I just put togeather my DPMS LR-tac20....I don't want it tp be a bench beauty....I want  variable optics to be able to "run & gun" as well as being able to reach out to say 400-500 yrds..
I've got 3-4 top picks and would like input as to what most of you guys would recomend.
*Nightforce 2.5-10x42 NXS
*IOR 3-18x42 w/Mp8
*IOR 2.5 -10x24NXS
*Trigijcon 4x32 Accog
What I need is quick transistion between QCB to Mid range...Thanks

Common guy's neen help here..please

CQB to midrange is gonna be tough with 2.5-3x on the low end.

Not horrible, but way less than ideal.

Ballistically speaking, mid-range for a .308 20" autoloader is probably 350yds.

You say 400-500...ok fair enough....

I would recommend these for out to 500yds:

Short Dot 1-4
NF 1-4
Meopta K-Dot
Leupold 1.5-5

You should be able to make "man size" hits out to 500yds with a 4x and .308....

Or maybe something like this:

USOptic in the EE

Quoted:
I just put togeather my DPMS LR-tac20....I don't want it tp be a bench beauty....I want  variable optics to be able to "run & gun" as well as being able to reach out to say 400-500 yrds..
I've got 3-4 top picks and would like input as to what most of you guys would recomend.
*Nightforce 2.5-10x42 NXS
*IOR 3-18x42 w/Mp8
*IOR 2.5 -10x24NXS
*Trigijcon 4x32 Accog
What I need is quick transistion between QCB to Mid range...Thanks

[/quote

I read thu this earlier tonight and have been scratchin my head to think of something that might help ya out....But the best I can come up with is...

Open Sights.

I am not trying to sound like a smart a*s here...But it sounds like you want the
best of both worlds and whats gonna happen after you spent your hard earned cash
is that you will be pushing the limits of one end or the other.

If you set up for the long shots...400yds anything close in is gonna be so blurry you wont be able to make out what or where on target you need to be,And that isnt saying anything about as you increase/decrease the magnification the faster/slower a moving target is gonna appear to be moving.

If you were to use ..say the Eotech Holographic Sight...and I am using this because I am kinda familiar with it....that will do ya pretty good QCB till about 200 yrds at wich point the dot would be covering approx  8 inches of your down range target...and more further out.I am thinking the Acog is gonna be on the same lines just done a little differantly. To be honest with you I havent had the pleasure of checking one out yet.

Back to my point of open sights...Our Grunts in the military have been shooting them for years and years...And if you were to think of what they use to do for their job as....QCB,Run&Gun and 500 yrd shots.....Its open sights.


308 Panther Shooter

Shooting on anything but a manicured range just SEEING the target at 500m can be difficult without optics. In your position I would consider the 3.5x and 5.5x ACOGs, and the Short Dot. BAC works poorly for me, personally. I suggest you try it before you buy a BAC optic.

Thanks guys..after reading some posts and hearing that our boy's in the military are going to set the standard in a 3x I got some pretty good idea as to how to go.
Panther308..yep I agree as to the importance of iron sights...I have Midwest Ind. front and rear flip up sights "sweet "...and I guess that I should stick to setting up glass for what I want it for ..fighting, and not the target range. General opinon is that most enconters will take place at much less than 200yrds. So thats the way I'm gonna go, thanks to all who posted.....big help !!!!

"This is my rifle,there are many like it,but this one is mine. God bless America !!

Trijicon TR21 Accupoint might just fit the ticket.  1.25 to 4 power variable.  At 1.25, it is very close to a red-dot and has some modest light gathering power for twilight.  Long eye relief too, somewhere around 4 inches.  Tritium and fiber optic lit.  No batteries needed.  Scope is fairly compact and lightweight 11 ounces.  I paid about $400, IIRC.  That was a couple years back

Here's an example  at $573.75   That's not a horrible price, but you may do better
http://www.opticsplanet.com/product-catalog/products/trijicon-accupoint-125-4x24-riflescope-tr21.html

Lots more money,  I am really happy with an IOR Valdada 2 to 12 power.  This would be more of a mid range to long range scope.  Although at 2 power,  it is very quick to acquire a target.  It's a 35mm tube, illuminated mil-dot reticle.  Extremely clear glass.  But it's over a thousand dollars and rather dense package at around 19 ounces..but built like the proverbial tank.


And I've got a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10 by 24mm. with the NPR2 reticle.  It is very similar to the IOR,  a 30mmtube,  same bright glass beefy construction.  That particular reticle has very fine lines that can be a little difficult to see under just the right combination of glare and shadow.  But Wow!  Prices have sure gone up on this one.....Ahhhh, now I see what's going on..I'm looking at a New Zealand pricing  

Another but I have no experience is the 1-4 Nightforce.  It's a true 1x.

Bushnell makes a Elite 4200 1.5-6X 36mm Matte -- no experience

Leopold makes a similar one

Here's a page with a lot of choices http://www.bearbasin.com/catalog.htm#nightforce_scopes

There's quite a few 1.x - 4.   IOR even makes a couple as well

I think what you want for price and capability likely the TR21.  Been very happy with,  It's my girlfriend's deer hunting setup on a .243 upper.

But the 2-12 IOR, 2.5-10 NXS and 1.25-4 TR21 I mentioned are the only ones I personally own.


ETA:  Disclaimer These are Not my pictures,  I still haven't bought a digital camera.  This is from a couple of different threads of AR optics and it'll give a bit better idea of what these look like...

IOR 2-12  32mm optic in a 35mm tube


and a NXS 2.5-10 24mm optic in a 30mm tube on a LaRue base


and the TR21 in a LaRue mount.  (I happen to have mine in a one piece Armalite base) I think for the typical nose-to-the-charging handle stance, the cantilever is a better choice as the TR21 has long eye relief and a standard mount would have it too close for most folks.



The only minor downside of the IOR is a limited choice of mount options.  (I had heard rumors LaRue was going to make a 35mm cantilever mount...but I don't know if that's a fact.  Anybody know?)   On the other hand, the rings with a quick disconnect are part of the IOR package.  so no added expense there.  They come in high, medium and low height.  I know that's not real useful without dimensions....maybe somebody has actual numbers.

Both have got lots of options for reticle choices.  
www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=165&t=145406

The IOR reticle is using mils and the NXS  NPR2 is using MOA tick marks for ranging.  Both are calibrated for use at 10 power for ranging.  However both have turrets graduated in 1/4 MOA, so zeroing is the same.  Holdovers would be different, but you'd ge used to it.  The IOR reticle I've got is a newer version of their MP8 with cross hairs that meet with a tiny dot in the center.  I like it.  some folks object that the dot obscures really small targets.

www.impactguns.com/store/media/ior_reticle.gif

Which scope I like better?  Honestly, the NXS and IOR are so close  I flipflop back and forth.  The IOR has a slightly wider range of 2-12 vs 2.5-10 for the NXS.  This is really subjective at this point --  I like the side focus on the IOR and  I like the IOR reticle just a little better.  The tiny dot in the cross hairs seems to draw my eye to the center a little quicker.  But I also really like the Trijicon for the half pound less in weight to lug around.  The Trijicon aiming point is extremely fast...just put the target on the tip of the triangle.  But it is also very precise, unlike a red dot optic that would obscure a circle the size of your hand at 100 yards,  the Trijicon allows easy one inch groups at 100 yards.   Real soon now...I'll actually get a digital camera and have some real pictures

ior 2-12x32 or nightforce 2.5-10x24 is what im planning.  the 1-4x are great for a .223 recce, but with the .308 more mag will be appreciated at longer ranges.

Thanks ..Dablues...good stuff

http://www.trijicon.com/user/parts/products1.cfm?PartID=559&back_row=2&categoryID=3
You might thing about one of the 3X30 Compact Acogs. I have not seen one, but they look interesting.

The best scope for quick acquisition and longrange accuracy is going to be the IOR 2-12.  Damn though, all the AR-10 precision uppers are just plain heavy.  Adding another 20oz plus steel rings is tough; but Worth It!

Another 1.5 lbs on a 12 lb rifle adds up.  I am going to have my barrel fluted and already moved back from the Magpul PRS to a standard A2 stock.  A lighter float tube, too, will help.

I have pirchased several scopes for my optical systems use.  I am a great believer that the accuracy you achieve will come from rock solid scope mounts and quality optics.

A .308 semi-auto is a pretty specialized weapon.  It can do it all.  Not much need for BUIS gear, not much need for a railed-up handguard.  Not much need for more than 18-20" of barrel.  Unless you are shooting HighPower match games, 1000 yd shooting and the max velocities you need are solved by getting closer.

The best optic I have right now is a 1.5-6x Zeiss dialyt.  It is sharp up close (12ft) and with 30mm tube and 42mm objective gathers light superbly.  It is lightweight, and 6x is plenty usable at good distance.  Too bad this scope doesn't offer parallax adj, and has such an awkward size battery housing, it is SUPERB.

Also have a Hensoldt 4x zf.  Wow, what a great lightweight battle optic.  Rugged, has a reticle illuminator available and has a BDC turret from 1-600 yds.  A good value for under $400 and super lightweight.  Couple with an ARMS or LaRue mount and you are set!  One drawback is the lack of diopter adjustment, but for a fast response scope, it works.

Short tube Leupolds also work fine on my AR-10.  There is a great range of versatile scopes there.  If you are also running bolt guns, think about interchagability.  The A-4 allows this if you use 1913 rails on your bolt rifles too.

In closing, consider that you must really have the best optics and especially mounts,  to enable best accuracy.  If your rifle is a 1.5-2" grouping rifle at 100 yds, the best gear can't deliver any better than that barrel will allow.