AR Sponsor
Posted: 6/28/2007 2:01:58 PM EDT
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Hey folks: At one point in time, I had a couple of scoped rifles. As my vision got worse, I gave up on distance shooting. At this point, I haven't shot a scoped AR in about four years. However, it seems like there are a lot of quality scopes out now with higher magnification from Nightforce & Leupold, among others. The farthest out I am likely to shoot is 600 meters, but it is far more likely that most of my shooting will be in the 300 meter range. I've been looking at the Nightforce & Leupold options, and I'm wondering how big of a scope I can get that would work well with the AR-15. I've noticed the objectives get substantially bigger with the higher magnification scopes. I'd like something that gives me a lot of magnification but is still small enough to use with high rings on a flat-top AR. So my questions are 1) how big of a scope you're running on your AR15, and b) have you encountered any over-magnification issues with it? And any mounting issues? Thanks! |
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Too much magnification can be linked to what do you want to do with the rifle, the barrel length, and what is the rifle designed for. If you have 16” AR flattop I would recommend a variable with a top end of 8x to10x. If you have a bull barrel AR 20” to 24” a scope that goes up to 15x to 25x. This can change from person to person. There is no reason to get a scope that will BY FAR out perform the rifle or get a scope that does not mach what the rifle was designed for. Good quality glass will help! Mike @ CSGW www.csgunworks.com [email protected] Here’s some testimonials about CS GunWorks What do YOU have to say about CS GunWorks What Do You Think Of Cs Gunworks? FEEDBACK about CSGUNWORKS.com |
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Appreciate the response, Mike. I spend a fair amount of time looking at the Nightforce optics on your site. I suppose I should clarify in that I have Retinitis Pigmentosa in conjunction with astigmatism. Light transmission and high magnification are important to me, and my vision gets progressively worse each year. My current scope is a Leupold VX-III that tops out at 10x, and it's not quite enough now, and certainly won't be in five years. My distance rig has an 18" barrel, and is to be used to punch holes in paper, most commonly at the 300 yard line. I've been thinking of something along the lines of the 6.5 - 22x. Any idea if this is to big to mount on an AR with a quality scope mount or high rings? |
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JohnnyEgo, I was shooting my flat top AR a few days ago doing load development testing. For that purpose, I shoot at 200 yards. I was using a Leupold 8.5-25X 50mm LRT. It is a fine scope. I use Leupold MkIV rings. In my opinion, this is the minimum magnification and the minimum quality scope you'd want for serious precision shooting at extended distances (200+ yards). Honestly 30-40X isn't too much if it can be obtained with EXCELLENT optical quality. I am not aware of scopes like this since Premiere Reticle gave up modifying Leupold scopes. Perhaps a NightForce varmint scope would work. When buying a scope with high magnification, I wouldn't buy anything but a variable. The ability to dial down the power is very useful. When it comes to buying a $2000 scope - try before you buy. Perhaps ask if it can be returned if you're not satisfied. I'm not a fan of illuminated reticles but perhaps they might help you with your condition. Are you able to get crisp definition of the reticle? I don't know any of the implications of your particular problems (RP and astigmatism) but I would suggest buying as high a quality as you can afford. Don't scrimp on your optics. Instead, you should stretch your budget. |
Thank you for the advice. While I appreciate a discount as much as anyone, I am not afraid to spend some bucks to get quality, nor to get more enjoyment out of the sport despite my vision problem. I'm also blessed to be in a position where I can afford to indulge in my hobbies to some extent. I currently run EOTechs w/ Aimpoint magnifiers on most of my ARs, and that seems to work fairly well for me out to about 50 yards. I do like illuminated optics, and it is much easier for me with a bright red reticle. I have very little amber sensitivity, and my green sensitivity isn't so hot either, but red works pretty well. No reticle comes out looking very crisp to me, so illumination probably isn't going to hurt the situation even on the brighter settings. Sounds like you didn't have any mounting problems with the larger scope bell, which was one of my primary concerns. |
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I run a 36X40 Weaver on my flatop AR (24 inch) I compete in F-class from 300 to 1000 yards. I have used a 2.5-10X44, followed briefly by a 6.5-20X44 and now the 36X. I had to get high magnigication because the dang F-class targets go so minuscule this year. I use a 20 MOA mount from Brownell's. No, it's not a QD with guaranteed return to zero, but then again I don't remove the scope much. So, get a 50mm or greater objective, it will fit fine on the AR with high rings. What you may want is a heavy duplex of Mildot reticle, i like a fine crosshair with target dot. I adjust the scope so that I do not wear bifocal glasses when shooting, the eyepiece is adjusted to fit my non-corrected eye. Then I put on neutral shooting glasses. I would say that any Leupold, Nikon Monarch, Burris or the S&B, Nightforce and others will do you well. Are both your eyes in similar condition? |
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The downsides to higher magnification are: 1. Lower light transmission (dimmer picture). 2. Higher cost. 3. Reduced field of view. This makes it harder to keep the target in the field of view during recoil, which makes is harder to impossible to see bullet impacts. 4. If the quality of the glass is not there, the higher magnification will do you no good since the picture will just get more blurry as you turn up the magnification. 5. May not be useful due to mirage. If you are going to get a scope with high magnification, it will need to be a variable. You should also be looking at spending at least $1200. Brands worth considering are Nightforce, IOR, US Optics, S&B, Zeiss, and Swavorski. I wouldn't bother with Leupolds, they make a good durable scope, but their quality of glass is simply not on the same level as the other brands listed. |
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