I'm looking for a scope to put on an m1a ebr and I won't to know respectable tactical scope brands that won't break the bank. Id like to stay under $400 preferably under $350

I have the Bushnell 10x40 MilDot, which I have been told is an entry level tactical scope, and one can often find it at about $200 .  The SWFA 10x40 is supposed to be a better scope and runs a bit more.  $250 - $300.

Leupold AR MK1 3x9 is what I plan to install on mine.

SWFA SS 6x42 or 10x42 in the mil/mil flavor is the only option I would consider in that price range.

Maybe a pre-owned Vortex Viper PST 1-4x24

I had a viper pst 1-4 on an ar and it was a solid well built optic I'm planning on scoping my m1a and I'm going to get a viper pst 2.5x10. Vortex offers a very nice discount if your mil, veteran or Leo.

Currently I have a Nikon 6-18x44 on mine till I finish selling off all my scopes to buy a Nightforce scope and Larue mount.

I say anything that holds a zero and you can see through.  A normal ole leupold?  

I guess the question is are you going to shoot at distance and want either a mil dot reticle or target turrets?  Do you need it to be super robust like you plan on going hiking with it or just shooting from a bench at the range.  For most people it's just the latter but they WANT something all tactical and all that stuff costs an arm and a leg.  So....  I'm not sure which optics are the best but I've used a Leupold VX-II on mine and it's a fine scope.  It has a "rangefinding"  reticle.   It has to do with the distance between the thicker part of the posts is a certain dimension at a certain distance and you can deduct the distance of your target if you know the size of the target.  In this case it being the torso of a typical deer.  I think it's like 18".  

Anyways....    

Just my 2 cents but just about anything will work if you're just shooting at 100-300 yards.  Heck further than that.  As long as it has some quality.  The mount is probably more of an issue than the scope.  Just choose a name brand and maybe look through some to see what you like.

Right now Midway has their Bushnell  10x-40 Tactical scopes on sale for $199.99 with free shipping.  It's kind of hard to beat a deal like that.

This

I have a Leupold VX II 3X9 upgraded with Target turrets and a mildot reticle. Nice scope and they can be had fairly cheap in stock form and than upgraded later

1-6x or 4-14x
They both seem to get great reviews and are in high demand. Check out their page on the industry forum.

ETA
I own the 1-6x and used it on my PTR91, but it now resides on my .308AR. I really like the optic!

I did not know about the MIL/LEO discount...Thanks for the heads up.  My M1A is currently iron sights only.  Working on my ammo collection / stash and rifle skills more than anything at the moment.

I've had great luck with Burris. Just ordered a 4.5x-14x fullfield II from SWFA for my M1A. $300 with a $100 rebate.

OP, I have one of these if you want it.

Zeiss Conquest scopes are great scopes for the price range. Very good light transmission! I have one that's held up for a good while. I also have a Leupold MK4 ER/T and it's superb but spendy.

Get one with  a lifetime warranty. M1A's are brutal on scopes due to the forward impulse that they inflict on scopes when chambering a round. Some scopes are only made to handle recoil in one direction. Don't be surprised if you buy a scope that holds up well with high power bolt actions but fails after prolonged use in an M14/M1A.

Tony.

SWFA SS 10x mil dot. I've seen several over the last year in the EE in the $200-$250 range for the rear focus model. If I bought one new, I'd spend the extra $50 for side focus. I had one on my M1A but now have a Leupy mk4 LR/T 3.5-10x.

I picked up a leupold mk4 3.5x10 lr/t in the EE and mounted to my m14 with a basset mount. Pretty sweet...but not cheap.

I like my Primary Arms FFP 4-14 Mil Dot.

M1A has always been horrible as far as scopes. The problem is the scope needs to be over the ejection port to get a good eye relief or on the forward handguard. Where exactly is the scope going to be mounted on this ebr?

If you don't have a mount, expect to spend some money for a mount and the ebr is somewhat limited to the type of mount that it can accept. On the ebr, you can do some stuff like getting the ar15 scope mount, and simply reversing it on the ebr's handguard to get it sticking out back.

If it's a forward handguard mount, I recommend a reddot. You can get a Aimpoint Comp ML3 for only a little more of the price range you want.

Good question.

The EBR accepts several different mounts.

Side mount SEI, Sadlak, and Basset come to mind.
SAGE DCSB, and LaRue TL-608 are designed for the EBR.
The different CASM mounts imported from Canada are another option.


Here you see an RDS out front, and a Vortex on a LaRue TL-608.

I disagree. There is nothing horrible about scoping an M14 pattern rifle; people make it out to be much more of an issue than it really is. Just buy a scope mount ($150-200, same as a quality mount would cost for an AR) and you're ready to go. You'll also need a cheek riser, but that's a cheap and easy fix.

Also, the EBR is MUCH easier to mount an optic with compared to a rifle with a standard stock. You can use a traditional side mount, or a mount designed for an EBR, or mount it forwards on the rail, which is a rock solid platform to mount on.

This is the LT-608 I had on mine, which worked great.

Here is my m14 with a basset machine scope mount. How does it get much easier than one bolt??!!