Good mount, with some drawbacks
I have one of these mounted on an older model mini (bought in 2003 or so). Mounting optics to a mini is always an exercise in tradeoffs and compromises, and this mount is no different. What this mount does when installed, is replace both your upper handguard and the top half of your gas block, fitting very snugly along the top of your barrel profile. To remove your old gas block will probably require either cutting the four hex bolts that secure the gas block halves, or drilling them out, as they come pinned from the factory. This can be a hassle, and may be more easily done by a gunsmith. You then install the rail to the rifle, and bolt back on the lower half of the existing gas block to the rail, with the provided four replacement screws. Definitely use red lock tight, as you have removed the factory pinned screws, and the gas block will get HOT. The pros are, this mount fits low to the gun, and scopes mounted are low enough to get proper eye alignment with a standard stock. No need for cheek risers. It is machined and finished well, and looks good on the rifle. I have an aimpoint mounted, and it works great. The cons are, this is basically a heat sink. It rests tightly against the barrel. Any string of fire beyond ten or twenty rounds will rapidly heat up the mount to the point where it is uncomfortable to grasp. That heat can also be detrimental to optics, though the aimpoint seems to shrug it off. Additionally, though I have had no problems with several hundreds of rounds through it, the locktighted screws are not going to be as secure as the pinned factory screws, and may work loose over time. That can always be fixed by a decent gunsmith, though. Overall, I recommend it, just know what you are getting with this, and what its limitations are compared to your desired end uses.
