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AR15 Scope Help

Printed From: OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc.
Category: Scopes
Forum Name: Varmint Scopes
Forum Description: Critter gittin' scopes
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7523
Printed Date: March/29/2024 at 04:57
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: AR15 Scope Help
Posted By: ARGuy
Subject: AR15 Scope Help
Date Posted: August/16/2007 at 20:37

The AR shown below needs a scope, and I need some help deciding.

 

 

 

My goal is to engage ground hogs and the occasional yote at a minimum of 200 yds and a maximum of 300 yds.  My budget is $450 for a good scope that will accomplish this.  I would like to know everyone's opinion on the scopes I am looking at.  Weight and size also play a factor. 

 

1.  Leupold 4-12x40 VX-II Riflescope  (I have read enough posts to know people think Leupold is overpriced)

2.  Leupold 3.5-10x40 VX-III Riflescope

3.  Zeiss 3-9x40 Conquest Rifle Scope (Good glass, but only 9X)

4.  New Nikon 2.5-10x42 Monarch Riflescope (When they finally decide to come out)

5.  New Nikon 3-12x42 Monarch Riflescope 
6.
  Bushnell 2.5-10x40 Elite 4200 Rifle Scope (Would have already purchased, but hate the 3.3" eye relief)

Edit:

Thanks for the welcome!  The rail is produced by Daniel Defense and is free floated.  I hightly recommend it.

 

I would say that I will just opt for the Duplex type Reticle or LR Duplex if I go with the VXII by Leupold.  
 




Replies:
Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: August/18/2007 at 19:19

Welcome to The OT!!

 

Do you have a reticle type picked out??

Dulpex or ranging?

 

Edit to add:

 

Nice rifle!!

Who made your rail?



Posted By: ARGuy
Date Posted: August/20/2007 at 17:26

Someone please respond.



Posted By: cnwrobb
Date Posted: August/20/2007 at 17:31
Are the six scopes that you listed the "only" scopes you are considering?  Life is about choices and SWFA  has plenty of those. A lot of guys opt for the Super Sniper 10x42 for an AR account of large MOA adjustments.  I used to shoot varmint rifle exclusively with straight 12x Burris and more than held my own against guys with Leupy Mark 4's as they were fiddling with scope adjustments as I was shooting.  Can't even count number of coyotes that I shot with that straight 12x and shot from less than 100 yards out to 600 plus.

-------------
cnwrobb


Posted By: ARGuy
Date Posted: August/20/2007 at 21:00
I am wanting to stick with a variable power scope, but I did give the SS a hard look.    Does anyone have any experiece with the Bushnell elite 4200?  Is the 3.3" eye relief going to be a problem.  I know the .223 is not a knock back gun, and would be more concerned about comfort.  I also wander if the 10x is going to be enough to get ground hogs out to 300 yds even though my brother does fine currently with a 3-9x40 VX-I on a 300 weatherby mag!  I know slightly over powered, but a 110 grain projo stops them in their tracks.  Too many choices too little time. 


Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: August/21/2007 at 05:04

If you decide on a Duplex reticle, you may want to go with some target turrets.

Are you going to "click" or "lean" your shots...  

 

I'd lean 'em if I were you, meaning I'd use a ranging type reticle.

 

The Bushnells are nice, but they are LONGGG.

 

http://www.swfa.com/pc-6840-220-nikon-45-14x40-buckmaster-riflescope.aspx - http://www.swfa.com/pc-6840-220-nikon-45-14x40-buckmaster-ri flescope.aspx

 

http://www.swfa.com/pc-1894-220-nikon-6-18x40-buckmaster-riflescope.aspx - http://www.swfa.com/pc-1894-220-nikon-6-18x40-buckmaster-rif lescope.aspx

 

http://www.swfa.com/pc-8134-360-burris-4-16x44-signature-select-rifle-scope.aspx - http://www.swfa.com/pc-8134-360-burris-4-16x44-signature-sel ect-rifle-scope.aspx



Posted By: Dale Clifford
Date Posted: August/21/2007 at 15:47

Are you going to "click" or "lean" your shots... 

 

  well put.

 

get the leo 3.5 in 10 send back and have leo put m1 turrets in it.



Posted By: koshkin
Date Posted: August/21/2007 at 21:26
For his ranges (under 300 yards), I'd be surprised if he needs to do a lot of clicking with a 223.  The trajectory with varmint loads should be flat enough.

The eye relief of the Elite 4200 only makes a difference with rifles that kick heavily.  For an AR that is not a concern, and as for ease of use (i.e. eye position flexibiity), I think Elite 4200 would work great and, if anything, being closer to the objective lens makes the image look a little clearer.  It is probably the best bang for the buck in your price range. 

However, Elite 4200 2.5-10x40 is a rather substantial scope as are most of its competitors that are all of similar weight and size: Conquest, New Monarch, Burris Signature Select.

If you want something a little more compact, your choices really narrow.  Leupolds are typically fairly small and light, but I am not a big Leupy fan, so I would suggest you take a good look at Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x40 and Sightron S2 Big Sky 3-9x42.  Either would work well, while saving you some money and not giving anything up in terms of quality.

ILya



Posted By: sscoyote
Date Posted: August/22/2007 at 12:04
I'd also take a good look at the Burris Short Mag 4.5-14X32 Ball. Plex reticle. It's a very compact optic for it's power range, and has gotten some decent reviews. You're probably gonna want a ballistic reticle as soon as u find out that with 69 gr. bullets and others u'll be able to reach out farther than 300 yds. on chucks....but...u'll need to develop a good long-range shooting system with it (if u don't have those resources at your disposal already). That means purchase a cheap wind meter, calculate long-range dope with a ballistics program and field testing, and get a cheaper laser----that is, if u wanna make 1st shot connections a much higher percentage of the time, and WOW your buddies (and probably yourself too). In fact, once u learn how to apply it, when u forgot the laser u could use the reticle as a good reticle rangefinder guesstimate to make those long shots a little less of a guess than it would be for most. 

-------------
Steve


Posted By: ARGuy
Date Posted: August/22/2007 at 12:11

Thanks for all of the advice.

 

I also am needing help in the area of rings.  I was figuring on using the Burris Extreme Tactical 1" extra high rings.  I want to get by without having to buy any kind of rail extender.  Is this going to be a problem with the Bushnell Elite 4200, Leupold, Burris etc Scopes.



Posted By: Dale Clifford
Date Posted: August/22/2007 at 12:30
100 yd zero 2 moa to 300 yds, 8 clicks, why would you need a rail extender?? perhaps a riser????


Posted By: sscoyote
Date Posted: August/22/2007 at 13:00

Yeah, i wouldn't see a need for it either. That's the nice thing about the rail that's on there--flexibility for scope mounting.

 

I use the med. height Burris Signatures with Posi-Align, and no problems. My AR system is a little different. It was made strictly as a longest-range coyote sniper. I hate the weight as i'm a spot and stalk hunter these days, and usually don't come back to my truck until i'm thru. for the day. For this reason (and it's reticle) i elected to go with this compact scope http://www.rapidreticle.com/22lr3-9x32.htm - http://www.rapidreticle.com/22lr3-9x32.htm  adapted for the trajectory of my load. The reticle can't be seen that well in the ad, but it has vertical line stadia that divide the windage into fourths of the total subtension either side of the vertical axis, which is the best reticle windage system i've ever seen, IMO. This is a first focal plane reticle so it's not the best for calling coyotes in low light conditions at lower X's, but it will work, and its excellent application for LR shooting is its appeal really.  

 

My load is the 65 JLK Low Drag (BC-.397) @ 3050 mv, and i use the old DPMS VLD magazine modified to function correctly, BTW. This load practically mirrors the performance of the 75 Horn BTHP at 200 fps slower mv (besides downrange velocity), and the bullet is a little shorter. If u're interested in going out to farther ranges than 300 yds. on varmints i would highly suggest a system similar to this.

 

Not often u see guys approaching varmint shooting with AR's in a sniper-like manner, but they're not only the best calling rigs around to maximize the percentage of kills, but they're not too shabby in the intermediate-range (up to 500 yds.) performance as well, due to their excellent accuracy potential.



-------------
Steve


Posted By: ARGuy
Date Posted: August/23/2007 at 11:41

Well after much consideration I have decide to go with the Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x40 with Burris Extreme Tactical Rings, and Butler Creek Flip Ups.  I should receive my order next week.  After it comes in, it will be time to sight it in with some 55 grain hornady V-Max.  

 

I want to thank everyone for the help!



Posted By: cheaptrick
Date Posted: August/23/2007 at 14:41
Originally posted by ARGuy ARGuy wrote:

Well after much consideration I have decide to go with the Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x40 with Burris Extreme Tactical Rings, and Butler Creek Flip Ups.  I should receive my order next week.  After it comes in, it will be time to sight it in with some 55 grain hornady V-Max.  

 

I want to thank everyone for the help!

 

Your more than welcome.

Be sure to come back and post some pictures when you get it all together.




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