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Posted: 12/8/2015 9:43:13 AM EDT
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I am looking for a new all purpose optic for a new build. Budget is not a concern. So far I am thinking S&B 1.5-8 short dot or Leupold MK 8 1.1-8 with horus reticle.
My requirements, FFP, Mil/Mil, prefer daylight bright illumination, and a large magnification range, and durable, weight is not an issue with this one. The IOR Valdada is very interesting as well as the March. I have considered using a RMR with the optic for close range work but I am more interested in an all in one. This will be used for everything, from home defense to hunting to banging steel and the farthest range I can. I am sure I am missing some good choices, so what are they? What would be your all purpose optic? |
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The optic/gun will be all purpose and not designed for a a specific application. A jack of all trades if you will. It will be used at longer ranges often and FFP is a personal preference for me.
I have 1-4's and 1-6's and an ACOG, I want a minimum of 8 power on top and less than 2.5 on the bottom end. |
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Quoted:
The optic/gun will be all purpose and not designed for a a specific application. A jack of all trades if you will. It will be used at longer ranges often and FFP is a personal preference for me. I have 1-4's and 1-6's and an ACOG, I want a minimum of 8 power on top and less than 2.5 on the bottom end. I have a Vortex 2.5-10x32 and have no problem using it close in at 2.5X, @10 yds and out. 10 yards is the closest that I have played around with it so far and unless I can make it work closer in than that I will probably eventually be piggybacking a RDS site to it or something. I think all three of those optics that you mentioned in your OP would suffice fine. If it were me making this decision I would go with the S&B 1.5-8 short dot, But that's just me so don't let this pollute your decision. |
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Quoted:
I am looking for a new all purpose optic for a new build. Budget is not a concern. So far I am thinking S&B 1.5-8 short dot or Leupold MK 8 1.1-8 with horus reticle. My requirements, FFP, Mil/Mil, prefer daylight bright illumination, and a large magnification range, and durable, weight is not an issue with this one. The IOR Valdada is very interesting as well as the March. I have considered using a RMR with the optic for close range work but I am more interested in an all in one. This will be used for everything, from home defense to hunting to banging steel and the farthest range I can. I am sure I am missing some good choices, so what are they? What would be your all purpose optic? Curious as to why FFP on a scope of less than about 14x? Reticle shrinkage at low power becomes a major issue, and FFP reticles that work well at low power tend to not be very effective for precise shooting at longer range. I love FFP on scopes that are up in the 24x range on top end, so that I can dial back some magnification to deal with mirage. When under 14x that is not an issue and the reticle compromises are too much of a negative for me. If a 6x top end is good enough, take a serious look at the incredibly bright Kahles K16i with either SM-1 or SI1 reticle, both SFP and for good reason at that magnification level. Should be around $2,000-$2200. |
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Main reason for FFP is I tend to adjust power often and it prevents me from using the wrong holds.
I will go hunting, gather dope, then memorize it for quick shots on game, if I adjust my magnification, which I do often for terrain, my dope is all jacked up. It's like using mil/mil or moa/moa....less math and less chance of errors and much simpler. |
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Quoted:
Main reason for FFP is I tend to adjust power often and it prevents me from using the wrong holds. I will go hunting, gather dope, then memorize it for quick shots on game, if I adjust my magnification, which I do often for terrain, my dope is all jacked up. It's like using mil/mil or moa/moa....less math and less chance of errors and much simpler. Understood. I've never adjusted magnification to lower power on, for instance, a 3-9x scope, needing a shot long enough for reticle holdover, so my knowledge base is limited on that issue. I guess there are conditions you experience that would require that. I've just not encountered a field condition that made sense to take a 300+ yard shot at 4x with a 3-9x scope where I would benefit from accurate subtensions at the lower power. I suppose it could happen if I forgot to crank the scope back up to 9x for that shot. Thanks for the explanation. |
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I think if you include long distance shooting, the Leupold Mk6 1-6x with 5.56 CMR-W reticle is the best all-around optic, especially if you're ok with a BDC reticle. I've written an article about it here:
http://gunpositive.com/leupold-mk6-1-6x-cmr-w-5-56-a-review-and-some-shooting-at-long-distance/ On the site there's also a quick comparison with a few other 1-nx scopes. The Mk6 is really fast to engage intermediate to long distance targets with because of the BDC. We've also gotten a pretty good hit rate at 907 yards with it as well on a full-sized torso steel by adding a few mils of elevation and using the BDC. This is with a 16" DD LW barrel as well. We could also successfully shoot at a 2"x1" paster and a 2" steel target at 213 yards with it because of the fine aiming point and great glass. That is something I normally did with a normal DMR type scope, something with 9 or 10x at the top end. At 1x the illumination is fine and shooting fast is no problem. If you want speed and precision at all distances I really think this is the optic to beat. |
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Sounds like the Leupold CQBSS 1.1-8x fits what the OP wants (FFP, minimum of 8x on top, daytime bright illumination). Everyone mentioning scopes without the features the OP wants need to learn to read or at least not try to tell the OP what he REALLY wants. 
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/777/777323.jpg OP, I can't really comment on performance because I don't own one, but this is an optic I've been really eyeballing myself for a while now as far as a "do it all" optic for myself. I'm really digging my Vortex 2.5-10x32 but it seems kind of fragile to me and I eventually plan on dropping the coin for something like the above optic someday. I know Vortex has one of the best warranties in the business and they would fix it no matter what, but I would still like to have something more rugged someday. |
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