I really like innovation, and the Viridian PINCH Adjustable 35 Degree Offset Mount certainly delivers on that front. As the name implies, it’s an offset mount, the type usually seen on AR-pattern rifles. With it, Viridian diverged from common designs in multiple ways. First, it’s at 35 degrees, rather than the usual 45. Next, it’s adjustable, allowing the optic to be mounted in one of three positions. Finally, it’s got multiple adapter plates available, to accommodate the most popular optics. It should check all the boxes for plenty of shooters.
Viridian PINCH specs
At just 2.46 inches long, 0.87 inches wide, and 0.87 inches high at the tallest point, the PINCH is pretty minimal. It only weighs 0.9 ounces, although the adapter plate adds a bit of bulk and another 0.6 ounces. It’s machined from 6061 aluminum, with a black hard coat anodized finish. Rather than a QR lever, a pair of flush-mount Torx screws are used to attach it to the rail. Available mount options include ACRO, RMR, Shield RMSc, and the Docter, Burris FF, and Vortex Venom footprint.
Why 35 degrees?
Having a magnified optic (scope) is great for distance shooting. If you’re shooting out to 100 yards or more, a magnified optic is the way to go. Taking shots at 50 yards or less, or where quick acquisition is needed, a scope isn’t ideal. That’s where a simple reflex sight really shines. They surpass the LPVO at 1x simply because there’s no need to deal with eye relief. And while 45 degrees of offset may have been the standard for some time, 35 degrees is regarded as better. Less cant is required, making it faster and more intuitive. When shooting in competition, who wouldn’t want any edge possible?
Adjustability
Thanks to three sets of mounting holes for the adapter plates, the Viridian PINCH can easily be used with different-sized primary optics. While I planned to take some photos to show the options, their little animation covers it much better. Whether running a compact LPVO, or a large diameter scope, ideal placement can be achieved.
Installation
Installing the Viridian PINCH is pretty straightforward, but does require a bit of planning. It goes without saying that before you start, you should make sure the rifle is empty, and clear your area of ammo too. Then, determine the correct mounting location. For a primary optic with a 1″ tube, it can probably be tucked right up against the rifle. For 30mm or 34mm tubes, the outer two options may be more suitable. It might take a test fit or two to decide which works best before tightening down the adapter plate.
With that sorted out, the optic can now be mounted to the adapter that’s attached to the PINCH. For this review, I’m using the Viridian RFX25 Green Dot in the Docter/Burris FF/Vortex Venom footprint. It’s a great optic, which I plan on reviewing at a later date. I had plenty of room to drop it right onto the rail, but some installations may be a bit tighter.
Note that it does have auto shut-off and INSTANT-ON® settings, but I prefer to just use the buttons on the side. So I made sure there’s enough of a gap to get a fat finger in there. With everything snugged down, I gave it a 50-yard zero using my laser, and it was good to go.
Range time with the Viridian PINCH
I’ll be the first to admit that this setup didn’t get a “torture test”. While I would have liked to “run and gun” it through a thousand rounds or so, that wasn’t an option. Instead, we took it out on a couple of range trips. The rifle it was mounted to has a Vortex Venom scope, which is a 5-25×56 optic. Great for ringing steel at 200 yards, but not so good for fast shooting around 50 yards. Being able to cant the rifle slightly and transition from the scope to the reflex site was easy. And fast, as well as fun. So that’s what we did. Ring the far steel, then tap an empty can much closer. Repeat.
During my test, I initially had some concerns about the giant windage knob blocking part of the optic. Even in the outermost position, you can see in the image below that it seems to be in the way. Once the rifle was leaned over a bit, it was no longer a concern. A little research confirmed that some shooters notice this in practice, but while competing, they are so focused on the target, it’s not an issue. And that’s the whole point of the PINCH – to make the transition between optics as seamless as possible.
Overall thoughts
I’m neither an operator nor a competitor, but I do like stuff that works. And the Viridian PINCH works awesome. This is a solid mount, with great options for optics. It’s easy to install, and intuitive to use. Note that it works on either the left or right side, and will even accommodate some of the larger reflex sights. I found that I did slightly break my cheek weld to switch between the two, but that was due to the scope and stock combo. With a smaller scope and/or a more standard stock profile, that shouldn’t be an issue, thanks to the narrow 35-degree angle. So although the setup I have it on right now isn’t perfect, I’m motivated to combine it with a more compact optic on a lighter rifle. That would be ideal for competition or a defensive rifle.
At the time of publication, it was listed at $79 on the Viridian website, which I think is a great value. A quick search shows that it’s comparable in price to similar mounts, which don’t offer multiple positions. If this interests you, here’s a link to the Viridian PINCH.
As always, I’d like to thank Viridian for sending their PINCH mount for my testing and evaluation.
What do you think of the Viridian PINCH? Have you tried one, or a similar product? Share your thoughts, opinions, or questions below.