Rifle Scopes Advice on glass for 400-500yrd AR15

[EagleScout501]

Im almost done putting together my 4th AR15 so I am not baby fresh but I am new to distance shooting (in my book i call that 350yrds or more). I own tons of red dots, and a few ACOGs but I have never owned a nice scope.

Now I am in the need of a nice scope for the new AR.

So, i know how this goes so lets begin,

-Its a 16" Noveske barrel (12" rail) with a Ops Inc 12th on it.
-I plan on using it from 100-500 yards (and I only stop here at 500 yards because I do not believe that I can effectively dispatch small varmint animals out past that distance)
-i need it to be light, as I will be moving in and out of brush to get to blinds and hides.
-I will be hunting in the early mornings and as the sun sets so light gathering capability would be a attribute favored here.
-I want it to have a mil dot reticule. (or at least one to learn to mil targets with)
-It also must be short enough to put a PVS-22 in front of it.

I have about a 1500$ budget, give or take, (buying used or new does not matter to me as I am confident that all high end scopes that I will be looking at will retain their integrity from user to user).

Some of the scopes that have caught my eye have been the old NF 2.5-10x24mm and the newer NF 2.5-10x32mm and also the USO 1.5-6 (model SN-4 if im not mistaken). Those of y'all that own the USO's, what kind of report can you give on shooting at targets past 400 yrds on these?

Your experience and input would be greatly appreciated. Yes I have read the sticky threads and yes I have been doing my research. This is part of it. Im from ARF.com so i know how it is, im sure you guys get this question probably as much as we get "whats the difference between a 1/9 and a 1/7 twist barrel"

but lets be friends for a while a hopefully I can keep learning from you gentlemen here on the revered Hide.

 

[NRF]

Re: Advice on glass for 400-500yrd AR15

You said you own a few ACOG's ! Can you tell me what is wrong with them? Most AR platform's from the guys I shoot with, wish they could afford an ACOG! I would love to have one, if your interested I would trade for one of my NF scopes?

"whats the difference between a 1/9 and a 1/7 twist barrel"

The difference is 1 twist every 9 inches, opposed to 1 twist every 7 inches.

 

[jawa]

Re: Advice on glass for 400-500yrd AR15

Sent you a pm.

 

[BELLYCRAWL]

Re: Advice on glass for 400-500yrd AR15

EagleScout,

With small varmints at the possibility of 500, I think you will want access to a little more than 6x. I once shot a fixed 6x, but not at varmints. I think I would prefer more magnification. I just recently picked up a Nikon X 2.5-10x44 on a 16" AR and love the scope especially at lowlight conditions. I don't range on mils, but you will find some reticules that are even better than the standard mildot.

I think the NF 2.5-10x32 is a solid choice at around 19 oz. IOR 2.5-10x44 will give you the MP8 with larger obj and around same weight. USO 1.8-10 will be out of your price range, but I am 99.9 percent sure you are going to have extremely positive reviews on any USO scope. Bottom line, there are a lot of options at around 20 oz and 12 inches. I am confident you would be happy with that NF.

BC

 

[edwin907]

Re: Advice on glass for 400-500yrd AR15

This 16" Krieger with OPS 12th usually runs this TA11C, but the 1.8-10X37 USO works with the PVS-22 even with the 2" shade/ARD.

 

[EagleScout501]

Re: Advice on glass for 400-500yrd AR15

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NRF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You said you own a few ACOG's ! Can you tell me what is wrong with them? Most AR platform's from the guys I shoot with, wish they could afford an ACOG! I would love to have one, if your interested I would trade for one of my NF scopes?

"whats the difference between a 1/9 and a 1/7 twist barrel"

The difference is 1 twist every 9 inches, opposed to 1 twist every 7 inches. </div></div>

There is nothing wrong with an ACOG, I love mine, as I am sure other people you ask with ARs will also say, yes, they love thier ACOGs.

But there is one thing that I have learned through building AR's. Every rifle/weapon/tool has its purpose, and every purpose has its tool.

These two go hand in hand. That being said, If i was shooting closer than 400 yards with the occasional past 400yrd shot i would just use one of my current ACOGs, however that is not the case. This rifle will be used from stationary positions (unless the rare occasion happens where I see something on my way in and out of my blinds/hides) and will be aimed at varmint, and small game that are at least 350 yards or more away. So my logic tells me that a little more than 4x magnification is probably going to be what I need. You cannot shoot at (at least I can not) small game animals over 350-400 yards away and expect a 4x scope to do the trick. Shots have to be placed. You shoot a pig in the ass or in the gut and it starts running, or even a coyote, your going to wish could have made a more accurate shot. Ask me how I know

 

[ggmanning]

Re: Advice on glass for 400-500yrd AR15

I use an AR for varmints out to 500 or so. I put a SS 5-20 on that gun. I run a USO 1.8-10 on a POF 308 that I shoot the same distances and more at man sized steel but IMO 10x is not enough power for varmints at 500 yds. I am talking crows, ground hogs and coyotes.

 

[EagleScout501]

Re: Advice on glass for 400-500yrd AR15

ok....well, while i dont plan on shooting any crows or ground hogs, I do however, plan on shooting at coyotes and pigs.

but just for the update, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a USO SN-4 1.5-6 mil/mil knobs and the JNG mil reticule in the digital push button blue