Gear Review: Warne 45° Picatinny Tactical Side Mount Scope Adapter Base (3-Slot)

This is a guest post written by my buddy, CASES4CASES:

Warne Scope Mounts has a reputation for high quality, possibly over-engineered, and simply rock-solid optics mounting systems, bases, and rings. With their beginnings dating back to 1940’s Australia, Warne has a very interesting history. Currently based out of Tualatin, Oregon, Warne locally operates and oversees its engineering and manufacturing processes, which utilize 3D modeling, alloy creation, metal extrusion, CNC cutting, and a variety of finishing processes, including epoxy powder coat, anodize, cerakote, and bluing. . .

The folks at Warne are focused on the details of their products. I apply a similar attention to detail when building or customizing a firearm and several details of Warne’s 45° Picatinny Tactical Side Mount Rifle Scope Adapter Base (could they have picked a longer name for such a small product?!?) eventually led me to purchasing, evaluating, and permanently installing the product on a suppressed, scoped Ruger 22 Charger pistol I use for grouse hunting.

Based on the following four features, I chose the Warne 45° Mount.

Length of Rail Section: I knew a Burris FastFire III RDS would find its home atop the 45° mount and I didn’t want any extra rail section extending fore or aft of the optic. The Warne mount, with only three 1913 slots, was a near-perfect fit, extending only slightly forward of the optic.

Centered Design: Out of all the mounts I looked at, the Warne was the only 3-slotted model that also incorporated a centered design, producing a centered result when using the Burris FastFire III. Meaning, the middle of the three slots on the 1913 section is centered overall. And the mount’s Picatinny slot pin is also centered. With everything centered, most optics will then automatically be centered over the mount, bringing everything into alignment.

Curves: Warne’s integration of a concave top section is not a new feature. It has, however, become somewhat of an industry standard. Without it, your options for mounting something under a scope would be much more limited. Warne’s found a good balance between weight and thickness of material for increased strength. I would like to see them take a little more material off, allowing just a bit more clearance.

Flush Bolt: The relatively thin, rounded head of the bolt sits flush to the top of the clamp piece. Okay, so it’s not “flush,” but it’s fairly low-profile and definitely out of the way. It sure beats a knuckle-knocking thumbscrew.

There were several features that had me on the fence about the Warne 45° mount. I am able to live with them, but I feel they are the item’s weaknesses and could be improved on.

Centering Pin: The Warne 45° mount utilizes a single, centered pin to align the mount to the slot of your firearm’s picatinny rail. Because the pin is centered in all ways and is round, it creates a little more room for play between the mount and the rail. Once the bolt is torqued tight, it doesn’t seem to be a problem. Still, I’d like to see more contact points for alignment and lock-up – two or three pins or a full slot bar, which is more typical.

Mass & Weight: Overall, the mount is a bit on the bulky side. I’m sure Warne designed the item with the amount of material is has for specific reasons. I’m confident it won’t bend or break under rough conditions, but it does seem that there are some opportunities for material reduction.

Flush Bolt: Warne dropped the ball when they decided not to incorporate a flush-mount design for the bolt. It’s better than much of the competition, so it’s still in the “plus” category above, but truly flush-mounting the bolt would provide a cleaner look and would work as a visual indicator if the bolt starts to back out.

Price: With an MSRP of $62.73, it’s a bit pricey. Most Warne items are. Luckily, there are numerous retailers selling it well below full boat.

At the end of the day, the Warne 45° Mount is a well-built piece. It is compact and rugged. And it does exactly what I needed it to for my particular situation. It is certainly not the best solution for all situations, but I believe it is worth consideration if you are looking for a short 45° 1913 mount that will be secured to the firearm’s top rail underneath a scope.

*Please note that this is not a new product from Warne. It seems to have passed the consumer test and Warne has also added a new version to their line. The new version incorporates a slightly different design, including four 1913 slots that are not centered.

Specifications (Warne 45 Degree Picatinny Tactical Side Mount Rifle Scope Adapter Base):

Weight: 1.285 oz
Rail Length: 1 7/8″
Picatinny Slots: 3
Colors: Black, Red, Blue, Dark Earth

Ratings (out of five stars):

East of Installation * * * * *
The product is so simple and straight-forward; this probably shouldn’t even be a category. However, it is important to note that the match-up of the clamp and the 1913 rail on my firearm was seamless. I also want to point out a benefit of the single-post picatinny alignment feature. When compared to a full-length bar, the pin does allow a little more wiggle room if you’re trying to install the mount underneath an existing scope. Finally, the mount is UYOT (Use Your Own Tools) – star key not included.

Weight * * * *
Warne’s 45° solution is on the heavy side of the spectrum. I believe there are opportunities to reduce the mass and retain strength; however the additional manufacturing process would increase the price. I believe this is a good balance of mass, strength, and resulting price.

Quality / Fit / Finish * * * * *
This mount lives up to Warne’s reputation for well-made products. The attention to detail in design, manufacturing, and finishing is apparent.

Value * * * *
Pricing for this item seems to be all over the board right now. Anywhere from $37.00 to $62.73 (MSRP). I’m good with the low-end, but paying MSRP plus shipping is a deal-breaker for me.

Overall Rating * * * *
Regardless of the areas where I believe this item could be improved, Warne has created an excellent product. I’m confident the mount will stay secure and hold zero on my RDS. And I am happy with the balance of functionality and weight with aesthetics.