Rifle Scopes Glass for LMT MWS 308

Dynamic Response

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 20, 2012
328
3
Illinois
Hey guys Ive been going back and forth for awhile now trying to decide on which scope to get for my LMT MWS 308. Whats making it really hard is not being able to actually see or hold any of the scopes. So Im hoping you guys could give me some advice here. Ive been looking at the usual ones, NF, USO, Schmidt and Bender, Leupold. I really like the Nightforce F1 but there are some many great scopes out there to choose from especially in that price range.. Im not to worried about price I would rather buy one scope and be done, then not be happy and have to get another. Buy once, cry once right.

Ill probably have all the $$ together by this summer. So any new scopes that are coming out are defiantly in the running. Also what rings/mounts are the best now? GDI, Larue, American defense etc.. what do you guys think?

I want to be able to shoot 1000yards but still have some low end for hunting. I also want it to look have way decent for this kind of $$

This is my go to gun and want to use it for everything from CQB to long range.

Some of the features I want-
FFP, at least 10x, Illuminated Mil reticle, Zero stop, Mil/Mil, quick release mount. Perfect tracking, best glass possible, Good Warranty etc....

Also thinking about running a red dot on the side at the 1 o'clock (Aimpoint or Mini red dot)

I know you guys may like one brand over the other but Im looking for the honest truth here. This is a lot of $$ for me. Im not rich and it will take me a long time to save up for this. This gun is my baby and probably the most expensive rifle I will own, at least for awhile. So I don't want to cut any corners here.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

I have run a NF 2.5-10, but prefer a 3.5-15. I also run the Larue mount with 20MOA base. I just bought a Bushy 6-24 FFP Illum reticle and am trying it out. . My first choice would be NF FFP scope, then for less money, get a Bushy. Depends on your budget.

That gun is awesome, enjoy.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BigB308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I want to be able to shoot 1000yards but still have some low end for hunting.

Some of the features I want-
FFP, at least 10x, Illuminated Mil reticle, Zero stop, Mil/Mil, quick release mount. Perfect tracking, best glass possible, Good Warranty etc....</div></div>

In the 10x variable realm, I vote USO 1.8-10. I had & sold a NF 2.5-10x32 NP-R2 cause it was unusable past 500 due to parallax. Would have probably kept it if I had gotten the thicker mildot reticle.

Just my opinion, those 15x and above scopes and "CQB" aren't a great mix due to size, weight, etc. I've got 15x, 16x, 17x, 25x variable mag scopes on my bolt guns but my ideal "go to" is 10x top end on a semi auto.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

it's not mil/mil, but the nightforce 3.5-15 with the lv.5 reticle would be pretty sweet and meets all the other specs. there is also the mlr2 or the md2 if you really like mil/mil. that gun has the capability to take advantage of that magnification range. that with a warne ramp mount and a trijicon rmr would be sweet.

lv.5 nightforce f1

MLR2 nightforce f1

warne ramp mount

trijicon rm06


the 2.5-10 that chris mentioned is nice too, but i like a little more magnification on that rifle. below is the finished product with a different scope

warnerampwithtrijicon1.jpg


warnerampwithtrijicon2.jpg


 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

My MWS started with a NF 2.5-10 while I was waiting for my 34mm ADM mount to come in. For me, the NF 2.5-10 was not enough scope for the MWS. As of this weekend, I now have a S&B 4-16x42 with Gen2 Mildot, and mounted via ADM 20-moa Recon mount. The only thing I would change, if I could would be to go with a little lower profile mount. The ADM sits a little too high, and I'm going to have to fab some kind of cheek rest, or end up putting a Magpul PRS on it.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

Not being aware of the GDI mounts, I went with the ADM. The problem with the ADM (like the LaRue) is the rings are split top and bottom. This method causes the elevation turrets view to be blocked more so then the traditional rings that are split on the sides. With the ADM, you have to move out of your shooting position to see where your elevation turret is set.

Another issue with the ADM, and possibly with the GDI and LaRue, is with the cantilever mount and large scope combo. The first ADM I tried was cantilevered, and with the long S&B scope I was able to produce a 0.02" deflection (as measured with dial indicator) with slight downward pressure applied to the scope objective. I felt this would cause verical stringing with the 308Win recoil. I returned that mount and went with a newly released ADM 20-moa that wasn't canilevered and made specificly for the S&B scopes.

I would have seriously considered the GDI if I had known about it's existance, but then again, at 3x the price, and it being cantilevered, I don't want to go through another beta test.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

Thanks for the links and the info bro. Im leaning towards the NF F1 3-15 with MLR2 instead of the Lv5 because I want to use different loads and want to range my targets. But still on the fence trying to decide if there is a better scope out there. Especially with all the new ones coming out. I dont mind spending the money but just want to do it once. I know Nightforce makes wonderful scopes but if I can get something even better for a bit more then I would. But everything I read isn't really confirming that anything is much better. It looks like personal preference at that point but I may be wrong. So any info you guys can provide is highly appreciated.

I really want more then 10x and I really like the idea of putting a mini red dot on there too for close targets when hunting.

Any suggestions on mini red dots?

Anybody ever use the Bobro Mounts?
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BigB308</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> if I can get something even better for a bit more then I would.
</div></div>

answer = Schmidt & Bender
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

I think Im going to go with the NightForce F1 with MLR2. Ive been looking at scopes none stop and I keep coming back to the NightForce.

So where is the best place to buy one from?

I see they come with 1in high rings do they let you trade those out for taller rings? The 1in is to low for the LMT.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Opticsspecialist</div><div class="ubbcode-body">it's not mil/mil, but the nightforce 3.5-15 with the lv.5 reticle would be pretty sweet and meets all the other specs. there is also the mlr2 or the md2 if you really like mil/mil.

MLR2 nightforce f1
</div></div>

One option! As are any of the sponsors here on the Hide. Plus they provide a wealth of information.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

I'm keeping an eye on this thread because I'm trying to make the same choice. I've come to the realization that there are no "master of all trades" rifle/optic combos out there. While that was my original intention for my rifle I'm going to end up with a NF 2.5-10x32 mil/mil or something similar. I have other rifles for CQB work (not that I'm clearing many rooms these days).

CMS
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

I have the USO 1.8-10x T-PAL and a C2 reticle. It is fantastic. One word of caution, you're going to be hard pressed to find a one-piece mount that will have enough clearance between rings to fit the large turret block housing. I think only several would work and I wanted to get the glass lower than these offerings as I wasn't running an adjustable cheekpiece on the buttstock. I ended up going with a LaRue cantilever riser and Seekins rings. I didn't want to run one ring on the receiver and one on the rail system due to potential flex issues. I'm not sure if this is a concern on monolithic uppers.

Another thing worth noting is if you run an optic that extends past the front ring of a cantilever mount a fair amount, you run the risk of tweaking the mount to where it flexed enough to take a permanent set if your rifle takes a spill and lands on the objective. The scope acts as a huge lever on an already leveraged mount. I did that to mine and got a new mount under warranty. The picture attached is older but I've since moved the mount as forward on the receiver as possible so the forward-most section of the cantilever mount hangs over the first few rail slots of the rail system. I've moved the anti-cant on the first slot of the rail system. There is about .050" clearance between the bottom of the cantilever and anti-cant. If the rifle took an identical spill on the objective, the cantilever won't flex enough to take a set before hitting the "bump stop" anti-cant directly below. I'm not sure there is an elegant solution for running longer glass on the AR platform
5692145964_5d9ecd4460_b.jpg
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

This is really a place where the newer 1-8 variables would shine.

My dream gun might very well be the LM8 MWS with one of the 1-8 variables and a .260 Reminton barrel. Get ADCO or someone to lighten the barrel a little and then put the whole package together and you get a rifle that really IS a "do-all" gun.

While more magnification is great on a .223, I feel that people are wanting too much out of the guns when they're trying to stretch them out too far. It's kinda like the "tactical" knife syndrome where people want a single knife that can chop like a hatchet but retain sharpness and filet like a filet knife. A .223 is only truly an effective cartridge out to a fairly limited range (yeah, yeah, someone's buddy in the "'Stan" might have shot someone at 1000 yards with a 5.56 but that's going to be the exception rather than the rule).

I'm actually use a 2.5-10x24 Nightforce on my MWS and couldn't be more pleased.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

the 2.5-10 is a great scope. Its been on my short list. I really like the size of it. But lately really leaning towards that F1. I never had a FFP scope and would like to get one. I think I would benefit from the extra magnification since I dont have the most experience at long range shooting yet. This rifle is capable of at least 1000yards. I just wish they made a 3-15 in a smaller, lighter package.

I really like the 1-8 but there isnt to many options available. Leupold wants almost 4k thats way to much money for that scope. That new SWFA 1-6 that is coming out looks good tho.

The setup Im leaning towards right now is the Nightforce F1 with GDI 0MOA mount and a mini red dot mounted at the 1oclock. probably the Aimpoint. The problem is I want this gun and scope to be good at everything and thats just not possible. Im probably better off just buying a high power scope and getting a red dot or a very low power scope and just switch back and forth.


Im thinking 3-15 magnification is the best range for this gun and for what I want it to do. the 3 power is great for close targets when hunting or target shooting and you have up to 15x for long range target shooting (1000yards) or hunting.

If I was rich and just had the money to blow I would get one of each but that just isnt the case. It takes me a long time to save up 2k for a gun or scope. So I want to do it right the first time.
 
Re: Glass for LMT MWS 308

Well guys I just pulled the trigger and bought the NightForce F1 with MLR2.0. I was losing sleep over this decision so Im so excited I finally bought it.

Mike over at CS Tactical was awesome. He really went out of his way to help me with this purchase. I must have spent over 2hours on the phone with him going through all my options. I would highly recommend buying from him and If I ever buy another scope it will be from him. Thanks Mike and everyone else for your input.