REVIEW: B&T Flip Side Mount

One searches half the internet for a decent magnifier mount and only looks across the pond, while the solution is much closer. More precisely: Switzerland. Here sits B&T, who in our opinion has quietly created the perfect solution.

What does one expect from a magnifier mount? It should be lightweight, should be quickly detachable, and the magnifier should be able to be quickly folded to the side - preferably also securely under stress.

We have tested and compared all kinds of magnifiers and mounts in our extensive magnifier comparison review series, where the various approaches by manufacturers were represented. According to our personal preferences, we liked the Aimpoint Twist Mount because here the magnifier can be taken off the weapon and only a base module remains. The advantage is low weight and no annoying magnifier folded to the side, as well as easy mounting/dismounting. The disadvantage is that the magnifier cannot be quickly folded to the side again.

Aimpoint has improved and the current models are now also available with the Aimpoint Flip Mount - Twist Mount + Flip to Side. The advantage of the Aimpoint Flip Mount is a flat, small, and light base that stays on the weapon. The disadvantage is that the swivel mechanism stays on the magnifier, creating a piece of equipment that tends to snag on the user. In addition, this makes the ring more expensive: The FlipMount ring module costs around €280, the base around €180, which brings us to a total of €460.

B&T has also gone the route of the two-piece mount, hence the comparison with the Aimpoint Flip Mount. For those interested: There are such solutions also from Samson and also from Wilcox - both unfortunately difficult to obtain and much more expensive than the solutions from Aimpoint and B&T.

The B&T Flip Mount is made of aluminum and steel. The base module weighs 141 grams. It is mounted with two slotted screws on the Picatinny rail. This means that the base can only be removed with a tool, but it is very slim and there are hardly any parts sticking out. Aimpoint uses a knurled screw, which can be manipulated without tools, but produces a protrusion.

The flip mechanism is triggered by pressing a button on the left side (base can also be rotated for left-handed shooters).

Due to spring force, the platform carrying the magnifier swings to the side. With Aimpoint, this has to be done by muscle power, there is no spring.

At first glance, B&T has apparently dispensed with locking the magnifier in the swiveled position. The spring tension is relatively low, meaning that if you shake the rifle, the magnifier can swing back and forth. In our opinion, this is an advantage: In case of emergency, you are able to quickly swing the magnifier back behind the red dot without having to grab it. Both hands remain on the weapon, a strong jerk to the right and the magnifier is in position.

There may be situations where you don't want that. For this, B&T also has a solution: There is a rotating knob on the right side that can be easily reached with the index finger (with the grip on the weapon).

A quarter turn is enough to activate the lock. The magnifier is fixed and does not move. This is also great when the magnifier is in the normal position behind the red dot. If it should stay there, it can also be secured in this position, preventing unwanted folding to the side.

The mounting platform for the magnifier is achieved through lateral clamping jaws. In addition, the module is held in place by recesses in the middle.

The clamping mechanism is realized with a lever that includes a safety against accidental opening.

Now all that is needed is for the magnifier to be equipped with B&T's ring module and then it can be placed on the weapon, secured, and done.

Ring module? Here comes the kicker: B&T offers a whole series of modules that can be used with the base. Whether it's a 30mm ring for Aimpoint or similar magnifiers, EOTech 3x Magnifier, PVS14, Night-Tronic 940 XD4, N-Vision GT-14, Optronics OE-14, or Aimpoint CEU - all these devices can be used on the Swiss Flip Side Mount.

In addition, the advantage is that due to the ingenious clamping construction, the ring has almost no edges where equipment can get caught. This allows you to use the devices for observation, or even mount them on a helmet, without removing the ring, especially useful for magnifiers or night vision devices. Full modularity - brilliant!

The 30mm ring we use in the test weighs 40 grams. This brings us to a total weight of 181 grams. In comparison: Aimpoint FlipMount weighs a total of 119 grams, a Sightmark Flip Mount is around 128 grams. The price of a ring module is around €90. This way, in our opinion, you are much more flexible than with the Aimpoint solution, where the base is the cheaper part.

This is what the base looks like mounted on the weapon. The shooter can easily mount the module with one hand.

Finally, a topic that B&T does not address on their website: Height. For many shooters, especially in the AR15 area, this is a concern. The B&T mount is designed in such a way that it can be used with both Lower Third Co-Witness optics and absolute Co-Witness optics.

In the image, we see a Holosun 503G with a Scalarworks LEAP mount in absolute Co-Witness. The magnifier sits slightly higher than the optic, which has no effect on the field of view. We could not test Lower Third, but since it is only a few millimeters of height difference, we assume that in this configuration the magnifier will sit slightly below the optic.

We have been using the B&T Flip Side Mount with the magnifier for a few months now and are completely convinced by it. Perfectly constructed, all controls are good and easy to use, weight okay, handling okay, awesome