AR Sponsor
Posted: 1/6/2014 8:04:22 PM EDT
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I am the process of finally deciding which AR I am getting to hunt the small critters in my area. Leaning toward a Stag Model 6 at the moment. The scope is the next item. I started looking at Bushnell's AR scopes and then Leupold. Yes I know major difference it the two. Leupold is on most of my bolt action rifles. I realized Nikon would be good too. My question is do I want to focus on the AR type scopes or can I get any type of hunting? Some of the features of the AR scopes seem good for distance shooting. Also, 3-12 or 4-12 should be adequate, correct? Maybe higher if I ever decide to go find some prairie dogs?
Thank you for the guidance. |
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For varmint hunting, I would say a 3-12 is minimum. Or a fixed 10x minimum. Depends on what exactly you're shooting at and how far your rifle is capable of hitting it.
The BDC reticle a in the AR scopes are only calibrated for one load. But you can figure out you're own ranges for the holdover references. |
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Will you be using the rifle mosly for small "critters" or will it be a more general purpose weapon sometimes used for varmint shooting? That will make a big difference in the optimal optic for it.
I'm going to assume you may have bought the AR for a more general use, since you already have bolt guns. If wrong, I apologize. I am a hunter by nature and experience, and my AR is intended to be a precision type rifle, but for more general use. So, I chose a mid-range tactical scope in keeping with the general mission and AR design. After doing a lot of research, I concluded that 3-9x40mm hunting scopes had served me well for all but pure long range paper punching or varmints, so a similar scope would make sense on an AR for my use. Familarity was a factor. Size and weight were also factors. I was not going to put my favorite long range scope or its equivalet on an AR. That would be my 1/8" turret click big, heavy but delightfully bright Pentax Lightseeker 30 6-24x50mm (30mm tube) actually a rebranded Burris Black Diamond. For a general purpose AR, I wanted an AR equivalent general purpose scope, but with tactical mil/mil turret and reticle and AR specific dimensions and other features. I am very happy with my choice: Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40mm (30mm main tube), with FireDot illuminated dot, TMR reticle. It is light, has low profile turrets, has a very good range of dot intensity settings, from barely visible in near darkness to very bright in full sunlight with no blooming of the dot. The TMR reticle and mil rad turrets work very well together and are accurate with the scope set up on 9x. You already have Leupold scopes, so you know the build quality, the quality of the glass and the excellent warranty. The VX-R scopes use VX3 glass, which is very good. I also like the motion detection circuit. The dot turns off by itself if the rifle is not moved for five minutes and instantly returns to its last setting the moment you touch the rifle. Also, the dot is very fine -- .3 mil (1.2 MOA), so it is large enough to be useful without being so large that it covers up too much target at longer ranges. This is, for me, an excellent all-around scope to put on an AR without busting the bank. They run about $600 shipped from most vendors. You'll need a cantilever AR specific mount, one that is easily removed to access your back up sights, but with sure return to zero capability. For me that is the LaRue SPR. For you that will be the LT-104 model. I'm sure you'll get other recommendations that are worthy too, but I am very happy with my choice and have no reservations in recommending it to others coming into the AR world from a scoped bolt action rifle background. |
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