Rifle Scopes Best High-Magnification LPVO for my use case?
- By jst4kix
- Observation & Sighting Devices
- 58 Replies
Hello All! I've been reading through all of the previous posts on this and similar subjects, and would like to ask for your guidance on a new LPVO for my particular use case...
What you need to know: This LPVO will be going on a 12.5" ADM AR-15 build with a .223 Wylde Criterion Core barrel and all the fixins. I will be shooting a mixture of ammo types, from 55gr bulk 5.56 for plinking to 77gr 2.23 match ammo for groups at 100 yards. The rifle will be suppressed 100% of the time, using a SiCo Omega 36M in the "short" configuration. I will be predominantly on a flat range, on the East Coast (i.e., surrounded by foliage), at distances less than or equal to 300 yards, during high-sun daylight hours (no dawn/dusk/twilight shooting currently). I do not hunt, nor do I compete (at least not yet); this rig will be for range use only (i.e., not a "truck gun" or anything where it would get beat around too much). The range I have access to has steel at 50 yards, 75 yards, 100 yards, and is being extended to 300 yards this fall. My use case is two-fold: 1) To use the LPVO's illuminated reticle @1X as a pseudo-red dot for quick off-hand shooting of steel targets at 50, 75, and 100 yards, and 2) to then be able to transition to maximum magnification (with minimal illumination) for precision shots at 100 yards on paper and further distances (out to 300 yards) as available. Use case #2 will happen either seated, prone, or off a tripod whereas use case #1 will be more dynamic in nature (e.g., standing, kneeling, moving, etc...).
My current optic setup: I started out with a red dot / magnifier combo on this build, but the magnification range didn't get me where I wanted to be. I was fine with the dynamic "shooting steel" portion of the use case, but could not see the target well enough at 100 yards for precision work with my 3X magnifier. I then went to an old Primary Arms SLx 1-6 I had in my parts bin to try to see if increasing the magnification to 6X would help. Unfortunately, with my aging eyes, and likely the lower quality of the PA SLx glass, moving to a 1-6 helped, but not enough. I lost my "nuclear bright" red dot at 1X, and I didn't gain enough fidelity at 6X to put down small groups, see my misses, etc... So, next I took my Athlon Helos Gen2 2-12 X 42 scope off of my 300 Blackout build and mounted it up on the 12.5. Now we're getting somewhere, LOL! Sure, it looks a little funny on the 12.5", but it's semi-daylight bright @1x (NOT bright enough to be fast off-hand), and at 12X I can make short work of 100 yard paper targets. So, I'm currently sporting an MPVO 2-12 on a 12.5" build, and it's OK, but it needs an offset/piggyback red dot for true, fast, 1X operation in a dynamic shooting environment.
My conundrum: I started searching for a "goldilocks" LPVO - one with nuclear bright 1X illumination for running and gunning on steel, enough magnification range to poke little holes in paper targets at 100 yards, and the clarity to continue on steel to 300 yards in the future. My LGS has the Vortex Razor HD G3 1-10x24 in stock, as well as the Nightforce NX8 1-8, and they both seem like good options, but I'm not sure they're the best option. I've read dozens of different reviews, on here as well as the interwebs, and watched hours of videos on YouTube, and I've got it narrowed down to a handful of scopes. Unfortunately, after all of this research, I've given myself analysis paralysis and don't know what to pick. There are a number of scopes that have great features - on paper - that I haven't been able to handle yet, so I don't know how they translate to actual practice in the real world. I'm hoping that you can share your insights on what you think may be the best for my particular situation. To aid the process, I've made a "Top 10" list of features that I'm most interested in, from most important to least important:
Additionally, I've compiled a list of scopes that are "in the running" for my money. Note: I've also included a few MPVO's as alternates, assuming I can't get everything I want in an LPVO, I'll settle for an MPVO/Red Dot combo. I do not want to pair a red dot with an LPVO as I feel the 1X LPVO should be sufficient, assuming the illumination gets bright enough for quick target acquisition. I'm also not crazy about the chevron center aiming point in the Primary Arms offerings, but I may be able to "learn to love it" if it's the otherwise best choice...
Given the list of criteria above, and the list of scopes, below, which would you choose and why? If you know of something that should be on this list that isn't, and is within my budget (I'm looking at you, March Shorty), please also chime in.
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read all of the above, and I look forward to your comments! Please let me know if I can clarify anything or augment the info provided.
What you need to know: This LPVO will be going on a 12.5" ADM AR-15 build with a .223 Wylde Criterion Core barrel and all the fixins. I will be shooting a mixture of ammo types, from 55gr bulk 5.56 for plinking to 77gr 2.23 match ammo for groups at 100 yards. The rifle will be suppressed 100% of the time, using a SiCo Omega 36M in the "short" configuration. I will be predominantly on a flat range, on the East Coast (i.e., surrounded by foliage), at distances less than or equal to 300 yards, during high-sun daylight hours (no dawn/dusk/twilight shooting currently). I do not hunt, nor do I compete (at least not yet); this rig will be for range use only (i.e., not a "truck gun" or anything where it would get beat around too much). The range I have access to has steel at 50 yards, 75 yards, 100 yards, and is being extended to 300 yards this fall. My use case is two-fold: 1) To use the LPVO's illuminated reticle @1X as a pseudo-red dot for quick off-hand shooting of steel targets at 50, 75, and 100 yards, and 2) to then be able to transition to maximum magnification (with minimal illumination) for precision shots at 100 yards on paper and further distances (out to 300 yards) as available. Use case #2 will happen either seated, prone, or off a tripod whereas use case #1 will be more dynamic in nature (e.g., standing, kneeling, moving, etc...).
My current optic setup: I started out with a red dot / magnifier combo on this build, but the magnification range didn't get me where I wanted to be. I was fine with the dynamic "shooting steel" portion of the use case, but could not see the target well enough at 100 yards for precision work with my 3X magnifier. I then went to an old Primary Arms SLx 1-6 I had in my parts bin to try to see if increasing the magnification to 6X would help. Unfortunately, with my aging eyes, and likely the lower quality of the PA SLx glass, moving to a 1-6 helped, but not enough. I lost my "nuclear bright" red dot at 1X, and I didn't gain enough fidelity at 6X to put down small groups, see my misses, etc... So, next I took my Athlon Helos Gen2 2-12 X 42 scope off of my 300 Blackout build and mounted it up on the 12.5. Now we're getting somewhere, LOL! Sure, it looks a little funny on the 12.5", but it's semi-daylight bright @1x (NOT bright enough to be fast off-hand), and at 12X I can make short work of 100 yard paper targets. So, I'm currently sporting an MPVO 2-12 on a 12.5" build, and it's OK, but it needs an offset/piggyback red dot for true, fast, 1X operation in a dynamic shooting environment.
My conundrum: I started searching for a "goldilocks" LPVO - one with nuclear bright 1X illumination for running and gunning on steel, enough magnification range to poke little holes in paper targets at 100 yards, and the clarity to continue on steel to 300 yards in the future. My LGS has the Vortex Razor HD G3 1-10x24 in stock, as well as the Nightforce NX8 1-8, and they both seem like good options, but I'm not sure they're the best option. I've read dozens of different reviews, on here as well as the interwebs, and watched hours of videos on YouTube, and I've got it narrowed down to a handful of scopes. Unfortunately, after all of this research, I've given myself analysis paralysis and don't know what to pick. There are a number of scopes that have great features - on paper - that I haven't been able to handle yet, so I don't know how they translate to actual practice in the real world. I'm hoping that you can share your insights on what you think may be the best for my particular situation. To aid the process, I've made a "Top 10" list of features that I'm most interested in, from most important to least important:
Additionally, I've compiled a list of scopes that are "in the running" for my money. Note: I've also included a few MPVO's as alternates, assuming I can't get everything I want in an LPVO, I'll settle for an MPVO/Red Dot combo. I do not want to pair a red dot with an LPVO as I feel the 1X LPVO should be sufficient, assuming the illumination gets bright enough for quick target acquisition. I'm also not crazy about the chevron center aiming point in the Primary Arms offerings, but I may be able to "learn to love it" if it's the otherwise best choice...
Given the list of criteria above, and the list of scopes, below, which would you choose and why? If you know of something that should be on this list that isn't, and is within my budget (I'm looking at you, March Shorty), please also chime in.
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read all of the above, and I look forward to your comments! Please let me know if I can clarify anything or augment the info provided.
