dmachine, thanks for your reply. (snipped )
Being an AR-10 / .308, I would go with the IOR 2-12x scope. However you said you want faster acquisition, in that case I would look at the IOR 1.5-8x with the CQB retical. This would be a great all around scope you could leave on all the time and be ready for anything. However it may be out of your price range, take a look.
http://www.valdada.com/catalog/db21c65d-2429-4509-b1d5-f4dbea62f0b9.aspx </div></div>
I bought a brand new IOR 2-12 two years ago. Aside from the fact that the scope and mounts weighed nearly 3 pounds, the scope was junk. Sent it back to IOR and was told it was in perfect condition by letter. Well, if you call optical distortion from 2-5x and from 10-12x "perfect"; and oil on the glass reticle, plus being unable to get crosshair and target in focus "perfect", I guess it was...
An AR-10 with even a 10rd magazine will weigh 11.5-12 pounds. Add a 3lb scope and you are really taking a step in the wrong direction.
If you want something fast & accurate, with some illumination aspect to it like Tritium, if you can shoot Iron Sights, maybe consider a carryhandle and front sight set with Tritium blade? Irons will deliver the rounds with precision at good distance, like 500/600 yds. How well does a dot sight perform at that range?
I have an AR-10 upper with an A2 upper receiver. Drilled another mounting hole in the carryhandle so a Reflex in carryhandle mount will work. It is a nice setup, compact and lightweight.
As far as dot sights go, on an M4 or tactical shotgun; sure! On a rifle? Why handicap yourself in a contest where if you don't win you die? </div></div>
Like any scope there is aways someone that has had a bad one. I have a 2-12x I just bought a couple month's ago, with the ring's it's about 2 lbs., the scope itself is 28 oz. I'm not sure why your's weighed 3 lbs? The one I have has incredible glass and couldn't be sharper. Everytime I show it to someone they are amazed with the glass in it. (And these guy's all own S&B, USO, NF etc., etc.) I also own a 3x IOR scope for AR's & stuff like that, (set up for 5.56mm / 62 gr.) it too is pretty sweet, super sharp glass, great retical, and always in focus. Maybe I just got lucky, but alot of what I'v read also stated the glass was top notch, I bought mine from Lib. Optics & I feel pretty confident that if I had a problem they would try to help me out. We all have some scope company we don't like, as for me it's Leupold. Alot of people love them and have very good luck with them, me.... never again!