AR Sponsor
Posted: 10/31/2014 12:49:05 AM EDT
|
This is for my first AR15.
Standard 16" barrel. 5.56. Shooting range: 50-200 yards.I'll be using this for target shooting at the range. I'm not preparing for battle here. I'd like to be able to shoot with some precision, not just merely hit the target somewhere. I haven't 100% decided on this type of scope, though. I might want something like a 1-6x. But I'll put that comparison in another thread. I think $1,000 or so is the upper end of my budget. I know about FFP vs SFP and MIL vs. MOA and matching reticle subtensions with the knobs. But here are some I'm considering. Any thoughts on them? Also I'd go for a 1-8 as a compromise between a 6x and a 10/12. But they're all way out of my price range. Viper PST 2.5-10x32mm FFP (32-yard parallax): $800 http://swfa.com/Vortex-25-10x32-Viper-PST-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P60985.aspx There's also the cheaper SFP version with 100-yard parallax: http://swfa.com/Vortex-25-10x44-Viper-PST-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P44568.aspx Valdada IOR 2.5-10x42: $1,095 http://swfa.com/IOR-25-10x42-Tactical-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P1821.aspx Leupold VX6 2-12x42: $1,100 http://swfa.com/Leupold-2-12x42-VX-6-30mm-Riflescope-P49442.aspx This one is $50 more, but I'm not really sure what the difference is. The length is different: http://swfa.com/Leupold-2-12x42-VX-6-30mm-Riflescope-P71863.aspx |
|
Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40mm with Firedot TMR illuminated milrad reticle and low profile true and accurate milrad turrets. Put it in a LaRue LT -104 QD return to zero mount. I swap it out with a QD mounted red dot for home defense, but can easily hit within 3-4" of point of aim at close range by closing my front lens cap (yes, you read that correctly) and shooting both eyes open. The red dot is superimposed on the target. No magnification cinfusion. Against the black background you do not see the black, only the dot and the target. This is called occluded eye shooting or Bindon Aiming Concept.
The Firedot is motion activated, so it is instantly ready, yet shuts down if motionless for five minutes. Pick up the rifle again, and it comes back on at its last setting. Manual "off" for transport.. Very high quality glass. 30mm main tube. The dot is only .3 mils, or about 1 MOA. Small enough for precise shot placement, but large enough to be conspicuous. Lots of scope for $600. About $200 for the return to zero QD mount. It is probably the lightest midpowered tactical scope on the market. Leupold lifetime warranty and customer service. As soon as Leupold releases its new one ounce Delta Point 2 micro reflex, I will probably mount it on a LaRue LT-137, which replaces the right side front ring half on the scope mount to position the 1x Delta Point right between the scope turrets. It is about $400. That is a complete package for true versatility from end of barrel out to the maximum effective range of the 5.56 cartridge. For your purposes, the Firedot provides a precise aiming pount in all light settings or can be turned off. The milrad turrets and reticle let you record settings for bullet drop for different ammo a distances and make exact hits. I am easily shooting MOA groups at all reasonable ranges. The turret tracking is accurate, precise, and repeatable. At some point you will want to shoot beyond 200 yards or use the rifle for defensive purposes. This gives you what you want now and the versatility to expand the mission. |
|
Quoted:
Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40mm with Firedot TMR illuminated milrad reticle and low profile true and accurate milrad turrets. The Firedot is motion activated, so it is instantly ready, yet shuts down if motionless for five minutes. Pick up the rifle again, and it comes back on at its last setting. Manual "off" for transport.. Very high quality glass. 30mm main tube. The dot is only .3 mils, or about 1 MOA. Small enough for precise shot placement, but large enough to be conspicuous. Lots of scope for $600. About $200 for the return to zero QD mount. It is probably the lightest midpowered tactical scope on the market. Leupold lifetime warranty and customer service. For your purposes, the Firedot provides a precise aiming pount in all light settings or can be turned off. The milrad turrets and reticle let you record settings for bullet drop for different ammo a distances and make exact hits. I am easily shooting MOA groups at all reasonable ranges. The turret tracking is accurate, precise, and repeatable. At some point you will want to shoot beyond 200 yards or use the rifle for defensive purposes. This gives you what you want now and the versatility to expand the mission. I won't be shooting past 200 yards. There are no ranges available to me that are longer than that. In fact, I will shoot 200 yards very rarely because that range is quite far from me. The majority of my shooting will be at 100 yards. I also will not be using this rifle ever for home defense. It is 100% purely shooting range. No competition stuff either. I am not considering a 3-9 at this time. But maybe I should... |
| Another vote for Leupold Patrol VXR. I have a 3x9 and 1.25x4 and I like them both very much. Great glass, MIl-Mil reticle/knob set up works great and I love the small size but bright spot of the firedot. I find it more precise than my Illuminated crosshairs in my ACOG TA33. I wish I could lock the turrets but that is minor. I don't have any experience with the scopes you've mentioned but the VX6 has gotten great reviews. I'm sure all of them would make you happy. |
|
Quoted:
I won't be shooting past 200 yards. There are no ranges available to me that are longer than that. In fact, I will shoot 200 yards very rarely because that range is quite far from me. The majority of my shooting will be at 100 yards. I also will not be using this rifle ever for home defense. It is 100% purely shooting range. No competition stuff either. I am not considering a 3-9 at this time. But maybe I should... Quoted:
Quoted:
Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40mm with Firedot TMR illuminated milrad reticle and low profile true and accurate milrad turrets. The Firedot is motion activated, so it is instantly ready, yet shuts down if motionless for five minutes. Pick up the rifle again, and it comes back on at its last setting. Manual "off" for transport.. Very high quality glass. 30mm main tube. The dot is only .3 mils, or about 1 MOA. Small enough for precise shot placement, but large enough to be conspicuous. Lots of scope for $600. About $200 for the return to zero QD mount. It is probably the lightest midpowered tactical scope on the market. Leupold lifetime warranty and customer service. For your purposes, the Firedot provides a precise aiming pount in all light settings or can be turned off. The milrad turrets and reticle let you record settings for bullet drop for different ammo a distances and make exact hits. I am easily shooting MOA groups at all reasonable ranges. The turret tracking is accurate, precise, and repeatable. At some point you will want to shoot beyond 200 yards or use the rifle for defensive purposes. This gives you what you want now and the versatility to expand the mission. I won't be shooting past 200 yards. There are no ranges available to me that are longer than that. In fact, I will shoot 200 yards very rarely because that range is quite far from me. The majority of my shooting will be at 100 yards. I also will not be using this rifle ever for home defense. It is 100% purely shooting range. No competition stuff either. I am not considering a 3-9 at this time. But maybe I should... If you are absolutely sure that you will not be shooting beyond 200 yards and never have to rely upon the rifle for home defense, why do you even want a variable? Just get a nice fixed power 10x and be done with it for paper punching at the range. It would still focus at 50 yards, too. No tactical shooting or moving targets, just fixed targets at fixed range -- yes, a fixed power 10x and put the money into the glass to shoot tiny groups. You would want a fine cross hair reticle and 1/8" click target turrets for that job. But, I remain concerned that you will tire of just shooting paper at 100 yards or so and will end up with a scope that is not very versatile. Hence the recommendation of several of us to think about the VX-R Patrol. Of the ones you listed, I'd go with the VX-6, 2-12x. |
|
Quoted:If you are absolutely sure that you will not be shooting beyond 200 yards and never have to rely upon the rifle for home defense, why do you even want a variable?
But, I remain concerned that you will tire of just shooting paper at 100 yards or so and will end up with a scope that is not very versatile. Hence the recommendation of several of us to think about the VX-R Patrol. I hear you. I am definitely bored with shooting paper using my pistols and would love to do some Action Pistol stuff. But I just don't have time to take all sorts of classes and registrations and buying all the required gear to do that. I shoot maybe twice a month. I'd love to do more. But the options are limited where I live. I don't want a fixed sight though because it'd be nice to have the option of versatility even if I don't always use it, like you say. In any event, I was checking out my rifle today at the shop—there's a 10-day wait here in CA, but you can go to the store and fondle your gun if you want lol. While there I looked at the scopes they had, which was limited. But I checked out a Trijicon ACOG 4x (fixed), and a number of other scopes including two 1-4xs and a 3-9. Contrary to my previous experience, the 1-4 and the fixed 4 were pretty nice and gave me a decent sight picture at some stuff out the window of the store. I do like the smaller size compared to something that goes out to 10 or 12x as well. But maybe i meet in the middle and go with a good 1-6? My problem is that there are too many choices. And I have a hard time making a decision without weighing every possible option first. |
|
Well said, OP. Take some time. Examine some glass. If you can get your hands on the Leupold VX6 or the VX-R series, I think you will see what we are talking about regarding the features and optical quality.
The 1.25-4x20 Patrol is just about perfect for shots inside of 300 yards. If I did not need the extra magnification to shoot out to beyond 400 yards, I'd have that one rather than the 3-9 version. I actually like the reticle better. You will probably get better pricing on Leupold optics, if you go that route, by Internet sales from SWFA, Optics Planet or other specialty optics companies, get free shipping and no tax. Not wedded to Leupold by any means. I have lots of optics from many different companies. My favorite hunting scope is a Kahles Helia CL, but that is in a completely different price range than your budget. I think it is better than Swarvoski or Zeiss. I just find that in the price range up to $1,000 it is really hard to beat Leupold, and that their scopes tend to be quite a bit lighter than just about anyone else in the same product category. Vortex has some good products once you get up out of their two lower lines, but I just prefer Leupold over it, model for model. Keep up the quest. You'll have fun. |
| I do not have any experience with the 3x9 leupold patrol scope , but I do have a leupold 2.5x8 mk4 and think scopes in this range of magnification are great all around optics . its nice to have the option to dial in more magnification if needed . I would definatly look at an optic with the top end in the 8x-10x range . I have read alot of positive things about the patrol scope . I like my leupolds . |
|
Quoted:
SWFA FFP MIL/MIL 1-6X24 HD. Great glass, reticle, and it's built like a tank. Not sure adding weight (a very hefty 22.4 ounces for a 1-6) adds to strength. And that's weight you have to carry around. Construction and choice of materials are more important. Maybe they are still using leaded glass, too. I'm sure it is great otherwise, but man, thats heavy. Almost twice as heavy as the Leupold that has magnification to 12x. |
AR Sponsor