Introduction
When discussing Sako’s tapered dovetails on their rifles, Optilock mounts are among the best choices on the market. The main reason for this statement is that they are very robust and reliable. However, these mounts are not quick detachable, there are only fixed solutions available, which is not so nice for many of the customers out there on the field.
Construction of Optilock mounts is always in two parts. Two part design means that the base and the ring are separated and we have to install them together. It is interesting that not only original rings fit on Optilock bases, but also some other mounting elements from other manufacturers. Some of these mounts are even made intentionally to fit Optilock bases. Nowadays, the use of non-original mounting elements on Optilock bases is widespread.
Compatibility of both parts of the mount depends on the diameter of the round hole in the base. The upper mounting element has to have the same diameter of the hole as the base has the diameter of its hole. Both parts have to be perfectly matched if we want to use them.
Reasons for such Combinations
The range of original options is limited to 1 inch rings (25.4 mm), 30 mm rings and 34 mm rings. This means that if you wish to mount a rifle scope with a bit less common mounting configuration, you need to use non-original mounting elements. Non-original parts provide solutions for 35 mm scope tubes, 36 mm scope tubes, 40 mm scope tubes, LM rails, SR rails, ZM/VM rails and S&B convex rails.
Recknagel Mounting Parts
Recknagel is one of the main manufacturers that offers solutions for Optilock bases. Their bases have the same design of the ring / base connection and thus, all Optilock rings can fit on Recknagel’s bases, which is very uncommon. Vice versa, all Recknagel mounting elements fit on Optilock bases. It is believed that this combination was probably made by coincidence. Recknagel offers all solutions for Optilock bases that are missing from Optilock’s range of options: 36 mm and 40 mm rings and also all rails (LM, SR, ZM/VM, S/B convex). The most common use of using Recknagel’s mounting elements for Optilock’s bases is to use Recknagel’s mounting elements for railed scopes. Recknagel also makes its solutions from different materials. Some of their mounting elements are made from steel and some are made from aluminium.
EAW Mounting Parts
EAW provides similar solutions and funny fact is that they also were probably not have been thinking to be compatible with Optilock bases when they were designing their mounts. All Optilock rings fit on EAW bases and also all EAW mounting rings and rail mounting elements fit on Optilock bases. Their solutions are most known for railed scopes and are mostly made of steel.
Osuma Mounting Parts
There is one specific manufacturer on the market which makes products in a different way than Recknagel or EAW. Their mounts were designed to be used with Optilock bases from the start. They immediately noticed the need to mount railed scopes on Optilock bases and Sako rifles, so they started producing these type of steel mounts, but only for SR rails and ZM/VM railed scopes.
Conclusion
To sum up, we find it very interesting that Optilock itself does not produce mounting elements for railed scopes. Obviously, there is a market need for this type of mounts. However, this need is filled by described options from Recknagel, EAW and Osuma.
Only Osuma is the manufacturer that directly promotes their solutions which were designed for this purpose.
Recknagel and EAW mounting elements fit perfectly, but not many people know about it.
In conclusion, equal reliability is expected from the mounts from mentioned producers as it is expected from Optilock.
Renato BRODAR
