Rifle Scopes Desert Tech MDRx Optics Suggestions

[raifuwaifu]

I am shopping for an optic for my MDRx in 6.5 Creedmoor. I am heavily leaning toward the NX8 2.5-20 F1 with Mil-XT reticle for the short overall length, low weight, and desired mag range. Am I overlooking something?

• What is the platform for the scope? DT MDRx
• What cartridge are you shooting? 6.5 Creedmoor
• What is your intended use for the scope? My primary range has Torso, 12“, and 6“ steel targets out to 800 yards. I would like enough mag to shoot smallish targets at distance, but have enough flexibility to field the rifle for blind or flat terrain stalking.
• What type of conditions will you typically shoot in? Daylight, very limited low light.
• What are the typical distances you intend to shoot? 200-1500 yards.
• Are there any specific specifications you would like? FFP, Xmas tree mil reticle, less than 12” length, forgiving eye box
• What is the price range you can afford? Up to 3K, demo or used as fine.

 

[Glassaholic]

You are overlooking the fact that the 2.5-20x50 tries to do too much and ends up falling short optically - great on paper but a lot of edge distortion, finicky parallax and eyebox, and "okay" turrets really had me wanting more. I like NF's newer reticles, and the center resolution on the 2.5-20 was surprisingly good, but I'm a shooter who prefers the whole image to be clear/sharp, not just the center. I would recommend the ATACR 4-16 before the 2.5-20 for these reasons.

Within your price range I would say look for a Kahles K318i 3.5-18x50, often found for under $2500 in the classifieds. If you can swing it even better would be a ZCO ZC420, but even used is slightly above $3k. Both these scopes are slightly over 12" with the ZCO being closer to 13". Because you're limiting your options to scopes less than 12" and a Christmas tree reticle there is not much. Maybe the Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18x44 with Tremor3/H59 although I don't call Horus reticles Christmas tree, they are more like an exploded Christmas tree with bits and pieces smattered all over your lens, but some people like them so it might be an option for you. The EOTech Vudoo Super Short 5-25 might be an option as well but I know very little about this scope so hard to make a recommendation, but it does fit your criteria (though I'm guessing with how short it is, it has issues with parallax and eyebox as well).

 

[craigos]

putting an elcan on mine.

 

[Glassaholic]

putting an elcan on mine.

That review of the TR has me curious, which one are you putting on your MDRx?

 

[Tonsofguns]

I’d skips the 2.5-10, very mediocre as mentioned above. Nightforce 4-16 is great on a gas gun. Attached is my Lmt with the 4-16. Not the lightest option, and you’ll probably want to add a side mounted or upper mounted red dot for speed and field of view. I run the Horus reticle and I find it super fast.

With the desert tech I would look to keep it lighter though, and opt for a 1-8. What kind of accuracy are you getting out of the rifle? What length barrel is it?

 

[Gallente]

Waiting for the Razor Gen 3 1-10 on mine. Ordered during the BF sale but the lead time is unknown at the moment.

 

[raifuwaifu]

I’d skips the 2.5-10, very mediocre as mentioned above. Nightforce 4-16 is great on a gas gun. Attached is my Lmt with the 4-16. Not the lightest option, and you’ll probably want to add a side mounted or upper mounted red dot for speed and field of view. I run the Horus reticle and I find it super fast.

With the desert tech I would look to keep it lighter though, and opt for a 1-8. What kind of accuracy are you getting out of the rifle? What length barrel is it?

View attachment 7492939

The MDRx is already pretty heavy to start with (9 ish pounds unloaded with no optics or attachments) so weight savings via an optic is less of a concern for me although weight is obviously cumulative. There isn’t much in the way of LOP adjustment and the rail-space is kind of limited and I’m having to mount optics more forward than I would on my AR-15/AR-10 pattern stuff. This is why I’m looking for a compact scope that will work well with a cantilever mount.

It currently has a 22” 6.5 Creedmoor barrel. I have not worked up a load for it, but I am getting 1-1.5 MOA with Hornady AG 140gr. I don’t think it’s a sub-moa rifle, but with suitable hand-loads it should border on 1.0-1.25.

 

[raifuwaifu]

You are overlooking the fact that the 2.5-20x50 tries to do too much and ends up falling short optically - great on paper but a lot of edge distortion, finicky parallax and eyebox, and "okay" turrets really had me wanting more. I like NF's newer reticles, and the center resolution on the 2.5-20 was surprisingly good, but I'm a shooter who prefers the whole image to be clear/sharp, not just the center. I would recommend the ATACR 4-16 before the 2.5-20 for these reasons.

Within your price range I would say look for a Kahles K318i 3.5-18x50, often found for under $2500 in the classifieds. If you can swing it even better would be a ZCO ZC420, but even used is slightly above $3k. Both these scopes are slightly over 12" with the ZCO being closer to 13". Because you're limiting your options to scopes less than 12" and a Christmas tree reticle there is not much. Maybe the Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18x44 with Tremor3/H59 although I don't call Horus reticles Christmas tree, they are more like an exploded Christmas tree with bits and pieces smattered all over your lens, but some people like them so it might be an option for you. The EOTech Vudoo Super Short 5-25 might be an option as well but I know very little about this scope so hard to make a recommendation, but it does fit your criteria (though I'm guessing with how short it is, it has issues with parallax and eyebox as well).

Thanks for the info! I had considered all of those but the ZCO as alternatives.

I was a huge fan of Horus reticles about ten years ago, but I am not high speed enough to really utilize all of the windage features of a Tremor 3 type set-up. A simple mil-grid for holdovers and rapid corrections is what I’m looking for.

I suppose I should investigate cantilever mount options and eye relief a little more to move off of the 12” length requirement.

 

[Glassaholic]

Doesn’t the MDRx have a full rail? What would you need cantilever for?

I think the Kahles K318i might serve your purpose very well and it’s closest to your 12” goal

 

[owtlaw]

Better make sure your optic has a lifetime warrantee. My MDR destroys optics like a SCAR. I'm on my 3rd now. 2x it killed my Razor HD G2 1-6 and it just killed my Z8i 1-8.

 

[Glassaholic]

Better make sure your optic has a lifetime warrantee. My MDR destroys optics like a SCAR. I'm on my 3rd now. 2x it killed my Razor HD G2 1-6 and it just killed my Z8i 1-8.

If that’s true the Kahles may not be your best option. Vortex in that case but they don’t really have a scope that fits your criteria. Leupold seems to have some CS issues of late. Who knows, maybe you’ll actually like the NF 2.5-20, a lot of shooters have.
I’ve been thinking of an MDRx myself in 308, be a great do all rifle if I could get at least 1 moa accuracy out of it

 

[raifuwaifu]

Doesn’t the MDRx have a full rail? What would you need cantilever for?

I think the Kahles K318i might serve your purpose very well and it’s closest to your 12” goal

With that setup, I have to put my cheek at the very back of the receiver to get a full sight picture with no scope shadow. To have proper ergonomics on the rifle I have to span the optic mount forward onto the polymer handguard.

 

[Tonsofguns]

The MDRx is already pretty heavy to start with (9 ish pounds unloaded with no optics or attachments) so weight savings via an optic is less of a concern for me although weight is obviously cumulative. There isn’t much in the way of LOP adjustment and the rail-space is kind of limited and I’m having to mount optics more forward than I would on my AR-15/AR-10 pattern stuff. This is why I’m looking for a compact scope that will work well with a cantilever mount.

It currently has a 22” 6.5 Creedmoor barrel. I have not worked up a load for it, but I am getting 1-1.5 MOA with Hornady AG 140gr. I don’t think it’s a sub-moa rifle, but with suitable hand-loads it should border on 1.0-1.25.

Yeah makes sense with a 22 inch barrel at 9lbs I would no longer care about weight.
Khales 3-18, nightforce 4-16, Schmidt bender 3-20, minox 3-15 will all serve you well.
Khales 3-18 would probably be the best option but also most expensive.

 

[Tonsofguns]

Better make sure your optic has a lifetime warrantee. My MDR destroys optics like a SCAR. I'm on my 3rd now. 2x it killed my Razor HD G2 1-6 and it just killed my Z8i 1-8.

This is the first time I’ve heard this. No offense to the mdr owners but the release of this rifle has been one clusterfuck after another. I hope you guys are happy with the final product. It was a lot of headache for everyone involved (dt and consumers)

 

[Glassaholic]

View attachment 7493792

With that setup, I have to put my cheek at the very back of the receiver to get a full sight picture with no scope shadow. To have proper ergonomics on the rifle I have to span the optic mount forward onto the polymer handguard.

Thank you, I do not know much about the MDRx as I've only just really begun researching, but upon first glance it appeared to have a full rail, your two tone shows me that is not the case. Also, even with a short scope doesn't look like there's room for NV, is that the case?

 

[raifuwaifu]

Thank you, I do not know much about the MDRx as I've only just really begun researching, but upon first glance it appeared to have a full rail, your two tone shows me that is not the case. Also, even with a short scope doesn't look like there's room for NV, is that the case?

I'm not well versed on NV, but I would assume that there would not be enough rail for a PVS-30 type setup.

 

[Glassaholic]

I'm not well versed on NV, but I would assume that there would not be enough rail for a PVS-30 type setup.

That's kind of what it looked like to me as well, I'd be looking to put a PVS-27 on it, maybe something like a S&B US 5-20 might work... maybe, it'd be nice to know if anyone has tried.

 

[65x55guy]

I have an MDRX SE in 223 wylde. Topped with trijicon accupower 1-8. Eye relief is excellent and I love the mag range.