Posted: 12/15/2011 4:01:11 AM EDT
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In the market for an adjustable 1-4X rifle scope for one of my AR's. My budget for this is $500 so I've been looking at these three:
-Millet DMS -Burris MTAC (or TAC30) -Nikon M223 Anyone have experinces or opinions on these? Some have a couple different rectice options, opinons on which is best? This rifle/optic set up will primarily be used for 3-gun and similar compititions and shoots. Thanks! |
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Just to add to your confusion...there is a Bushnell outlet in Lees Summit.
Bushnell E1224 I think it'd probably be well within your price range with maybe some left over. |
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Here's an 80+ page thread on the DMS1 scope. Bottom line is: Not bad. Nice reticle, illumination is good though not visible in bright sunlight. Bad is they scrimped on the glass and the potential fungus issue. To check for the fungus issue, close from scope cap and turn illumination up full. If you see much of anything besides the reticle, your scope may have the dreaded fungus. Millet will warranty fix the issue, usually by replacing the scope. Here's a thread on various 1-4x scopes. The scopes range from ~$200 to ~$4000! |
| Don't get the Millet. I used it for almost a year for 3gun before I switched to the tac30. The tac30 is so far superior to the millet in every way that its no contest. The tac30 has tons of eye relief where the millet requires you to be in perfect alignment and position every time. The field of view is huge and the reticle is great from up close and I have personally shot out to 550 yards using the bdc. For only $100 more its a steal for what you get. I have heard good things about the Nikon but cannot speak personally about it. The vortex is a good scope too, but I found the reticle too thin and easy to lose in the background. I can't tell you about the illumination either, I never use it. |
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I have two Milletts, a Burris Tac30, and a Vortex Viper PST. I have used a Burris XTR. All have pros and cons.
The Millett is a pretty decent scope for the money. I haven't had any problems with either one holding zero and one spent a few years on a DPMS .308 getting banged around playing 3 Gun. The reticle is fine for out to 300 or so but after that, it's guessing hold over, just like a plex reticle. If it had hash marks on the bottom, it would help a lot. Also, daytime illumination is pretty much non-existent although the etched black reticle is easy to see. As David said, eye relief is a bit unforgiving if you don't plant your cheek in the same place everytime. The Milletts are being retired to use on my .22 AR upper and on a truck gun. The Tac30 is definately the daytime illumination winner. Very bright even in bright sunlight. Although I probably wouldn't even use it in that case. Glass is clear even out to the edges and good eye relief. For me the reticle is excellent in theory but falls short on execution. I like the multiple dots that get smaller down the reticle. I don't like the fat circle that surrounds the dots though. It needs to be about 1/3 as thick as it is and be a horseshoe shape (ala XTR). They could get by with another 1 MOA dot on the bottom instead of the open circle in the ring like they did it. I haven't spent a lot of time behind the Tac30 to truly get used to it. I don't know where it will end up as my go-to 3 Gun optic just because of the reticle quirks. I will spend more time with it before next season starts though. The Vortex has the best glass. It also has the most precise reticle. The one I have has the taller turrets which are great for fast tweaking but kind of in the way for gun game abuse. Although, to their credit, I have not had one turn on me unintentionally......yet. It has decent eye relief and has retained zero on both my 5.56 and .308 rifles. Vortex has an excellent warranty and will fix or replace as needed. It is FFP reticle which is good and bad. Good in that the reticle never changes so ranging is the same on any power. Bad in that the reticle and hash marks are quite fine and can be difficult to see in the woods or dark background and don't get any bigger on 4x. Vortex said after SHOT they will have a 2nd FP model available. To me, this is the best choice since you only need ranging capabilities at distance when you would most likely be on 4x anyway. I may be going this route next year if they introduce it. Now if they only made it a 1-6x............ Daylight illumination is better than the Millett but way behind the Tac30. Basically, usable in the woods, low light, and maybe cloudy conditions but nothing in the sunlight. The etched black reticle is still visible. The Burris XTR has a great reticle and limited daytime illumination. I have read a few stories from folks with ones that had to be sent back for various issues. Kind of disturbing but I like Burris and still wouldn't have a problem with buying an XTR. I have a Burris I bought in 1991 and has been on multiple guns from .22LR- 300 Win Mag and never given me a problem. I think Burris will take care of you if you had one. I have no experience with the Nikon M223. I have Nikon cameras, Binos, and scopes and all are great. I don't doubt the M223 is just as good if you like that kind of reticle. Or you could just jump in with both feet and get the Swaro 1-6x with the BRT and be done with it. Craig |
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I got one, but got one...but it was one of the test models... EDIT: In clarification, this was a GRSC that came out prior to the Millet. Basically the same.   Quoted: Has anybody tried the Millett DMS-1, and where can you buy one? Quoted: Here's an 80+ page thread on the DMS1 scope. Bottom line is: Not bad. Nice reticle, illumination is good though not visible in bright sunlight. Bad is they scrimped on the glass and the potential fungus issue. To check for the fungus issue, close from scope cap and turn illumination up full. If you see much of anything besides the reticle, your scope may have the dreaded fungus. Millet will warranty fix the issue, usually by replacing the scope. Here's a thread on various 1-4x scopes. The scopes range from ~$200 to ~$4000! |