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Need Advice: AR-15 Scope 100-300yd

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Davd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Davd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Need Advice: AR-15 Scope 100-300yd
    Posted: August/15/2010 at 15:02
Hello,

I recently bought a used AR-15 (18" barrel) with a Flattop receiver and a Vortex Strike Fire Red Dot .  I like the Strike Fire very much but I want to swap in a Scope from time to time for longer distances (up to 300yd).  I've been shopping and reading around and it seems like a 1-4 power scope would do this very well for me, all I'm doing is target shooting.  I don't have a lot of experience with rifle scopes, so if you think I would be better off with a different selection please let me know.

I've narrowed down my selection to:

Nikon M-223 (I'm not too fond of the center dot cross hair)
http://swfa.com/Nikon-1-4x20-M223-Riflescope-Kit-P47570.aspx

Leupold Mark AR (A tiny bit over my budget, but not by much)
http://swfa.com/Leupold-15-4x20-Mark-AR-Riflescope-Package-Deal-P44572.aspx

Leatherwood CMR (It seems like a good choice considering cost/features, leaning towards this)
http://swfa.com/Leatherwood-1-4x24-CMR-Tactical-30mm-Rifle-Scope-Kit-P47565.aspx

All of these are kits, I currently don't own a set of mounts, so I hope Burris makes good mounts.  I've read good things about the Leatherwood CMR, and great things about Leupold as a company, but hardly anything about the M-223 series.  Considering cost/features and assuming all these scopes are made with more or less the same quality, I'm leaning towards the Leatherwood CMR. 

I would really like to hear your opinions, I'm fairly new to the AR and scopes in general Big Smile
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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/15/2010 at 18:09
Welcome to Optics Talk.
 
You may want something with a little more magnification than 4x for target shooting out to 300 yards. 
Is your budget around $400 or so?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/15/2010 at 18:16
http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-10x42-Tactical-Riflescope-P499.aspx
 
I typically swap out an Aimpoint and replace it with this 10x SS on my AR for shooting further out.
The 10x SS is the BEST money I've ever spent......(North of Juarez, Mexico.) Wink 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Davd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/15/2010 at 19:23
My budget is floating around $200 - $300 including rails, I know it isn't a lot when you're talking optics, but you gotta start somewhere.  I've heard great things about SWFA SS scopes, but I'm not sure if 10x might be overkill for shooting at ranges sub 300yds.  What kind of groupings can you expect out of a 4x at 300yds?  I'll probably spend more time at 100 - 200yds range with the occasional trips to the 300yd range.

I haven't had the opportunity to shoot farther than 100yds, I'm still pretty fresh when it comes to rifle shooting. 

Thanks for the recommendation!
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Davd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Davd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/15/2010 at 19:47
If it's not too much trouble could someone post a pic of the 10x scope at 300yds?  I would greatly appreciate it.  I'm going to go to a couple of gun shops tomorrow and try to get a feel for different scope powers.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3PERCENTER Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2010 at 08:37
I have the Leatherwood and I like the lazer-etched reticle and Zero-Lok feature but I wouldn't recommend it for 300 yards depending on how tight of groups you want, I guess if your just trying to keep it within a 8-9" circle at 300 yards, it might be ok. At 100 yards the center dot covers about 1-1.5" of the bulls-eye so I get about 2" groups with the Leatherwood. I've entertained the idea of a 10X fixed and would like to peek through one some time to see if I like it but I decided to get the Vortex Viper 6.5-20X44 for longer distance applications since it is on sale right now for $279. I bought a Bushnell Holosight a few years ago so I feel I have all my bases covered, I'll leave the Leatherwood on most of the time since it is the most versitile, the holosight for close-up run and gun applications and the Viper when I want to snipe at longer distances. With many of the Vortex's on sale, it's hard to resist grabbing one or more of these scopes.
 
I had the $99 Vortex 6-24X50 Crossfire on backorder but changed it to the Viper 6.5-20X44 for a couple of reasons, better glass and it also has a 30mm tube like the leatherwood so I only needed to buy one Burris PEPR mount, saving me $70, so the Viper without the extra mount was only going to cost me $110 more.
 
If you only wanted to get one scope, I would also include the Vortex Viper 2-7X32 with the BDC recticle for $169 but since this scope has a 1" tube I would be tempted to buy the Vortex 6-24 Crossfire for another $100 and you'll be setup for anything. So this combination would only be $340 with the Burris Mount.
 
If I didn't already have the Leatherwood, I would be tempted to get this combo but the Viper 2-7 does't have the illuminated recticle so that would be the trade off. The Viper probably having a little better glass but the leatherwood having the illuminated reticle.
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Davd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Davd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2010 at 16:34
Thanks 3Percenter!  I went to a couple of gun shops today to pick up ammo and look at some sights, I took a look at the Nikon M223 I listed and it seemed like a very nice and sturdy scope, with pretty decent glass and turrets but I still didn't like the crosshair.  I also looked through some of the other higher power M223 scopes with the BDC but they were a little out of my price range.  Unfortunately I couldn't find any Vortex scopes to look through, or videos on the specific models mentioned.  After seeing a few video reviews on the CMR and reading your post, I went ahead and ordered it from SWFA, I managed to grab the very last one in stock and it should be arriving later this week. 

I find it very hard to purchase most thing online without seeing a good video review or seeing it in person.  I think I'm going to settle for the 1-4x for now and spend more time at 100 and 200yds and hold back a little with the 300yd range.  When I'm ready to move up into a higher power I will certainly consider the Vortex Viper and SWFA SS. 

It seems like I'm slowly building an optics collection so it shouldn't be long before I have an itch to move up Wink

I'll try to post a mini review on the CMR for what it's worth.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2010 at 17:59
Davd... Welcome to Optics Talk. Careful about that particular itch, it's a hard one to control, and requires scratching often.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2010 at 19:57
6 x
SWFA SS 6x42 Tactical Riflescope SWFA SS 6x42 Tactical Riflescope
Stock # - SS6X42
  • Matte
  • Mil-Dot
  • 30mm
  • Rear Focus
  • OK for .50 cal
  • 1/4 MOA
$299.95
Burris AR-P.E.P.R. 30mm Scope Mount Burris AR-P.E.P.R. 30mm Scope Mount
Stock # - 410341
  • Matte
  • Picatinny Tops
$69.95

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote miss55 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2010 at 20:06
< where do these dipsticks crawl out of?>

Edited by koshkin - August/16/2010 at 20:10
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