AR Sponsor
Posted: 4/4/2010 9:12:46 AM EDT
|
Can you guys show examples of:
1.25-4x24 magnification 3-9x40 magnification Preferably for an accupoint scope. |
| I doubt that you'll find the pics that you're looking for because it's hard to get an appreciation for the amount of magnification, unless you can find someone that has both scopes and can snap a pic of the same object at the same distance. Besides, those two scope are totally different animals. What is the intended use? If it's just for general purpose plinking out to a few hundred yards, the low mag scope will do nicely. |
|
Why not I think they are cool because I find them at 500 dollars (which is now that the spring is here and I can mow lawns obtainable)
Of course. That is a great reason to spend $500 on anything. I'm sure your a great guy and the fact that you will mow lawns to buy the stuff you want speaks for itself. I would like to suggest that you take a good look at some of the threads posted at the top of the optics forum on scopes, uses, reticles etc before you plunk down serious cash for Coolness. You might find a better choice in a Leupold or Weaver for less $$$ and then you can buy other goodies to go with your new scope. It's all about best "BANG" for the buck 
|
|
There is a lot to be said for bang for the buck. If you have to mow lawns to make the money for a scope, you may be better off shopping around for something less flashy that just gets the job done. The scopes you mentioned are nice, but I doubt that you really need them. I have optics ranging in cost from about $100 up to over $1K. Fortunately, I just haven't been bitten by a bug that's made me spend much over $1K for an optic. I'm on a Trijicon kick right now and have bought two ACOGs in the last week and I really like them, but for regular guy type shooting at the range at targets in the day light at up to medium ranges (say 300 yards or so) neither of the ACOGs will do anything that my $150 Weaver V3 won't do.
I'd suggest that you settle on what you want to do with the scope. Just remember that as magnification goes up, field of view goes down. Having a massive amount of magnification isn't a good thing most of the time. I see lots of guys at the range show up with 10X scopes to shoot at 100 yards and they have a hard time finding their targets among all of the targets that are setup. If you will only have one scope for a while and want a good all around scope, I'd go with a low magnification scope. You should check out the Weaver V3. It's a really good scope. For a little more than $200, you could look at the Nikon African. Whatever you do, give consideration to the less tacticool stuff. Weaver V series, Bushnell 3200 Elite series, even the new Redfield looks promising. Of course, if your heart is set on a Trijicon, they are very nice, but may be bigger than you are envisioning, especially the 30mm tube models. If you are considering the 1" tube models, be sure to take a look at them before you buy. I was turned off on the low mag 1" tube because the eye relief changed so much with changes in magnification. The trijicons also have other issues. Be sure to check out all of the colors to be sure that you get the one that's right for you. For example, when shooting from an area that is darker than the area where the target is located the illumination might not be bright enough at times. At times you won't be able to see the reticle at all. For me, the green was the way to go. For most it's red. For some it's amber. Do some research and if you can, get to a local dealer and check them out for yourself. |
About the mowing. I'm 14 so until I'm old enough to get a job there isn't much else except odd jobs I do in the summer. I tried a friends accupoint and loved it, my main goal is to do target practice out a couple hundred meters and when I tried it with the accupoint he had I just liked the way it worked.
|
|
About the mowing. I'm 14 so until I'm old enough to get a job there isn't much else except odd jobs I do in the summer.
Just to keep the air clear, I mean that "mowing" comment as a compliment that you aren't looking for ma nd pa to support your hobbies. Wish more young people had your initiative. 
You may find that buying what is the most attractive too you right now is not the best choice for what you want to do with it. Don't ask me how I learned this. In the end you gotta do what you gotta do. Keep reading and happy shooting! |
|
I got the point about mowing too and my hat's off to you. I started working when I was ten. Anyway, you kind of have to get a grasp of what you want to be able to do. For most types of shooting, a low magnification scope is the ticket. Say something like a 1-4X. It's going to afford you a good field of view that will allow faster target acquisition and faster shooting when moving from one target to another. It cracks me up at the 100 yard range when some guys show up with their 10X or higher scopes and wind up shooting at someone else's target because the field of view is so narrow that they can't figure out what they're supposed to be shooting at. If you are shooting at 12" gongs and such, or even larger targets, you'd be surprised at how well a low mag scope can serve you.
Of course, I do have larger scopes. I think that the highest magnification scope I have is a 16X on the top end. It's pretty cool to be able to shoot at really small stuff that isn't more than 200 yards away, but as a practical matter, most rifles aren't capable of the accuracy to make hits all of the time when shooting at super small targets. You'd likely be better served with a low mag scope for all around use. I know the Trijicons are really cool. That fiber optic thing that they have is hard to beat, but it really isn't necessary. There are lots of good scopes out there and for the price of the Trijicon you could get a good low mag scope and a good higher mag scope for the same price. I just bought an ACOG TA33 which is a 3X scope. I also have a Sightron Big Sky 1.25-5X20 scope. The ACOG set me back just over $900 with tax and all. The Sightron was around $300. I compared the two tonight, in dark of a suburban neighborhood (meaning porch lights and street lights). I had the Sightron set on 3X to even the playing field. The reticle of the ACOG was, of course, really easy to see, but the Sightron brought in a bit more light than the ACOG and the image through the Sightron seemed a bit more clear to me (probably because you can't focus an ACOG). I was able to read license plates with the Sightron that I couldn't make out with the ACOG. Don't get me wrong, the ACOG is really nice, but there's nothing wrong with the Sightron and i am now experiencing an inner turmoil because logic is telling me to sell the ACOG on the EE. If the Trijicon is what you have your heart set on, go for it. I won't be a wrong choice. Just be sure that you get the model that will serve you the most. If you look at the models that the military uses are scopes being used by dangerous game hunters, you will see that they rarely go over 4X. I got the Sightron because it offers a tad bit more at 5X and has really good glass. I can hit golf ball at 100 yards easy with this scope. |
| Thank you for all the input. I see what you mean and am reconsidering what to get. I am doing a carbine class with my dad on the basics of using the ar15 and borrowed an aimpoint comp3 from a friend for it. I liked it but when we were shooting at the hill it was kind of hard to see certain targets at a distance and that's what turned me on to higher magnifications. I guess I got a little carried away. |
|
Quoted:
Thank you for all the input. I see what you mean and am reconsidering what to get. I am doing a carbine class with my dad on the basics of using the ar15 and borrowed an aimpoint comp3 from a friend for it. I liked it but when we were shooting at the hill it was kind of hard to see certain targets at a distance and that's what turned me on to higher magnifications. I guess I got a little carried away. If I may ask, are you doing the carbine class in TN? If so, is it an open class? I'm in TN and haven't seen mention of open classes. |
|
I am doing a carbine class
The key word here is "Carbine" It's intended purpose is for fast acquisition of one, or multiple targets with a minimum of fuss. Not to say that you can't draw down on a coyote at 300 yds with it. just not it's forte. Don't defeat the purpose of the weapon by overscoping it. If you want it to be a multi purpose rifle, a 1-4x would do the trick. You have to "train up" to scope power. A high power scope will magnify all of your technical shooting faults enough that you may not know where you actual problem lies. Around 9x you will even see your scope jump with every heartbeat. You can learn to shoot between the beats but not until you have mastered all of the basics of grip, finger placement, trigger squeeze, breath control, cheek weld,sight picture and can repeat it under stress (try jumping up and down for 30 seconds and then shooting). I have been shooting benchrest 22lr for over a year and am still only up to proper control at 16x. Most real competitors shoot at 24x or 36x. I can't (yet). I would not recommend even a 3-9x as a starter scope. As a second (move up) optic...Yes. You've got time. learn the basics well and match the weapon platform to the desired task. Oh yeah, and stay on arfcom...! 
|
AR Sponsor