LaRue Mount Issues?

[Unobtanium]

I don't care about "Nike Swooshes", and I don't want to discuss the founder's personality or worth as a human being. I am curious about the interface, and how it's done for people who've beat the crap out of it. A lot of the newer mounts have larger surface areas/clamping surfaces. I am curious if there is any merit to the idea that over time (such as Grant of G&R tactical alluded to secondary to his claimed high-speed videos of weapon mounts during recoil, where he claimed that the LaRue system could create a dent which grew and grew with use), the rail could be dented and zero lost/the mount needing to be adjusted again. Especially after an impact to the optic/mount.

Anyway, legitimate design shortcoming, or BS? Anyone seen the nut come loose, the rail dent, the mount loosen up, etc. in the real world?

Reason I ask is I am looking for a mount for my T2 that is: Absolute co-witness with a height of 1.5X" above rail surface, and the lever on the right side.

GDI fits the bill, and LaRue LT751 fit the bill. LT mount weighs half the GDI mount.

[rob_s]

I have an ACOG TA33 on a Larue mount. After not shooting the gun for over a year, I pulled it out of the safe to discover it was loose. Probably went into the safe that way. No idea what made it that way, as I certainly wouldn't have originally mounted it loose, and the optic and mount have been on that gun without removal for... 10 years? 8, maybe?

I had to google GDI as I had never heard of it. Nothin pg about what I see inspires confidence, Butni haven't gone looking for reviews, etc.

This is what I intend to buy for my next Micro.

https://scalarworks.com/shop/optic-mounts/ldm-micro/



However, you might consider whether or not you really need QD at all. Personally, I think it's high,ly over-rated and over-used, and it certainly comes with a premium. I'm mostly interested in the scalar because:fiddle-fart, and because I'd like to have at least one gun I can convert back to irons for new shooters, etc. If I was just buying based on "need" this is what I'd get.

https://danieldefense.com/mounts/aimpointr-micro-mount-absolute-co-witness.html

[Chuck Haggard]

I've got three of the 1/3 co-witness LaRue mounts in service mounting T1s, one of which has seen very rough service for about a decade. I've never had anything come loose, or noticed any mounting issues, damage to the gun, whatever.

Pretty sure that same mount is what Pat Rogers uses on all his EAG class loaner guns. I'll confirm.

[JodyH]

As a set it and forget it mount the LaRues are great, I have several of them.
As a QD they have some shortcomings, namely they do not return to MOA zero and they will eventually chew up the rail (I have personally experienced both these issues).
I prefer GG&G or BOBRO for true QD capability, both of those will return to MOA zero in my experience and they have much wider rail mating surface area.

[shane45]

If you pull it on and off, as Jody indicates, it can start to cut the typical smiley faces into the rail. Alter the point of contact and it will affect the fit of the mount. I do not care for this system at all. Also, consider that said smiley faces indicates how much contact(or how little) you have with that mount. There are lots of choices that don't have this issue. I personally use Bobro and Ops2Inc.

[DocGKR]

I've seen close to a thousand LaRue mounts work great without any issues for over a decade--they were a great improvement over the ARMS mounts previously used.

Does technology move forward--yes, so there are now other mounts that may work better, but to date none of those particular LaRue mounts have had any issues, despite a lot of daily use.

[shane45]

Would you consider cutting smileys into the rail and needing to be readjusted an issue? Some may consider that as wear and tear and not see it as an issue.

[HCM]

Isn't the USMC using Larue mounts for their ACOG/RCO's? What has their experience been?

[Failure2Stop]

Isn't the USMC using Larue mounts for their ACOG/RCO's? What has their experience been?
Only on the SDO, and since most users are not taught how to properly tension the levers I would not put much faith in the general response.

Overall, LaRue mounts work fine when tightened so that the lever requires distinct effort to open, and are left alone until removal is crucial, not at whim.

[texasaggie2005]

I had to google GDI as I had never heard of it. Nothin pg about what I see inspires confidence, Butni haven't gone looking for reviews, etc.

I just traded away a GDI lower 1/3 mount for an ADM absolute mount. I wasn't a fan of GDI's unlocking mechanism; it was difficult to unlock and I felt it was larger than needed.

[NickDrak]

I saw 5 out of 7 LaRue scope mounts loosen on .308 guns in a Shrek "Heavy Carbine" class that I hosted in late 2013. John claimed that he saw similar results in every "Heavy Carbine" rifle class he teaches regardless of how tight the LaRue mounts are set-up due to the extra pressures inside of the .308s. My Bobro mount cracked at the cross bar that rests between the rail sections after running it thru the Shrek class on a .308 LaRue PredatAR.

For 5.56 guns I have never seen one loosen that was set-up properly. They are fine on 5.56 ARs. For .308 ARs I would only recommend a fixed/non-QD scope or optic mount.

[jnelson6]

I saw 5 out of 7 LaRue scope mounts loosen on .308 guns in a Shrek &quot;Heavy Carbine&quot; class that I hosted in late 2013. John claimed that he saw similar results in every &quot;Heavy Carbine&quot; rifle class he teaches regardless of how tight the LaRue mounts are set-up due to the extra pressures inside of the .308s. My Bobro mount cracked at the cross bar that rests between the rail sections after running it thru the Shrek class on a .308 LaRue PredatAR. <br />
<br />
For 5.56 guns I have never seen one loosen that was set-up properly. They are fine on 5.56 ARs. For .308 ARs I would only recommend a fixed/non-QD scope or optic mount.<br/>

Have you heard of any other Bobro failures Nick?

Sent from a SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 4.

[NickDrak]

None.

Bobro replaced my mount with the quickness.

[JodyH]

I saw 5 out of 7 LaRue scope mounts loosen on .308 guns in a Shrek "Heavy Carbine" class that I hosted in late 2013. John claimed that he saw similar results in every "Heavy Carbine" rifle class he teaches regardless of how tight the LaRue mounts are set-up due to the extra pressures inside of the .308s. My Bobro mount cracked at the cross bar that rests between the rail sections after running it thru the Shrek class on a .308 LaRue PredatAR.

For 5.56 guns I have never seen one loosen that was set-up properly. They are fine on 5.56 ARs. For .308 ARs I would only recommend a fixed/non-QD scope or optic mount.
I have around 750 .308 rounds through my MR762 using a GG&G mounted 3x15, if it was slipping or loosening I'd know it shooting 10" plates at 900Y. So far so good.

[Unobtanium]

I saw 5 out of 7 LaRue scope mounts loosen on .308 guns in a Shrek "Heavy Carbine" class that I hosted in late 2013. John claimed that he saw similar results in every "Heavy Carbine" rifle class he teaches regardless of how tight the LaRue mounts are set-up due to the extra pressures inside of the .308s. My Bobro mount cracked at the cross bar that rests between the rail sections after running it thru the Shrek class on a .308 LaRue PredatAR.

For 5.56 guns I have never seen one loosen that was set-up properly. They are fine on 5.56 ARs. For .308 ARs I would only recommend a fixed/non-QD scope or optic mount.

Very interesting. Was your Bobro incident a fluke, or have you seen others do this/re-created the problem yourself?

[NickDrak]

Not sure if it was a fluke or not. I haven't seen anyone else have it happen. My Bobro did retain its zero on the .308 during the class. It didn't crack until a couple of months after the class when I moved it back to my 5.56 AR and fired several hundred rounds of 5.56 thru it.

I have since moved completely away from QD mounts for my scoped guns. I now used fixed scope mounts on my variable scoped guns with off-set irons. It just makes more sense to me.

But as I said previously, for the OP's purposes QD mounts on red dot optics mounted on 5.56 guns are highly unlikely to ever have any issues regarding holding zero or failing.

[Dagga Boy]

For a standard 5.56 AR, the LaRue is a top choice. I have "stupid" time on them and see enough to be fairly confident of that. Read Failure to Stop's post again as well as it is right on.

Some Euro rails, hard recoiling piston guns like the SCAR 17, etc...probably something with a longer clamping surface with more in contact. On my own stuff doing a lot of Aimpoint demos I use LaRue, Aimpoints factory LRP (especially with a magnifier), and ADM. None have had issues and I have the most rounds through the LaRue and Aimpoint mounts.

[Failure2Stop]

I saw 5 out of 7 LaRue scope mounts loosen on .308 guns in a Shrek "Heavy Carbine" class that I hosted in late 2013. John claimed that he saw similar results in every "Heavy Carbine" rifle class he teaches regardless of how tight the LaRue mounts are set-up due to the extra pressures inside of the .308s. My Bobro mount cracked at the cross bar that rests between the rail sections after running it thru the Shrek class on a .308 LaRue PredatAR.

For 5.56 guns I have never seen one loosen that was set-up properly. They are fine on 5.56 ARs. For .308 ARs I would only recommend a fixed/non-QD scope or optic mount.
This is one illustration of why I tend to stay with hard mounted (non-qd) optic mounts on .308 autoloaders, with an offset backup sighting solution.

[breakingtime91]

This is one illustration of why I tend to stay with hard mounted (non-qd) optic mounts on .308 autoloaders, with an offset backup sighting solution.

Good to know. Thank you

[JMS]

Overall, LaRue mounts work fine when tightened so that the lever requires distinct effort to open, and are left alone until removal is crucial, not at whim.

Seconded. Having diddybopped all over the Corps' GCE during the fielding, NET training, and sustainment training for SDO, MDO, and other optics utilizing the LaRue QD, the tensioning recommendation of "about as much effort as it takes to pull the tab of a beer can" just doesn't work.

They work just fine if they're installed tightly, which is the info passed during NET, parroted on teach-backs...and promptly forgotten.

If you don't need to throw a piece of 550 cord or nylon webbing around the throw-arm to help you pull it open, it's not snug enough.

[shane45]

The thing is, why put up with dinged rails, why put up with a mount you have to worry about how many times you take it on or off if you don't have to?

[Unobtanium]

Well, this and other input led to me going to Bobro.

1) It seems everyone has an opinion on something that should be a hard fact: How much pressure does it take to hold the LaRue in place? Noone REALLY seems to agree on that. Screw that, IMO. That's like buying a car and not REALLY knowing what oil to put in the motor to keep it from eating cam bearings.

2) The LaRue mounts seem to be dancing all around the height I want to mate up to an Eotech G33 (they have a 1.40", and a 1.6X", but no 1.5X"...), while the Bobro seems to nail it with their "lower 1/3 CW" spacer.

3) I have a GDI Aimpoint mount. I personally am not enamored with it.

4) People I trust have had issues with ADM's loosening up. I also had some issues with them not mating correctly on a proper mil-spec rail with the 1st gen mounts. I decided to pass, even though ADM is a great company!

5) I feel like the Bobro is the most durable when it comes to an impact. Now, this is just my OPINION, so feel free to tell me I'm wrong, but...the Bobro clamps via spring pressure (well what if they wear out? What if they lose tension? Well...the guts of the optic you are mating it to are held in place with springs also, so...) and this spring pressure is a constant. You bang it hard enough to compress the springs, well, they compress. Then they snap right back. Kindof like hitting a pot-hole in your vehicle, the ride-height on level ground did not change...where-as the other mounts are all more "rigid" in their attachment method, and may well be stressed to the point of plastic deformation (as could the rail), if hit HARD. Again...just an opinion/thought.

So, in short, I went with Bobro lower 1/3 to mate my T2 to my upper in front of my G33 (factory mount/no spacer, works great!)

Thank-you! And hope to keep the discussion going.

[DocGKR]

Like I said, seen a lot of LaRue's on 5.56 mm guns and 12 ga shotguns without any issues. Use non-detachable mounts/rings on .308 and bigger calibers.

[GJM]

On a shotgun, used with heavy slugs, what is the consensus on the strength of the Aimpoint OEM low mount for the T1 versus the low Larue (assuming you don't need QD capability)?

I stuck a T1 on my Benelli M2 20 gauge, using the low OEM mount, as I didn't need QD capability, and the OEM mount gets the optic lower.

[Dagga Boy]

On a shotgun, used with heavy slugs, what is the consensus on the strength of the Aimpoint OEM low mount for the T1 versus the low Larue (assuming you don't need QD capability)?

I stuck a T1 on my Benelli M2 20 gauge, using the low OEM mount, as I didn't need QD capability, and the OEM mount gets the optic lower.

I have a ton of both buck and slug through mine with zero issues.

Unobtainium, if you want to sell the GDI mount, let me know as I would like to try one.

[Unobtanium]

I have a ton of both buck and slug through mine with zero issues.

Unobtainium, if you want to sell the GDI mount, let me know as I would like to try one.
$150. It's the MT5-OSM. Lnib.

[DocGKR]

I put a small piece of nail or metal rod to take up the extra space in the hole--that seems to eliminate the loosening issues I used to have with the OEM micro-Aimpoint mounts.

[GJM]

I have a ton of both buck and slug through mine with zero issues.

Unobtainium, if you want to sell the GDI mount, let me know as I would like to try one.

Your comments for the OEM or Larue?

[Mitch]

What are everyone's thoughts on ADM mounts? I'd like to get a Bobro mount but I can't find the high micro mount anywhere, and what Bobro has listed as lower 1/3 cowitness is actually closer to absolute on an AR 15.

If the Larue doesn't work well as a true QD mount I'm half tempted to get a Daniel Defense mount and at least save a little.

[Dagga Boy]

Your comments for the OEM or Larue?

OEM.