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Posted: 4/23/2010 8:46:26 PM EDT
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I have on order a rock river arms varmint a4 in .223. I am looking to use it for varmint hunting, predator hunting, and punching paper. I am not necessarily an accomplished long range shooter, but I am very interested in it. I need some scope help. Initially I felt like I should keep the low end of the magnification at 4 for a close moving target. But I am considering a scope and a reflex dot mounted on the ff tube.
I have basically an $1100.00 budget and i would like that to include a mount. I can keep saving if I have to but would like to move on to other projects. 1st I was thinking Bushnell elite 6500 4.5-30x50 tactical mil-dot because of the magnification range. But I have read several accounts that they are not very clear in the upper end of the magnification and have parallax issues around 300 yards 2nd I have strongly considered the Zeiss conquest 4.5-14x50 originally mil-dot with target turrets. However I really like the zr800 reticle but I can not find it with turrets all other reticle I can find with turrets. I feel I want turrets. the zr1000 does not match 223 very well so I guess it is mil-dot? 3rd Bushnell elite 3200 5-15x40 tactical mil-dot and putting the extra cash toward a range finder budget 4th stretch the budget and get my hands on a used 3.5-15-56 nightforce nxs with so many choices out the any help is appreciated Thanks Justin |
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The Elite 3200s are nice scopes. I like more than a couple of models in the line, but for your budget you can get better glass. I've never owned any of the Elite 6500s, so I can't comment, but I have owned a couple of Zeiss Conquests in addition to the Elite 3200s. Those are VERY nice scopes and are tough to beat.
You do have a considerable budget to put toward your scope and it brings a slogan to mind that is often used here. That is, "buy once, cry once." Get the best that you can and you'll likely never regret it. Get something less and you might wind up having to get something better later on. I recently got tired of all of the mucking around that I've done looking for a good, solid optic that is a good bang for the buck I've tried Nikon, Leupold, Sightron, Zeiss Conquest, Trijicon, Weaver, Bushnell Elite, etc. I've bought, tried and sold over half a dozen scopes in just the last two months. I'm not an operator of any sort. Just a range jockey, but I am anal when it comes to my equipment and I notice little details. When something bugs me, I obsess over it, until I'm finally compelled to do something about it. That's what happened with all of the other scopes that I tried. Many of them were excellent scopes, but had something about them that I couldn't live with. As things stand now, I have found two scopes that I believe I'm going to be satisfied with. The first is the ACOG TA44S-10, compact scope. As near as I can tell, it's as close to perfect as I've found for a close up scope. The other is the Nightforce 2.5-10X32. Before I got it and since I got it a couple of days ago, I've compared it to quite a few different scopes and it beats them all in terms of optical quality. It actually made me rethink the opinion that I had of some of the scopes that I compared it to. I believe that you'd have to spend a whole lot more money to get something that is appreciably better than the Nightforce. Before I bought my Nightforce, I scanned the forums, this one included, and talked to as many people as I could before I threw down $1300 for a scope. I spoke with the owners of my local shops, etc. Those that I consider to be "in the know" all recommended the Nightforce over all else, unless I was willing to get into the $2K+ range. I have to admit that I'm still kind of hyped up about my new scope, but it is a really nice scope. A real perk is that the reticle illumination actually works. It's bright enough for day use and actually has a low setting that is low enough to use at night. My biggest gripe about getting the scope was the cost and many told me that once I got the scope, I'd be glad that I did. They were right. |
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Wow I have never changed my mind so many times on a piece of equipment.
I have decided I really want a nightforce so I am gonna have to work on the budget. Now I am flipping back and forth between the 5.5-22x56 and the 3.5-15x56, I tend to always want more magnification. whether I need it or not I am unsure. If I go with the 5.5 I will more strongly feel the need for a reflex site as well. I am thinking of going with a larue tactical mount. I can get an adapter to put a burris fast fire on one of the rings for like 70 bucks plus 200 for the fastfire putting the entire budget if i buy new over 2k in (2100 or so) I am along way from that but I can get there. (sorry this is getting long again). With the 3.5-15 I would probably not need the fastfire, heck I may not need it with the 5.5 but would like it. I want to shoot crows with this gun from as far away as I can get my ability up to. probably not over 300-400 yards due to finding large enough openings to hunt. I want to hunt other varmints and vermin as well including coyote. But I do have another ar already that is lighter and has a 4-12 on it. Please feel free to chime in Thanks Justin |
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I had been looking for a scope with about same magnifacation also. I think Nikon is a real nice scope and think they get over looked alot around here. That said I own a buskmasters 6x18-40mm with side focus/ BDC on my .204. Absolutly love it. Nice glass, clear edge to edge and bright. I decided to get another for my second AR but with the mil-dot. Its on sale at midway now ($60 off). I plan on doing the same as you with this AR so figured I would give you the link here
Its not a Night Force but it won't break my bank as I wish to buy other things. Nikon is also coming out with a new scope for the AR this summer, the M223. Good luck and let us know how you decide as I'm curious how you went. |
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