Rifle Scopes Longer Range scope and mount for AR-15??????

[Rem7targetactical]

I have a friend who is a retired Navy guy and is 73 years old. He is amazed with my precision rifle and the idea of long range shooting. Right now we have access to 200 yards at the local range but can travel to 1,000 and everything in between. My friend has a AR-15 that we put a new upper on with a 24" stainless bull barrel with 1-8 twist. We mounted a bipod and upgraded the trigger and stock to the Magpul PRS. He wants a higher magnification scope and a one piece mount but I'm not familiar with this platform. He likes the idea of a lot of power to help his old eyes and I've been leaning towards the Bushnell Elite 6500 4.5-30 because it's a smaller body scope with a huge magnification range. Any other suggestions? How about mounts? I was thinking Nightforce unimount extra high? Any suggestions would be appreciated. We are planning on going to at least 600 yards and he likes the idea of more power than my NF 5.5-22X50 at even 200. Thanks.

 

[Speedie]

Funny, I'm going through a similar process of elimination at the moment for a 20" AR15 and a 20" AR10. I'd like them scoped the same so that I'm not having to switch reticles, controls, ranging magnifications etc when switching rifles.

Nothing against the Bushnell, but have you considered the Sightron SIII 8-32x56 with whichever reticle you/he prefer? I can't find a bad review anywhere, just suggestions that the glass is at or near NightForce quality for quite a lot less money. Build may not be the same as a NF but it doesn't sound as though you intend to use your scope as a hammer There's also their 10-50x60 model if your friend wants really high magnification, but you give up a lot of elevation adjustment with that model.

I have a NF Unimount on order so we're definitely thinking along the same lines. The extra high (1.375") should still give enough clearance for a 56mm objective even taking the 20MOA slope into account. I've never had any issues with NF rings in the past and I don't expect the Unimount to be any different. 70MOA of adjustment in the SIII 8-32x56 + 20MOA in the Unimount would get you 55MOA up if you assume that the SIII on a 0MOA base would zero at 100yds exactly in the middle of its adjustment range ((70 / 2) + 20). That's plenty for 600yds where you'll have a bullet drop of around 132" (21MOA) and 800yds (BD ~ 332" = ~ 40MOA). 1,000yds would be pushing it, but you're pushing the envelope of the round itself at that point.

 

[Rem7targetactical]

Funny, I'm going through a similar process of elimination at the moment for a 20" AR15 and a 20" AR10. I'd like them scoped the same so that I'm not having to switch reticles, controls, ranging magnifications etc when switching rifles.

Nothing against the Bushnell, but have you considered the Sightron SIII 8-32x56 with whichever reticle you/he prefer? I can't find a bad review anywhere, just suggestions that the glass is at or near NightForce quality for quite a lot less money. Build may not be the same as a NF but it doesn't sound as though you intend to use your scope as a hammer There's also their 10-50x60 model if your friend wants really high magnification, but you give up a lot of elevation adjustment with that model.

I have a NF Unimount on order so we're definitely thinking along the same lines. The extra high (1.375") should still give enough clearance for a 56mm objective even taking the 20MOA slope into account. I've never had any issues with NF rings in the past and I don't expect the Unimount to be any different. 70MOA of adjustment in the SIII 8-32x56 + 20MOA in the Unimount would get you 55MOA up if you assume that the SIII on a 0MOA base would zero at 100yds exactly in the middle of its adjustment range ((70 / 2) + 20). That's plenty for 600yds where you'll have a bullet drop of around 132" (21MOA) and 800yds (BD ~ 332" = ~ 40MOA). 1,000yds would be pushing it, but you're pushing the envelope of the round itself at that point.

The only thing I have against the Sightron is that it is nearly 2" longer than the Bushnell and the Bushnell is $900 for 4.5-30 where the Sightrons are closer to $1200. I was trying to keep the setup on the smaller side as some of the large magnification scopes get to be huge. Also if I were to spend $1200 on a large body scope I would get a used NF off ebay. Just saw the same one as mine go for $1400 used.

 

[Speedie]

The only thing I have against the Sightron is that it is nearly 2" longer than the Bushnell and the Bushnell is $900 for 4.5-30 where the Sightrons are closer to $1200. I was trying to keep the setup on the smaller side as some of the large magnification scopes get to be huge. Also if I were to spend $1200 on a large body scope I would get a used NF off ebay. Just saw the same one as mine go for $1400 used.

If you meant the SIII 8-32x56 then it's available for < $800 shipped which is a heck of a deal.

 

[Rem7targetactical]

If you meant the SIII 8-32x56 then it's available for < $800 shipped which is a heck of a deal.

Really? Where at? I looked on Ebay and Midway and it was over $1,000 on Ebay and $886 + ship on Midway.

 

[Speedie]

Really? Where at? I looked on Ebay and Midway and it was over $1,000 on Ebay and $886 + ship on Midway.

PM sent, I don't want to tread on any toes

 

[BERTMAN77MK2]

Larue, ADM, and Nightforce are all good mounts or a pair of Seekins rings on an extended rail.
I have been well served by any of the Tier 1 scope brands in the 6 X 24X and have never needed any more power
on any AR15 at extended ranges. (700+ on prairie dogs)

 

[samnev]

If it's within his budget how about a NF NXS 8-32X56 with a MOAR reticle in an NF 20 moa unimount or ADM Recon mount.

 

[CSTactical]

Nightforce 5.5-22x with the NF unimount!