and scope. In LPVOs, the average distance is about 3.5 inches. 

“Make good scouts of yourselves, become good rifle shots so that if it becomes necessary that you defend your families and your country, you can do it.”

Lord Baden-Powell

To achieve proper eye relief, take a shooting position and look through the scope. You will need to move it back and forth a bit to adjust it to the proper eye relief. You’ll know you have the right eye relief when you can see a clear image without shadows.

Step 7: Tighten the Mounts

After achieving the right eye relief, you can now tighten the mount screws using a torque wrench. At this point, you should have a bubble level on top of the elevation adjustment to ensure your scope remains leveled out as you tighten the screws.

For a visual guide on how to mount an LPVO, check out this video:

How Far Back Do You Mount an LPVO?

The mounting position of an LPVO depends on various things, the major one being eye relief. LPVOs tend to have an eye relief of about 3.5 inches. In this position, you’ll be able to see the target clearly. 

“A man’s rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.” 

Frederick Douglass

That said, you should also check the manufacturer’s recommendation based on the specific LPVO. Most will suggest the right mounting position for optimal eye relief. (Resource: Mounting an LPVO)

Getting Proper Eye Relief

To get proper eye relief, you need to be in a comfortable shooting position that mirrors your regular shooting stance. Keep in mind that you need to adjust the LPVO while in a natural shooting position and not adjust your shooting position based on the LPVO’s position.

For similar reading, see our guide to what size scope rings do I need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do you mount AR optics?

You mount AR optics on top of the upper receiver or, as simply called, the ‘upper.’ This position provides a stable platform and a good sight picture.

What height mount for LPVO?

1.5 inches (3.81 cm) to 1.7 (4.32 cm) inches is a good height to mount an LPVO.

References

(1)  Vortex Nation, How to Mount a Scope. Retrieved from https://vortexoptics.com/blog/how-to-properly-mount-a-riflescope.html