Reptilia Mounts: Precision-Machined, Quality Mounting Solution

To the new rifle owner, there is a bit of learning as you go regarding accessories. This is even true in some cases with long-time rifle owners as well. An area where I believe people can benefit from a little information in optics mounting. While I see some deep knowledge in the rifle and optics arena, the actual mount usually gets glossed over. I am here to tell you that the mount you choose matters. A poor-quality mount can affect the accuracy and ultimately reliability of your optic. Many a time I have witnessed mounts failing in classes and even just falling off. A company that makes one of the best in the industry is Reptilia.

Reptilia Mounts

While not a household name, they have been hard at work for more than a decade designing products for innovative brands like Magpul, AAC, SilencerCo, and more. They decided it was time to step into their own spotlight and have made a solid reputation for themselves.

The Reptilia mount that has become my go-to is their AUS mount. The design and production of this mount were driven by the request of a military direct-action group. They required a mount that would be incredibly durable in heavy use while remaining lightweight. The AUS Mount is the culmination of a two-year development program. The AUS Mount attaches to any M1913 Picatinny rail via their anti-snag spring-loaded nitrided steel clamp and custom bolt mounting system which can be tightened with either a 5/32 hex or a flat blade driver to sit flush with the body of the mount for a low-profile, streamline design.The AUS mount is machined from a single piece of billet 7075-T6 aluminum and is finished with MIL-STD Type III, Class 2, hard anodized coating.

The body of the mount is aluminum but as mentioned above, it uses low-profile steel screws to attach to the rail. This keeps the mount very light but still gives it exceptional strength at the weapon contact point. Another strong point on this mount is the perfect machining that has gone into it. It is not out of the realm of necessity to still lap rings and mounts to get a perfect scope fit. That is simply not the case with Reptilia AUS. The inner surfaces of the rings are perfectly smooth and clean leading to solid contact with the optic and no scratching.

Lightweight Design

Where the mount really shines is in weight. It comes in at a mere 5.5 ounces, it is the perfect balance of weight and strength. I used the AUS to mount a Trijicon Credo 1-8×28 with a 34mm tube. The rifle chosen this round was the Sig MCX Regulator. Both the scope mount and the rifle mount were exceptional. I used this setup for testing the rifle and to say I ran it hard is an understatement. While not intentional, the optic took a few bumps and hard contact moments during testing. At the mid-point of testing, I did an optics check and it was solid as stone. I found the exact thing to be true at the end of the day as well. I was impressed with the mount and its lightweight design made it barely noticeable.

To some companies, making a mount like the AUS would cause them to sit back and enjoy their laurels. This is not the case with Reptilia. In fact, they have turned the AUS mount into a modular platform. With the desire of many to add “ride along” optics like red dots along with their primary optic, mounting has been a struggle. Reptilia has solved that and is offering five different add-ons to meet your needs.

The Lineup

The first is a ROF 90 Mount. This is a mount that replaces the top of the forward ring and allows you to mount a red dot at 90 degrees. For a cantered view, they have the ROF-45 mount, mounted directly on the AUS base mount at a 45-degree angle. Like the 90, it mounts in place of the front ring top. For those who need added height, the TALL variant of their ROF proves an elevated line of sight ensuring clear vision even with heavier gear.

Looking for an offset but at a lower position? Reptilia has the answer. They offer a lower cantered red dot mount, the AUS Offset can be attached on either side of the AUS base mount. Lastly, they have an option for those looking to add more tech to the mount. The Diving Board places a MIL-STD-1913 rail at the ideal position and height to mount laser range finders such as the Wilcox MRF/RAPTAR, Vortex Optics Impact, laser designators, or miniature red dot optics atop a NightForce NX8 2.5-20×50 F1.

Quality is Job 1

While we can talk specs until we are blue in the face, it all comes down to quality. The Reptilia mount screams quality the minute you pull it out of the box. The machining on the mount is pristine and it has obviously been bead blasted before it is coated. The optic is designed for professional-level use. I say that because it has no sharp edges on it and the base screws are spring-loaded and recessed to avoid snagging. On the range and don’t remember what the torque settings are for the optic? Reptilia, has you covered as they are milled into the base of the mount.

The takeaway from this is that the mount you choose matters. Given the choice, I would take a Reptilia mount every time. If you are getting ready to mount an optic or are looking for an upgrade, I suggest you take a look at the Reptilia AUS mount.

For more info, visit reptiliacorp.com.