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Choosing The Right Picatinny Rail Riser to Mount Your Scope
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See if you could benefit from a Picatinny riser, and how to install one if needed.
Nothing is more frustrating than installing a new scope, only to find out it sits too low on your firearm. Perhaps your iron sights are blocking the scope. Or maybe the sight is too low when you cheek weld the firearm. These are just two examples of when a riser is needed.
Be sure to check what rail is installed on your firearm before you purchase a rail riser, though. A weaver rail riser won’t be a perfect fit on a Picatinny rail, and likewise.
Do you need a riser for your Picatinny or Weaver rail?
If you’re not quite sure if you need a riser, here are a couple of scenario’s that could be improved or prevented with the use of a rail riser:
Your sight is at an uncomfortable height
When you have installed your sight, close your eyes and shoulder your rifle comfortably. Wait a moment and open your eyes. If you notice you have to lean in your head more because you’re not looking through the sight, you probably need a rail riser.
Your red dot sight or scope isn’t aligned with your iron sights
While this isn’t necessary, having co-witness on a rifle can dramatically increase accuracy and target acquisition. It’s also a great fallback in case your sight or scope fails. So having your sight align with your iron sights is overall a great benefit.
Though, the chances are likely that your iron sights won’t be perfectly aligned with an aftermarket sight. If this is the case, you’ll need a rail riser.
What riser do you need on your AR-15 or rifle?
What riser to use with a red dot
If you have iron sights and plan on using a red dot sight, having co-witness is recommended. This is when the iron sights are perfectly center with the red dot sight. As a result, the dot would hover in the center of the iron sights.
In this case, it depends on what kind of red dot sight you’re using. Red dot sights come in different sizes, profiles, and diameters. I would actually recommend getting a co-witness sight rather than trying various risers to make it work. The Feyachi RS-30, for example, is excellent for co-witness and is typically available for less than $50.
Either way, for red dot sights, you typically want a lower-profile riser. Getting one with quick-release is recommended if you often switch sights and scopes as this makes swapping them a breeze.
Monstrum Low Profile Quick-Release Picatinny Riser
This low profile riser features a 0.5″ lift for a minimal rise, but just enough to lift the sight off of the rail. This would make it ideal for regular size red dot sights. With a low-profile sight, it may not be quite enough.
Monstrum High Profile 1.75″ Picatinny Riser
This high profile riser features a 1.75″ lift for a substantial rise. You would opt for this for a compact, low-profile red dot sight, like the Bushnell TRS-25.
Additionally, it rises high enough to mount other attachments in front of it, like a laser, flashlight, sling mount, etc.
While this riser does not provide a quick-release system, it offers a convenient knob to tighten and loosen the sight. This eliminates the need for hex keys or flat screwdrivers, which is a nice feature!
45-degree M-Lok riser
This handy 45-degree riser mounts on the side M-Lok rail of your AR-15. This allows you to mount a scope, and a red dot, for a more tactical approach.
I personally think one of these risers is a must-have if your AR-15 features side M-Lok rails. Even if you plan on using just 1 sight, it’s a great way to mount a laser or flashlight, or any other attachment out of the way. It also just looks great!
What riser to use with a magnified scope
If you’re using a magnified scope, you typically want the scope to be floating above the rail. This will allow you to be comfortable while cheek-welding the firearm.
Monstrum High Profile Picatinny 13 Slot Riser
This lightweight riser will lift your scope or sight about 1″ off of the rail, which should provide a comfortable height.
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Monstrum Adjustable 7 Slot Picatinny Riser
If you’re not quite sure what height you’re looking for, or you regularly change sights, getting an adjustable riser is a great idea. And it doesn’t even cost $20!
This riser from Monstrum is adjustable and rises from 0.875″ to 1.125″. Additionally, it features a quick-release system, which makes removing the entire riser + sight a breeze.
Do you use a rail riser?
We'd love to learn about your setup and riser you used.
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I’ll try and get a co-witness on my rifle so it is more accurate. Perhaps, I can get one for my birthday. I’ll just let my wife know what I want, that being a scope.
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