Rifle Scopes Which medium power scope for AR pistol, 6.5 Grendel 12.5"

[MichiganMitten]

I am currently in the build process for a Lilja 12.5" barrel and everything else that is entailed in a AR15 build. I wanted to take advantage of the accuracy afforded by that barrel with something more than a Viper PST Gen II 1-6x24. I was looking at 2-10 and 2.5-10 and 3-18 power scopes. I'm not sure what sort of experience will be had by combining a higher powered scope that lacks a 1X bottom end power.

My experience = very little. I shot rifles as a kid, went through basic, and kept up basic proficiency as a warrant officer.

Budget is approximately $1,500. I am leaning towards getting a used scope off of ar15.com atm, and have been combing through their classifieds. Not sure which ones to aggressively go after though.

Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Prebanpaul]

Leupold mark 5hd 3x18. I usually do not run this scope. However if your running on a pistol it is extremely short and super light weight.

 

[ccasanova]

I’ve been down this particular rabbit hole a bit and I’m still undecided myself, but I’ll tell you what I’ve tried...on a 11” 6.5G and 16” .223 Both barrels are very accurate, especially the CLE .223.

Minox ZP5 3-15 - a bit over your budget, fantastic glass, great turrets, solid reticle, illumination, ultimately just practically too big (long and heavy) for either rifle

Vortex Razor 1-6 - excellent glass, true 1x, great illumination, good magnification for the SBR but not for extended distances on small targets, overall too heavy for either rifle

Vortex HDLH 1.5-8 - I’ve run this on both guns, great glass, very lightweight and can make hits on 1 MOA targets out to 3-400yds easily on either rifle. (Nowhere to shoot further locally) Wish the center dot was illuminated. This is my favorite due to size/weight and practicality.

I’d like to try the PST2 2-10x32 and the Razor 1-10. I think one of those may be the ticket. If not I may pick up a second HDLH in 1.5-8 or 2-10, or maybe the new MIL model.

The Leupold mentioned above is a great option as well, I looked hard at it, the Minox and the 4-16 NF.

Dialing in your specific needs will help the decision.

 

[Prebanpaul]

I run 3 of the Minox ZP5 Mr4 5x25 and also their spotting scope. I love the glass. I am was looking at the 3-15 for a hunting rifle. Inbetween the nx8 and the Leupold they both had short bases lighter weight and more magnification. I have an 18 inch 6.5 grendel that I run a Burris xtr 4-20 SCR. 1000y is pretty easy.

 

[longshot2000]

If you are running an "AR pistol" there is no logic to having more than 8-10x on the optic. If you want to shoot a rifle, shoot a rifle, and use a mid-range scope like the ATACR or Mark 5 3-18x. For a pistol, and an avid snob when it comes to scopes, maybe think about Vortex or Nightforce. The Razor 1-6x is a great scope, and I am not a Raxor fan in the higher resolution scopes. ALso, Vortex has a 1-10x coming out next month. The ATACR 1-8x is probably the best single scope ever made, and would be my first choice. If you do not need two eyes open shooting, the NX8 1-8x scopes are great.

Goot luck.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

1-6 or 1-8, your choice. I would keep it as light and compact as you can.