I'm looking to make a scope purchase and it will be my first higher price/quality "tactical" optic. I would like some opinions and advise to make sure I make a good choice.
The gun is an AR15 rifle with a 20" heavy barrel in .223/5.56 caliber. This is going to be a range toy and I have no intentions of using it for any kind of self defense, hunting, or competition.
The local range that I frequent the most, has 50, 100, and 200 yard positions and only allows paper targets. I would like to start going to other ranges and shoot at 300-600 yards on steel targets.
I would like a scope with enough magnification and a reticle that will allow me to shoot good groups at 50-100-200 yards on paper, and also allow me to shoot at longer ranges on steel targets.
I'm leaning toward a Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42 F1 with the Mil C or Mil R reticle.
I've also found a Schmidt and Bender PMII 3-12x50 LP with P3L reticle and ST turrets on sale for about the same price.
I'm open to other suggestions with approximately $2500 limit..
It's difficult to find the models and reticles locally to compare. So here are a my concerns:
I think the NF Mil R and S&B P3L are simpler reticles. I might like them better when shooting groups on paper due to the center cross hair reticles, but look like they might lack some of the finer graduations to make quick windage/elevation corrections. The NF Mil C looks like the graduations might make windage/elevation corrections easier, but seems to have more of a floating center dot that might hinder groups on paper. I'm not sure if any of the reticles become overly thick on high magnification and hinder shooting smaller groups.
I'm looking at a Geissele Super Precision cantilever scope mount. I want to make sure the mount, scope, and rifle fit properly. I'm looking at the 1.54" height "standard" length cantilever model. It's only available in 0 MOA in black (SKU 05-417B), but I believe the scopes have enough elevation to make that a non factor at the max range that I'm planning to shoot. If I need the extra elevation, it appears to be available in 20 MOA (SKU 05-422S) in a tan color that doesn't match anything else on the rifle/scope. Or, I'm sure there are other options if the extra 20 MOA is necessary.
The gun is an AR15 rifle with a 20" heavy barrel in .223/5.56 caliber. This is going to be a range toy and I have no intentions of using it for any kind of self defense, hunting, or competition.
The local range that I frequent the most, has 50, 100, and 200 yard positions and only allows paper targets. I would like to start going to other ranges and shoot at 300-600 yards on steel targets.
I would like a scope with enough magnification and a reticle that will allow me to shoot good groups at 50-100-200 yards on paper, and also allow me to shoot at longer ranges on steel targets.
I'm leaning toward a Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42 F1 with the Mil C or Mil R reticle.
I've also found a Schmidt and Bender PMII 3-12x50 LP with P3L reticle and ST turrets on sale for about the same price.
I'm open to other suggestions with approximately $2500 limit..
It's difficult to find the models and reticles locally to compare. So here are a my concerns:
I think the NF Mil R and S&B P3L are simpler reticles. I might like them better when shooting groups on paper due to the center cross hair reticles, but look like they might lack some of the finer graduations to make quick windage/elevation corrections. The NF Mil C looks like the graduations might make windage/elevation corrections easier, but seems to have more of a floating center dot that might hinder groups on paper. I'm not sure if any of the reticles become overly thick on high magnification and hinder shooting smaller groups.
I'm looking at a Geissele Super Precision cantilever scope mount. I want to make sure the mount, scope, and rifle fit properly. I'm looking at the 1.54" height "standard" length cantilever model. It's only available in 0 MOA in black (SKU 05-417B), but I believe the scopes have enough elevation to make that a non factor at the max range that I'm planning to shoot. If I need the extra elevation, it appears to be available in 20 MOA (SKU 05-422S) in a tan color that doesn't match anything else on the rifle/scope. Or, I'm sure there are other options if the extra 20 MOA is necessary.
