Thoughts?  I am looking for a scope to go on my 24" AR-10 build.  Without considering cost which scope would people use?  (Other brands are also acceptable).  The other question is what magnification would people consider?

-C4-

I think Nightforce has the edge on the glass quality-

never owned a leupold but will pick the nightforce

My price range is $500 to $1500ish...  I would prefer to spend around $1000.

-C4-

Also look at the IOR 2x12-32 or 3X18-42.  I have the 2X12-32 and I am going to do a review of it and post it here as soon as the medium rings come in.

I have 4.5-14 X 50 M1 , 3.5-10X40 M! w/ Illuminated recticle, NSX 5.5-22 X 56 and the NSX 3.5-15 X 50

Recticles

If having a illuminated recticle is important  the NSX recticle choices ( lots of choices ) is way better than the Leupold illuminated . Only complaint ( minor ) I have is its a pain to change the recticle illumination brightness on the NSX . Dead easy to do on the Leupold

Some people find the NSX recticles buys but I think they are awesome for holdover references ( like the NP-R2

Turrets
The nightforce turrets have more positive clicks than the M1s and best of all you can get the ZERO STOP option in the NSX . Extremely handy if you you dial in elevation . Doesn't  matter if you never touch your turrets

Optical Clarity - I would have to give the slight edge to the NF ( yes same power setting and dia obj was compared ) .


If money was not an issue I would pic the NSX over the MK4 . You might not like the fact that the NSX is made in Japan ( Leupold lenses are from Japan BTW )

Not to confuse the issue but neither of these scopes are actually my favorite choice for a 308 . I have a Schmidt & Bender PMII (3-12 X 50 ) on my 308 . The PMII line is absoloutly outstanding . As good as the NSXs are the PMII is awesome

Things you will like with PMII

1. It will make its full elevation in one turn ( or you can go with their super cool "double turn option".  This setup is waaaay better than the leupold M3 single turn turret . Have no idea how they make the clicks so small yet positive feeling ( clicks are about 2.5 times finer than the M3 single turn - 1cm click on S&B vs about 1" on M3 turret )

2. Build quality is outstanding. You have to see the turrets off to appreciate the machine work and precison ( like a watch )

3. Optical quality is outstanding . This scope pissed me off because I could see the targets  clearer than my spotting scope ! Could't have that so it "Made" me buy a new spotting scope !

4. Parallax ( 3rd turret ) adjustment better than the Leupold

Things you will not like with PMII

1. Cost - they are ridiculously overpriced now ( pricing has increased significantly over the past couple years ) About $2500 for PMII vs $1000 to $1500 for the NSX and Leupold

2. Front focal plane recticle. Good if you range with mil dot . Not the greatest for shooting paper a long ranges

BTW the USMC and Canadian forces new issue sniper rifles both chose to go with PMIIs . Not to say the other contenders are bad choices ( quite the opposite the USO is outstanding products ) but just useless trivia


MAGNIFICATION

That question all depends on what you are doing with it. For real world stuff like hunting the 10 to 12 power is ideal ( 15 with NSX )

If you like long range target shooting you can't go wrong with the 22 -24 power .

Night force 2.5x10 w/ NPR2.  Mike is a good guy at CSgunworks.

As of right now I am leaning towards the 8-32x56 NXS with the MLR Reticle.  I am also thinking about the 12-42x, but don't think I will ever be shooting anything that would really use 42x and that I may get annoyed with the 12x minimum.  

-C4-

Quoted: I have 4.5-14 X 50 M1 , 3.5-10X40 M! w/ Illuminated recticle, NSX 5.5-22 X 56 and the NSX 3.5-15 X 50 Recticles If having a illuminated recticle is important  the NSX recticle choices ( lots of choices ) is way better than the Leupold illuminated . Only complaint ( minor ) I have is its a pain to change the recticle illumination brightness on the NSX . Dead easy to do on the Leupold Some people find the NSX recticles buys but I think they are awesome for holdover references ( like the NP-R2 Turrets The nightforce turrets have more positive clicks than the M1s and best of all you can get the ZERO STOP option in the NSX . Extremely handy if you you dial in elevation . Doesn't  matter if you never touch your turrets Optical Clarity - I would have to give the slight edge to the NF ( yes same power setting and dia obj was compared ) . If money was not an issue I would pic the NSX over the MK4 . You might not like the fact that the NSX is made in Japan ( Leupold lenses are from Japan BTW ) Not to confuse the issue but neither of these scopes are actually my favorite choice for a 308 . I have a Schmidt & Bender PMII (3-12 X 50 ) on my 308 . The PMII line is absoloutly outstanding . As good as the NSXs are the PMII is awesome Things you will like with PMII 1. It will make its full elevation in one turn ( or you can go with their super cool "double turn option".  This setup is waaaay better than the leupold M3 single turn turret . Have no idea how they make the clicks so small yet positive feeling ( clicks are about 2.5 times finer than the M3 single turn - 1cm click on S&B vs about 1" on M3 turret ) 2. Build quality is outstanding. You have to see the turrets off to appreciate the machine work and precison ( like a watch ) 3. Optical quality is outstanding . This scope pissed me off because I could see the targets  clearer than my spotting scope ! Could't have that so it "Made" me buy a new spotting scope ! 4. Parallax ( 3rd turret ) adjustment better than the Leupold Things you will not like with PMII 1. Cost - they are ridiculously overpriced now ( pricing has increased significantly over the past couple years ) About $2500 for PMII vs $1000 to $1500 for the NSX and Leupold 2. Front focal plane recticle. Good if you range with mil dot . Not the greatest for shooting paper a long ranges BTW the USMC and Canadian forces new issue sniper rifles both chose to go with PMIIs . Not to say the other contenders are bad choices ( quite the opposite the USO is outstanding products ) but just useless trivia MAGNIFICATION That question all depends on what you are doing with it. For real world stuff like hunting the 10 to 12 power is ideal ( 15 with NSX ) If you like long range target shooting you can't go wrong with the 22 -24 power .

Thanks for the info.  I would really like to get one of the PMIIs, but just don't have the $2500 to spend...

-C4-

Why not the 5.5-22x50?  Better cheek weld and you don't necessarily need 32x mag for a .308.

I would not go more than the 5.5-22x50 Nightforce for an AR-10. In my opinion 20x is border line to much magnification when it comes to the mirage after a few rounds and 5.5x gives a pretty limited FOV for a semi-auto.

I would recomend the Nightforce 3.5-15x50 for a more balanced scope/rifle combo.

Nightforce NEEDS to come out with a 3.5-15x40. For the AR you need a small objective but still want to gather light. USO makes one. Leupy makes one. NF should make one. I have owned the NF2-10 and the IOR2-12 and both of them are good scopes. I like the adj. objective with the IOR. Both tracked well and had positive clicks. Mike from CS Gunworks is a top notch guy to deal with. Good luck.