Predator hunters adopted clip-on thermal and night vision units for a solid reason—they let a shooter keep the same riflescope, reticle and zero after dark. A sloppy mount is what undermines them. Since a clip-on sits directly in front of a scope’s objective lens, any rail that isn’t truly in line with the scope base leaves the image and the reticle telling slightly different stories.
MDT’s answer is the One-Piece NV Bridge, a 13-inch, 20-MOA rail that bolts along the top of existing MDT fore-ends. It matches the elevation built into a 20-MOA scope base, which puts the clip-on and riflescope on a common line of sight. The bridge fits the ACC Elite, ACC Premier Gen2 and LSS Gen3 Competition fore-ends.
As the name implies, the bridge is a single machined part rather than a string of rail sections, so there are no joints between segments that could drift out of line. MDT starts with 6061-T6 aluminum, applies Type III hard anodizing and then adds Cerakote on top. That finish is meant for heavy wear. Over a season, these units tend to go on at dusk and off at dawn, with every cycle another round of clamping.
Complete, the bridge weighs 5.9 ounces and measures 13.01 x 1.96 x 0.95 inches. It attaches with 6-32 flat-head screws torqued to 15 inch-pounds with a T10 driver.
MDT calls for a 20-MOA scope base or integrated rail and scope rings at least 1½ inches tall. Barrels must be longer than 15 inches to clear the front of the bridge, with a muzzle diameter less than 1.1 inches.
Two included spacers lift the bridge 0.2 inches to clear straight-contour barrels up to 1¼ inches in diameter. MDT’s compatibility notes are candid about the trade-off. With the spacers installed, the bridge’s Picatinny rail no longer sits in line with the scope base, and the company does not recommend that setup for night vision or thermal use. Shooters who go that route will likely need rings taller than 1½ inches (MDT suggests 1.7 inches or more) or a scope with a smaller objective bell.
The One-Piece NV Bridge is available now in black or flat dark earth for $224.99 through MDT dealers and at mdttac.com.
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