How come AR scopes are all mounted so high?
It looks like in the picture above that you could have got away with just a set of high, or extra high standard rings and they could have both been mounted on the upper receiver. But I guess you want extra height?
JMHO, AR scopes mounts are high for the front sight tower on standard AR barrel, even though you can't see it in the scope, there is an internet fear that the front sight "blocks" the scope view.
It doesn't, but you usually can't convince the person that hasn't looked through the scope on the AR.
Plus, scope marketing for the tac-ti-cool rifle crowd have been slanted towards "Hubel telescope" objectives on the front end. Can't be cool without a coffee cup sized view...
AR scope mounts are still pretty much a "one-size-fits-all applications" for height.
Magazines. Metal or polymer?
Yes and yes,
For polys - Magpul will be fine for most uses and last longer than most will shoot - they designed to be disposable, and they don't "dent". You may split one from continued abuse, but you going to work at it before it happens.
A metal magazine doesn't really wear out, surplus or brand-name, watch the on-line sales for a deal. They will dent if abused, but there are enough surplus mags that you should be able to stock up without breaking the bank.
