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Posted: 7/28/2016 8:33:33 PM EDT
| I dont know what type of scope i want on my 308 AR. I have another 308 AR with a red dot and magnifier set up. This one i would like to set it up for 300 to 400 yards. I have a 18" barrel on it. What ideas for scoped do you have under $500? It would be nice if it had a ballistic reticle set for 308's. |
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I'd say any good hunting scope will work for you, 2-10x, 3-9x, 4-12x. Lots of factors to consider though, mainly, live targets or paper targets?
Nikons are great glass for the money and you can use their app to help dial in factory loads with their ballistic drop rings in the reticle. A Leupold VX-3 is a pretty safe bet for quality glass but IF I remember correctly, you'll have less choice for factory ballistic reticles unless you send it to their custom shop. SWFA makes a good fixed 10x scope for $300-400, if you're willing to use/learn a mil-dot reticle system you can use hold overs similar to a pre-set ballistic reticle, but in my opinion a variable optic is probably better and more versatile for most people. I'm sure someone will mention Vortex too, I have no experience with them, they've always felt kind of cheap in the hand to me so I've never tried them (not a good reason, I'll admit freely, and one day I'll buy one and see for myself), but tons of people swear by them. The only issue to consider with a ballistic reticle is that it'll typically be calibrated to one specific load when you zero it. Rounds from different manufacturers or different reloads you experiment with will have a POI shift, it may be slight, it may be significant, but remember the farther out you shoot the more potential to be significant it will be. |
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Quoted:
I dont know what type of scope i want on my 308 AR. I have another 308 AR with a red dot and magnifier set up. This one i would like to set it up for 300 to 400 yards. I have a 18" barrel on it. What ideas for scoped do you have under $500? It would be nice if it had a ballistic reticle set for 308's. Something like this would work very well: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1548113834/burris-mtac-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-15-6x-42mm-illuminated-reticle-matte The BDC in Burris' CQ Plex reticle works very well for 308 168GR pills out of a 16" barrel zeroed at 200 yds. I don't think 18" barrel would change it much. I've set up my heavy metal div rifle with it for the last 3 seasons and it is holding up well. I'm sure you can find it cheaper than $400. |
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I have a primary arms 4x14 hud 308 on my 18 inch 308 with a SASS barrel and love it! I have two of the 4-14 FFP scopes. Great options, I like the dmr reticle the best. Pretty solid for under 300. I've never shot any real high end scopes to compare but I've got no complaints |
| I just picked up one of these for my eventually to be completed 308 AR....Vortex Viper PST 2-10x44 |
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I have this on my 308 AR. Just do a search for best price.
Nikon M308 |
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I ended up getting a Burris MTAC, 1-4x24, works with or without a battery in daylight, made in Philippines with JP glass, for a song compared to other things I was considering. After the first test run of about 200 rounds, I'm very thankful for having made the decision. I decided upon it after we stumbled into a Gander Mountain way out in the country on a weekday, and no one was in the store, and we spent a good deal of time at the optics counter looking through all kinds of scopes at all kinds of prices. (didn't buy there - their prices were silly) Instead of the constant fighting over who chose best or who wins by spending the most, IMO we should be thankful there are so many good choices out there today, at so many different price points. |
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I second the vortex. I got one at Cabella's a while back. It was the previous year's model. Marked down to a little under $400 when originally it sold for like $750 or $800. First focal plane. Vortex HS Lr 2.5-10 x 32.
I checked out cabela's and it looks like they've got a couple on sale...probably older models but not the one I got (it was like 2014 model and was replaced by the PST I think). If you're only going out to 400 yards you probably don't need any more magnification than 10x. Someone somewhere had a rule of thumb something like 1x magnification for each 100 yards you plan to shoot. There's a couple in your price range, maybe one or two with the reticle you want. The issue you might find with a reticle 'set for 308's' is that they are set for a particular type of ammo. Nikon scopes do this; I don't like the reticle and you have to change the turrets when you change ammo. The turrets are 'tuned' the the bullet you could say. In my opinion, just get one with the tick marks you like (MOA for instance), then make a range book with each type of ammo you plan to use and then how many ticks up/down (maybe even left/right) from zero you need to hit center at 100 yards (or where ever you set zero at). Of course the initial 'zero' will be set to some bullet...then you go on from there. It was really daunting trying to find the 'right' scope and there's 1000's of opinions. Go with a good brand. Figure out how much distance you want to get. Find the reticle you like. Read up on the clarity of the optics. Then pick one you can afford. You probably can't go wrong with the Vortex or Leupold in your price range. Then maybe Primary Arms, Nikon, and upper model Bushnel's/Burris. Just my 2¢. |
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I love my U.S. Optics 10x fixed power
It offers a reasonable field of view at medium range, gives a nice amount of light transmission (for a higher power), and it is not so large that it makes the weapon system cumbersome. In a fixed power, the 10x gives the operator a strong and reliable aiming device. Lastly, at long range, the magnification is not high enough that it makes the effects of mirage severe. A 20x scope on a hot day could literally make a target disappear in the boiling mirage -- or bounce so badly that it is impossible to hit. The lower the power, the less this effect. A 10x scope is a good compromise. If U.S. Optics is too rich for you, shop for riflescopes at SWFA.com. They have all the top manufacturers, plus a great line of their own. Whether you choose a fixed or variable scope, look at what SWFA has to offer in their own brand. |
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I just picked up one of these for my eventually to be completed 308 AR....Vortex Viper PST 2-10x44 $450.00? You can't get moar scope for the money than this!!! 
Learn to dial or hold over wilh mils. You'll be able to take that sub- $500 scope to 1K for tickles & giggles. From 0 - 800yds, the receiving end will be looking for cover, not concealment. Hey, why haven't you posted your Sales Order #, yet? 
And get a LT-104 mount and pay attention to the lock down adjustment. Ignore the haters, they don't rate any attention. |
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$450.00? You can't get moar scope for the money than this!!! http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/178/178916.jpg http://www.webyshops.com/images/Vortex/VORTEX-Viper-PST-2_5-10x44-Riflescope-EBR-1-MRAD-Reticle-PST-210S1-M-Pic4.jpg Learn to dial or hold over wilh mils. You'll be able to take that sub- $500 scope to 1K for tickles & giggles. From 0 - 800yds, the receiving end will be looking for cover, not concealment. Hey, why haven't you posted your Sales Order #, yet?
And get a LT-104 mount and pay attention to the lock down adjustment. Ignore the haters, they don't rate any attention. Quoted:
Quoted:
I just picked up one of these for my eventually to be completed 308 AR....Vortex Viper PST 2-10x44 $450.00? You can't get moar scope for the money than this!!! http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/178/178916.jpg http://www.webyshops.com/images/Vortex/VORTEX-Viper-PST-2_5-10x44-Riflescope-EBR-1-MRAD-Reticle-PST-210S1-M-Pic4.jpg Learn to dial or hold over wilh mils. You'll be able to take that sub- $500 scope to 1K for tickles & giggles. From 0 - 800yds, the receiving end will be looking for cover, not concealment. Hey, why haven't you posted your Sales Order #, yet?
And get a LT-104 mount and pay attention to the lock down adjustment. Ignore the haters, they don't rate any attention. Actually my plan is to get an LT-104 mount. I have order from Larue before, but never an actual Larue product. I got the scope last week with a few other things I ordered. I own several other Vortex products but this was my first PST. So far I am very happy. |
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I have a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50 FFP MRAD on my M&P10.
Got it on sale here a number of years ago It's the best optic I've personally ever used so I cannot say if there is a better value to look at. I'm merely saying I am very happy with my optic relative to the Bushnell, Millett, and Nikon offerings I have or have used. I have it in the Vortex non-QD cantilever mount. Solid system. Works good. Last long time. |
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