So, money is much better than it was back with the ex-wife, but I still can't afford to drop a ton of cash on guns. I have been wondering about using an AR for varmint hunting/longer range shooting fun.
First, I have this 3X prism scope from SIG, https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020169566?pid=825488 a BRAVO 3 I have mounted on the BREN 2, but I think it is the wrong optic for the pistol.
So, I thought a 20 inch barrel with good handloads in 5.56mm, (77gr, etc.?), might be a good varmint choice, with the BRAVO3 mounted. I found this one at Palmetto,
https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-20-rifle-length-5-56-nato-1-7-stainless-steel-15-lightweight-m-lok-upper-with-bcg-charging-handle2.html
It's, of course, stainless, not chromed, but I have had really good luck with PSA in the past - do you fine folks think this might be a decent varmint combo, or should I look at selling the prism for something else? The lower would be a stock PSA for now, until/unless I could buy another lower.
Random musings that I might be able to turn into reality.
Thank you for your replies.

Varmint hunting at longer ranges s you're going to want more scope. Don't get hung up on whether it is "tactical" or not, a 3-9, 4-12, 5-25 etc. will, work fine. My daylight varmint rifle wears a 3-9 with an illuminated heavy reticle in favor of speed of target acquisition on quick moving coyotes, but for smaller game at long range more magnification would be preferred obviously.

If you want easy, work up a good handload (or good factory 77gr ammo is a solid choice) then order a Leupold scope with a CDS dial and a rangefinder. Send in your load data and it will be a foolproof as you can get. Range, dial, shoot.

A 3x optic would be an odd choice for “long range shooting fun,” but that really comes down to what your shootings at and what you consider “long range.”

Depending on target size and distance, I’d likely be looking at something with more magnification.

^^^^^^^^

Mike Mille builds great varmint/hunting uppers.
He uses Shilen blanks on trued receivers

His prices however start about $200 more than the PSA upper you linked above.

DTec

Understandable, just looking to do something with this odd duck optic I have. So, better idea is to either stash it or trade/sell to get a decent scope. BTW, "long range" out here is about 700 yards at the local range. The range itself goes to 300 yards, but someone put a big gong out at 700 yards decades ago up on the hillside behind the range proper. I think there is one at 800 too, but I can never seem to find it.

I'd do exactly that, sell it or put it on something else. Prisms are great on a general purpose carbine but aren't made for precision at distance of course.

There are a lot of scopes available for reasonable prices these days that will be a huge upgrade for what you're wanting to do.