Rifle Scopes Age old question

[Desert_Racer]

Alright fellas,

I've read up on this from multiple sources, including the hide, but I simply can't decide over a few pieces of glass. This is where you come in!

I am doing a build using the Mega Ma-Ten platform and a 20" Rainier Arms Ultramatch barrel. This rig will be used for shooting long range, up to 1000 yards, but mostly in the 600-800 yard range.

So, here are the optics I am deciding between:

Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50, Zero Stop, MLR reticle

Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50, Zero Stop, MLR reticle, FFP

Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50, Zero Stop, NPR-1 reticle, FFP

Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50, Zero Stop, MLR reticle

I've been leaning more towards the 5.5-22, but I've been reading that the mirage can get pretty bad in the higher magnification ranges (I live in Tucson right now, it gets hot as balls here during the summer)

Should I shell out the extra scratch to get the FFP? Is is worth it? I'm still new to Long Range shooting, and I'm learning as time permits.

I've been looking at buying the scope/mount combo from Larue (LT-104 mount), but another option is to order from Euro Optic and order an AD Recon mount from DSG Arms (they give killer military discounts!), whichever is cheaper. Last time I ordered from Alex, he took $100 off my 1-4x NXS w/ Zero Stop as a mil discount. I'm not sure if Larue will give a mil discount on the optic, but I know they will with the mount.

Any info you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated, both for optic, reticle, and mount! My budget for this is up to $2500, including the mount.

Thanks lads, and Merry Christmas!

 

[Andrew Blubaugh]

Re: Age old question

Age old answer... This question would be answered better in the Optics forum not the Semi Auto Rifle forum.

If it were me I would go Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50, Zero Stop, MLR reticle, FFP. For 1k and less ranges I find anything over 12 power to be a bit much. When shooting with mirage or positional the lesser power option makes life a bit easier and really I have yet to shoot at a thousand and really desired anything near the 20x range.

FFP to me is worth it. Related to what I indicated before about adjusting power. If I am shooting prone at 600 I tend to knock the power down to 10x, start holding for wind and you will have to do some math to figure out your wind holds. FFP just makes life easier.

 

[Desert_Racer]

Re: Age old question

Thanks for your input, I think I'll go with that.

 

[scotharr]

Re: Age old question

As always, really depends on your exact use case. But, all the scopes you have listed above are big and heavy. So, you might as well take advantage and get the one with a higher magnification range: 5.5-22. It's not like you will use the 3.5-15 for hunting: still too big and heavy. Get something like a 16oz 1-4X or 2.5-10X for hunting.

Mirage doesn't get really bad until you get above 25X. Also, that is why you have an adjustable mag scope....just turn it down to eliminate mirage.

I wouldn't bother with a FFP scope unless you know you will be doing a lot of competitions that mandate ranging with your scope. Even in that case, a SFP scope works perfectly fine. FFP reticles "might" be nice to have, but they also have serious drawbacks: huge, less precise reticle at high magnification and tiny reticle at low magnification. not my cup of tea. Absent contrived competitions, an electronic range-finder is a far better method of ranging.

For scope mounts, do not get a quick release. Long range precision rigs need mounts that do not move: period. Quick-release rings are some more "tacti-cool" gear that introduces as many problems as it purports to solve. My favorite mount for an AR platform is the NF Unimount in extra-high.