I took some quick measurements comparing my weaver scope mount rail sections to a section of picatinny rail i had laying around and drew up a quick diagram.
Weaver vs picatinny rings.
Click tap to enlarge the cross sectional profile of weaver and picatinny rails are essentially the same there are two key differences.
The cross screw is smaller than that on the picatinny ring burris xtr.
Weaver slots are also smaller than picatinny slots at 180 picatinny rail slots are 206 and for both of.
Just what is a picatinny rail anyway.
Picatinny accessories will not fit on a weaver rail but weaver accessories will fit on a picatinny rail.
Weaver rails are the older standard developed by the weaver optics company.
I don t get the feeling the weaver fit on the picatinny.
At first the standard was solely for weaver products but gained more widespread use over the course of several decades.
The recoil stopper in weaver rings is 3 8 millimetres wide while the one in picatinny rings is around 5 millimetres wide.
Will scope rings using the weaver style mounting spec work satisfactorily on a picatinny rail.
Weaver rails have slots which are 180 wide and do not necessarily have standardized spacing.
It will be beneficial to look at the origin of the picatinny system first.
Since we recommend pushing both rings forward toward the muzzle the amount of play in the slot is a moot point.
The purpose of the recoil key is to keep the scope from moving.
Specifically burris signature zee rings weaver on an ar15 picatinny rail.
Weaver rails vs picatinny rails.
The main thing to consider is that there is still a bit of play in a weaver slot and typically picatinny specific rings also have a bit of play in a picatinny slot.
Let us go in more detail.
The rings physically fit but there is gap between the bottom of the ring and top of the rail.
And how is it different from a weaver.
The picatinny rail is a term that has evolved in the firearm industry from a military standard specifically mil std 1913 ar which was adopted on february 3 1995.
The weaver mounting rails have slots that are 180 wide and do not necessarily have a consistent spacing between the grooves.