The Shadow Mount V3.0 is a Ruger® Mark IV™ red dot mount that fastens directly to the receiver using the factory receiver hole layout, so no picatinny rail or clamp sits between the optic and the gun. It fits across the Mark™ Series including the Mark IV™, Mark IV™ 22/45™, 22/45™ LITE, and Mark III™ models. It ships with all the necessary hardware to attach both the mount and the optic. Installation is simple and requires no machining or permanent modification to the pistol.
Who Should Use the Shadow Mount V3.0
Ideal Use Cases
- Steel Challenge or Rimfire Challenge Rimfire Pistol Open competitors, where optics are permitted and the time between plates largely comes down to how fast eye finds its target.
- Ruger® Mark™ Series owners who want to add an optic without drilling, tapping, or otherwise permanently modifying the receiver.
- Shooters with aging eyes or corrective lenses who find a single focal plane easier to work with than a three point iron sight picture.
- Owners of more than one Mark™ Series pistol, since the same mount design covers Mark IV™, Mark III™, and factory drilled and tapped Mark™ I and Mark™ II models with the standard receiver hole layout.
Shadow Mount V3.0 vs. Factory Sight and Mounting Options
Three ways to sight a Ruger® Mark™ Series pistol, and what separates them.
| Feature | TANDEMKROSS Shadow Mount V3.0 | Factory Rail Setup | Factory Iron Sights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sight picture | One point of reference | One point of reference | Rear notch, front post, and target |
| Mounting method | Optic attaches to the mount, mount attaches to the receiver | Optic attaches to a rail adapter, rail adapter attaches to rail, rail attaches to the receiver | Sights fitted from the factory |
| Parts in the mounting stack | Two: the mount and the optic | Three: the rail, rail adapter/mount, and the optic | Front and rear sight |
| Optic height above bore | Lowest possible; varies depending on optic | Highest possible; height of picatinny rail plus height of rail mount/adapter and optic | No optic mounted |
| Interfaces that can shift under recoil | Two: optic to mount and mount to receiver | Three: optic to mount/adapter, mount/adapter to rail, and rail to receiver | Front and rear sight (unlikely); no optic mounted |
| Mounting hardware included | Receiver hardware and optic hardware both included | Varies by model and configuration | Not applicable |
Limitations to Know Before You Buy
- Three hole layout required: The mount fits Ruger® Mark™ Series models with the standard three hole layout. It does not fit model 40179 or vent rib models such as 43949. Check your model number before ordering.
- Optic footprint must be confirmed: The mount supports many popular optics from Vortex Optics®, Burris®, Trijicon®, Swampfox Optics, Holosun, and others, but not every footprint on the market. Use the compatibility chart linked on the product page to confirm your specific optic before ordering.
- Use a thread locker: The mounting screws should be installed with a thread locker and torqued carefully. Owners may experience screws backing out under repeated shooting when installed without thread locker, and over torquing small fasteners can strip the head of the screw.
- Division implications: When shooting in competitions like SASP, Rimfire Challenge, Steel Challenge, Metal Madness, or others, adding an optic can change which division your pistol is eligible for use within. Be sure to reference the rules of your particular league or range before making the decision to install an optic.
Technical Specifications
Construction
- Finish: Black anodized
- Body material: Aluminum
- Weight: 0.7oz without hardware (hardware depends on preferred optic)
- Mounting method: Direct to receiver using the factory three hole layout, no picatinny rail or clamp required; will only use two of the three mounting holes
- Hardware: Receiver mounting hardware and optic mounting hardware included
- Country of manufacture: USA
Compatibility
- Ruger® Mark IV™ Standard
- Ruger® Mark IV™ Tactical
- Ruger® Mark IV™ Target
- Ruger® Mark IV™ Hunter
- Ruger® Mark IV™ Competition
- Ruger® Mark IV™ 22/45™
- Ruger® Mark IV™ 22/45™ LITE
- Ruger® Mark IV™ 22/45™ Tactical
- Ruger® Mark III™ Standard
- Ruger® Mark III™ Target
- Ruger® Mark III™ Hunter
- Ruger® Mark III™ 22/45™
- Ruger® Mark III™ 22/45™ LITE
- Ruger® Mark III™ 22/45™ Target
- Ruger® Mark III™ 22/45™ Hunter
- Ruger® Mark™ I and Ruger® Mark™ II models that are factory drilled and tapped
Does not fit model 40179 or vent rib models such as 43949. TANDEMKROSS guarantees compatibility with factory Ruger® models in factory furniture and TANDEMKROSS original firearms. Compatibility with third-party receivers is not guaranteed.
Complete Package Includes
- Shadow Mount V3.0 for Ruger® Mark™ Series
- Hardware to attach the mount to the receiver
- Hardware to secure the optic to the mount
- Installation instructions available as a linked document on the product page
Shadow Mount V3.0 FAQs
What models are compatible with the Shadow Mount V3.0?
Yes, both are supported. The Shadow Mount V3.0 supports the Mark IV™ Standard, Tactical, Target, Hunter, and Competition along with the Mark IV™ 22/45™, 22/45™ LITE, and 22/45™ Tactical. Compatibility is determined by the receiver rather than the grip frame, which is why the same mount spans both the 1911 style 22/45™ frame and the standard Mark IV™ frame. The requirement is the standard three hole layout on top of the receiver. The Silencer Shop exclusive models (40179, 40181, 40182) and vent rib models such as 43949 are exceptions as they feature different hole patterns and are not compatible.
Does installing the Shadow Mount V3.0 require machining or permanent modification?
No, the Shadow Mount V3.0 does not require any machining, gunsmithing, or permanent modification. The mount uses mounting points already present on compatible receivers, so nothing needs to be drilled, tapped, milled, or permanently altered. Installation is easily done with the included hardware and tools. TANDEMKROSS provides written installation instructions plus an installation video on the product page. The pistol can be returned to its original configuration by removing the mount and reinstalling the factory hardware.
What factors help the Shadow Mount V3.0 maintain zero?
In practice, holding zero depends as much on installation technique as on the mount: use a thread locker on the mounting screws, torque them evenly, and verify zero at the range after any removal and reinstallation rather than assuming it. Owners who have installed the screws dry may experience them backing out under repeated shooting. Treat a zero check as part of the reinstallation process.
Which optics fit the Shadow Mount V3.0?
The Shadow Mount V3.0 accepts a wide selection of pistol red dots and reflex sights, including models from Vortex Optics®, Burris®, Trijicon®, Swampfox Optics, and Holosun. TANDEMKROSS publishes a compatibility chart on the product page so you can confirm your specific optic before ordering, which is the reliable step since footprints vary considerably even within a single brand's lineup. The mount ships with the hardware needed to secure the optic, so a standard installation does not require a separate mounting plate or hardware kit.
Legal and Compliance
No state level shipping restrictions apply to this product.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including chromium, which is known to the State of California to cause reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
120 Reviews
-
Perfect fit
I got this to mount a Burris Fast Fire on and it works like a charm. Keep up the good work TandemKross
-
As advertised
Works great with a Vortex Viper. Wish it used the factory cap screws as opposed to new flat head type. That being said it works as advertised and cleans up the gun nicely. It can mount in 3 locations one requires removal or rear sight.
-
Great mount option
This is a great mounting option for a red dot to get it lower to the bore. I was simple to install and provides May mounting options and configurations. Glad I made the purchase.
-
Shadow Mount for Ruger Mark 3 22/45 Lite
Excellent mount, thoughtfully designed and very well made. My only concern with the mount is the taper on the end of the screws that attach the mount to the pistol. The screw holes on the pistol are only 4 threads deep and you lose a little over 2 threads due to the taper on the screws so there are actually less than 2 threads holding the mount to the pistol. I would prefer to see the end of the screw threads flat rather than tapered to increase the amount of thread contact. The original screws used to mount the factory rail to the pistol are slightly too long to use with the Shadow mount or else that would have been a simple solution. Great mount though and overall I am very pleased with the design.
-
Shadow Mount
I like the low profile look this gives my Mk3. My Vortex sight mounted up easily. The package contained many extra screws, rubber spacers etc I assume for it to work with a variety of red dots. The parts feel and look like quality, just like every TandemKross item I have purchased. Outstanding quality for a fair price. Would buy this again and recommend to others.
-
Sight Base
This mount fit perfect, Had all the holes for versatility in the right places,and mounted very easily.Very stable for larger optics.
-
Shadow mount
Quality construction great fit and easy installation.i installed a venom red dot on a Ruger mark IV perfect fit
-
Provided screws damaged my pistol
While this is a great solution for mounting various red dots to Mark series pistols, I ran into some issues with the provided T10 torx screws. One of the T10 torx screws tore out the 6-48 threads in one of the holes in my pistol's upper. I made sure the threads were cleaned/degreased prior to inserting the screw & torquing and used a torque driver set to only 10 in-lb as recommended by TK customer service. I did not attempt to torque the other screw out of fear of stripping out another hole in my pistol. Fortunately TK customer service stepped up and offered to repair the hole with a 6-32 thread insert free of charge, which I took them up on and am greatly appreciative of. That said, I now have different thread pitches on my Ruger pistol because of this. It sounds like I ran into an isolated problem, but I highly recommend using the Ruger OEM screws to attach the Shadow mount to your pistol's upper if possible to be safe. I certainly don't trust the T10 screws that came with my mount. TK's willingness to repair the damaged threads on my pistol (and actually completing the work in a very timely manner) says a lot about their company and quality of service. Every other TK product I've purchased & received so far has been great. Had the provided T10 screws not damaged my pistol, I easily would have rated this product 5 stars. I cannot excuse the fact that the provided hardware damaged my pistol, however, and the rating I gave reflects this.
-
Excellent
This mount fits perfectly with my C-More and gets the dot down as low as possible. Very pleased with it.
