So Im completely new to scopes.  Ive never owned one because its just something Ive never gotten around to playing with.  Ive decided to finally spend some money on a couple now that I dont feel like I have to put all my money into guns for a while, so Im buying a scope for my SCAR 17 soon.  I was planning on putting an ACOG on it, but I ended up switching to the Accupower 1-8.

Id also like to buy something for my AR, and I was thinking a simple red dot at first, but I think Id like a scope on that as well.  So I just had a couple questions I was hoping could get answered quickly.


The whole "SCAR 17s eat optics" thing kind of worried me a bit, but the more I look into it the more it seems like its a bit of an exaggeration, or due to people using "improper" scope mounts.  Would it be safe to put the concern out of my mind, considering I use a good mount?

The Accupower 1-8 comes in 2 types of reticles: MOA and MIL.  Is one be better for the .308 than the other?

I understand the difference between first and second focal plane, but I think I read, or saw something somewhere, that made me think if your scopes max magnification is 6, you should be fine with second focal plane, because the BDC should still be accurate at that magnification.  Is that true, or am I remembering something incorrectly?

You'll need a good mount and good optics IMO. The recoil impulse as it affects the top rail is harsher on the 17 than most other common .308 rifles.

MOA vs MIL is personal preference. 1/4 MOA clicks provide a little finer adjustment than 1/10 MIL.
http://www.scout.com/military/snipers-hide/story/1528352-mils-vs-moa-which-one-is-right-for-you

Second focal plane BDCs and range-finding reticles are only functional at one magnification, usually maximum magnification.

How would one go about determining what qualifies as a good enough optic for a SCAR?  Ive always felt like you get what you pay for, but I know that price doesnt necessarily always equate to quality.  I know I dont have a lot of actual experience as far as optics go, but just basing it on general knowledge, I would assume Trijicon makes quality stuff.  Thats why Im kind of stuck on getting something from them.  Would you say an Accupower in a good mount would stand up to a SCAR 17?


So, if you were to zero a SFP scope at 100 meters at full magnification, does the accuracy change at lower magnification?

I know in the end the only way Im probably going to be able to grasp any of this is by putting a scope on a rifle and shooting it.  I just want to feel like I at least partially have my head wrapped around what Im doing before I drop a bunch of money on something.

That's a tough question to answer. If something is questionable, I'd look to see if it has held up for others. I would assume anything by Trijicon would be fine.

No, because the center is still the center.

Shooting is different than ranging. Read more about the ranging methods used with mil-dot and MOA reticles, and then decide which sounds more favorable to you.

I prefer FFP to SFP.

Its a brand new scope, I think it was announced and released at Shot Show this year, so I havent been able to find very much involving peoples experience yet... especially on the SCAR specifically.  It seemed like a nice beefy scope though, that and its made by Trijicon, so I thought Id just take the chance.  I figure if it did get the shit kicked out of it, theyll fix it and Ill just put it on something else.

It seems like FFP would be the way to go, especially for someone like me, but I was planning on just throwing a Primary Arms 1-6 on my AR until I felt like spending money on something higher end.  I cant imagine I would be trying to shoot anything super far off with my AR anyway.  

I have been reading up on this stuff here and there.  It tends to immediately go right over my head though.  Im the type that needs to actually do something to learn it.
It makes sense though (I think).  I wouldnt need to use the BDC until Im shooting passed 100 meters, which would require the magnification to be cranked up to full power (with a SFP scope), which is when the BDC would be functional... as opposed to a FFP scope, which no matter what magnification I was shooting at, the BDC would be functional because it zooms in along with the sight picture.