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Rifle Scopes Scope shopping for AR setup

BradZ

Just Brad
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 11, 2012
85
2
44
The Sticks (SW PA)
I decided I wanted a nice semi setup so I started putting a rifle together, I've gotten this far

A8ADCD4A-2A44-4026-92B6-1D1BE1E13510_zps8uvulika.jpg


And I'm stuck on the scopes. I've looked at Trijicon, Leupold Mark4 and VX patrols and vortex.

I want something that'll fit on the med rings, I've never liked really high scopes so that means no X50 set ups.

I like the idea of the Trijicon not needing batteries but I'm not sure being as I know tritium does die.

What do you guys think would be a good option in this situation? I want illuminated 100% and like side focus but I domt think its a requirement?

Open to ideas, I can get a 3.5-10 leupold MK4 for a little under a grand so I'll call 1K my ceiling. I domt mind at all going under that though.

That Trijicon looked really nice I'm just not sure,local place has an open box 3-9 mildot for something like 730
 
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ARs cover everything from SBR entry guns to 1000yd+ steel banging wind cheaters. What flavor AR is yours? What are you doing with it?

For most normal manufacturers "medium" (talking <.900"), medium rings won't work on an AR, you won't be able to get your face low enough. Typical minimum possible height is 1.125" to center for AR mounts, such as the Nightforce Unimount, and many shooters prefer a 1.3"-1.5" height, depending on intended usage. Higher for speed, lower for precision.
 
Scope shopping for AR setup

I'm building an mk12 mod1 and am in the same boat. I'm looking at the Leupold Mark 4 MRT 2.5-8x36 M2, Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x32, or NF NXS 2.5-10x32. The nightforce wins hands down but I am having trouble justifying the cost. I think it would have the best resale out of the group too. The leapy is outdated and is mil/moa. The Vortex is very attractive


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I'm building an mk12 mod1 and am in the same boat.
That's how his started, then 10 mins after putting it together I figured there has to be a better option for stocks for a scoped upper. Didn't take a whole lot of digging around to find the magpul. IMO puts your face in a much better spot

I'm building an mk12 mod1 and am in the same boat. I think it would have the best resale out of the group too.

While I've never actually seen a vortex they get excellent reviews. If they made a X40 illuminated with side focus I think I'd have already bought one. As it stands though I'm leaning toward a 3rd MK4 scope. I know I like them and that MIL/LE program they offer has some decent prices so if I can't find anything to change my mind I'll probably end up with another one. I really wouldn't mind something different though. The 2.5-10 FFP vortex seems interesting

Leupolds VXR 3-9 mil/mil is tempting too


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I agree, I was looking at that, tried to find one in a store to look at but no luck. No side focus but I can deal with that if the rest is good.

For most normal manufacturers "medium" (talking <.900"), medium rings won't work on an AR
Med rings are actually the basic military issue on these, they work quite well
 
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Ok, didn't see the pic from the work computer, now I see there is a swan rail on it. Damn IT blocks...

Disregard my above, medium rings will work since you have a riser rail.
 
That's why you shouldn't play on the net at work sir! They're not paying you for lolligagging on that intrawebs.


The more I'm looking the more I think I'm gonna have to end up with a Mark4 M3. Those vortex ones look nice and have great reviews but they're pretty new and imported from Asia. I've seen them marked japan and the Philippines so far looking at stuff online today.

Everybody raves about their customer service which makes me nervous, seems like a lot of people are using their customer service and their big thing is they do exactly what leupold has done forever... Hmm
 
I've tried a lot of different scope styles on a lot of ARs and the best match I've seen is a good 1-6x SFP scope with daytime bright illumination.
At 1x nearly as fast as an Aimpoint in CQB and at 6x enough magnification for the operational envelope the AR was designed for without adding too much weight.

One of the best (but unfortunately one of the heaviest) is the Razor HD 1-6.
My favorite right now is the Bushnell SMRS 1-6.5x SFP.
The Viper PST 1-4x is okay but the glass is not nearly as good as I'd like and it's FFP.
My friend bought a Bushnell PCL throwdown 1-4 with mount for under $275 shipped from Optics Planet (also at SWFA) which is pretty nice for the money and can end up on something else once he's got money for something better.

I have one AR with a Bushnell ET 6-24x50 (it has work some other high mag scopes, too) but it's also got a 24" Kreiger barrel on it so portability is not a priority. I think a lot of people over scope ARs and ruin the balance of thee weapon.

All just my opinion, of course.

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How about these:

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/optics-sale/216341-wts-us-optics-sr8c-1-8-scope-brand-new.html

Great scope, I have one of these from Ron for my Noveske Afghan, just not sure I'm going to keep it.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...-optics-sn-3s-1-8-10x-erek-red-jng-$1650.html

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...ics-sn3-1-8x-10-mil-mil-od-green-gap-ret.html

Those two would work well to, not sure if the Mil Green would go to well w/your set up, but the black one would.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...k-4-3-5-10x40-w-m1-knobs-mil-dot-reticle.html

I have an older one of these only with M3 Knobs, good scope for the $$.
 
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not the 3-9 VXR patrol, mounted on an 0MOA mount. there's enough adjustment for a whopping 4-500 yards, and the reticle blows.
 
I am very much a noob to long range shooting so after much reading and research - I pony'd up for a Nightforce 2.5-10X42 Mil/MLR setup with a A190 1.125 unimount from Nightforce as well. As I understand it the A191 (1.375) mount would give me enough room
to clear some BUIS if I wanted.... But went with the lower A190 mount.
I see Dvor has the Trijicon TARS (103) on sale - that sure looks tempting and as I understand it built like a brickshithouse. (FFP and all).
 
How about these:

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/optics-sale/216341-wts-us-optics-sr8c-1-8-scope-brand-new.html

Great scope, I have one of these from Ron for my Noveske Afghan, just not sure I'm going to keep it.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...-optics-sn-3s-1-8-10x-erek-red-jng-$1650.html

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...ics-sn3-1-8x-10-mil-mil-od-green-gap-ret.html

Those two would work well to, not sure if the Mil Green would go to well w/your set up, but the black one would.

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...k-4-3-5-10x40-w-m1-knobs-mil-dot-reticle.html

I have an older one of these only with M3 Knobs, good scope for the $$.

Well the first three are well over what I said I was looking to spend and the final one... For less than 200 bucks I'll buy brand new from Leupold over used and painted
 
Well the first three are well over what I said I was looking to spend and the final one... For less than 200 bucks I'll buy brand new from Leupold over used and painted

I can understand not wanting something used, and a M3 version would maybe be a better choice, but I see nothing in his FS posting about it being painted?

The other scopes were just options to look over that were geared towards an AR Platform......