Another Scope Recommendation Thread 18" AR

[Corpral_Agarn]

Okay so I've been piecing together this 18" upper for over a year now...

I'm looking at a 500 yrd-ish gun that will likely double as my Open Division 2 gun rig.

I was thinking about an ACOG with an offset red dot but there's so many scopes these days, I thought I'd ask about what else is on the market.

I like a good amount of eye relief and it will need to be somewhat durable.

Price range is $1-2k.

Any good recommendations?

 

[12Bravo20]

Nothing wrong with an ACOG or similar type optics for sure. But don't overlook a good 1-X LPVO scope either. If you get a LPVO scope with a true 1X versus a 1.5X then you can use it just like a red dot depending on the reticle. Even the 1.5X will work for close up but I personally prefer a true 1X. I've been using and testing out the lower priced LPVO scopes from Swampfox and have been pleasantly surprised at how well they work. I know they are not top of the line but it is allowing me to test them without spending a lot of money.

 

[taliv]

I just went through this. Upgrading my old 18” which had a NF 1-8 atacr on it. No prob hitting large plates fast with it on 8x. And even fairly small plates.

New 18” has a NF 4-16 atacr (actually a cheaper scope) and offset RMR.
much better at 500. Let’s me do some precision stuff. Only a little heavier which wouldn’t hurt you in 3gun.
downside is I wish it went down to 3x. I prefer 2-3x on the 1-8x in some circumstances and I’m currently limited to 1x or 4+
Btw I paid $2k even for the scope so it’s in your budget (demo deal at europtic )


Edit to add I will start a new thread soon on some of the shooting I’ve been doing. Hitting a close plate then 400 yard targets as fast as I can on a timer. Idk how realistic that is to any real world scenario but it’s probably pretty likely in 3gun. And it’s fun. The offset RMR really shines in that scenario. If you don’t need to transition from 10’ to 400’ faster than you can turn the mag lever, the 1-8 is prob the way to go.

 

[12Bravo20]

I'm currently running a 1-4 on my 16" AR22 and a 1-8 on my 18" AR15. Both scopes are working well for me so far. I did install throw levers on both to make it easier/faster to zoom in or out.

 

[Chuck R.]

For me it would depend on the majority of the TGTs you'll face. In our 3 Gun matches, the longest shots will be at 400 on smallish plates and those are a minority. The vast majority of our TGTs are 3-25 yds. During a match, 95% of the time my scope is on 1-3X and 3X is when they throw in mini-tgts and head shots.

For our distances a 1-6X or 1-8X LPVO works well. Most of the guys I shoot with and have been squaded with are using 16" guns. On my 3Gun rig I use a Leupold 1-6X 6HD with their multigun reticle. Mine's also got the CDS dial for my 62grn load.

I've got offset irons on my 3Gun carbine and have actually used them once......normally we see a movement requirement when going from short to long or long to short, so there's plenty of time to use a throw lever. It's extremely rare at pour matches to see the need to rotate the gun to go to an off-set.

My 18" SPR rig, isn't something I'd want to use in a match, it's heavy (SPR weight barrel) and a 4-16X scope. It's in the 9.7 lb range whereas my 3gun rig is a little over 7. It's just a faster gun between tgts.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Awesome replies, All.

Thank you!

I've only run a dot in the multi gun matches I've done and done well enough at distances up to 400.

But as @Chuck R. Pointed out, most distance I've gotten the last few years in a match is 200 on a "long range" stage. The rest is 0-25ish.

@taliv I appreciate your post and will be looking forward to your new thread!

 

[jrobb45]

Nothing wrong with an ACOG or similar type optics for sure. But don't overlook a good 1-X LPVO scope either. If you get a LPVO scope with a true 1X versus a 1.5X then you can use it just like a red dot depending on the reticle. Even the 1.5X will work for close up but I personally prefer a true 1X. I've been using and testing out the lower priced LPVO scopes from Swampfox and have been pleasantly surprised at how well they work. I know they are not top of the line but it is allowing me to test them without spending a lot of money.

What optics companies would you compare the Swampfox optics to?

best
jr

 

[12Bravo20]

What optics companies would you compare the Swampfox optics to?

best
jr

They are on par with the Primary Arms optics. I think they are better than any of the Nikon Prostaff scopes I have owned. I know they are clearer that the Nikon Prostaff scopes I have. And they are better than some of the older cheaper Simmons and Burris scopes I have on hand too. No they won't compete with something like my Bushnell Elite 4500 but I don't expect them to either.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Up until recently I’ve only run ARs with irons or high quality red dots. I got a Viper 1-6X24 about a year ago and love the concept of an LPVO now. I’m truly red dot fast on 1X as well with it.

That being said, I’ve got a Nightforce NX8 on order now. I had to return the Vortex back twice due to internal focus problems. It’s fixed now but I don’t really trust it anymore.

Anyhow, the setup makes an AR truly a 0-400y fighting arm (and fun gun). It’s pretty awesome.

 

[Varminterror]

“500 yard gun” means different things to different people. What do YOU want to engage at 500yrds?

Personally, my “500 yard guns” are 10.5” SBR-15’s, one of which carries a cheap Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x, and another of which carries a 4-16x44 Sig Tango4, which is the same scope I have on my 20” 5.56, also expected to perform at 500+. But I do expect to hit small targets with these.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

“500 yard gun” means different things to different people. What do YOU want to engage at 500yrds?

Personally, my “500 yard guns” are 10.5” SBR-15’s, one of which carries a cheap Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x, and another of which carries a 4-16x44 Sig Tango4, which is the same scope I have on my 20” 5.56, also expected to perform at 500+. But I do expect to hit small targets with these.

silhouette steel targets about 10x20 inches.

Been doing some research via the excellent youtube channel "SuperSetCA" and I am leaning towards the Vortex Razor Gen II 1-6 with the Miculek reticle (https://www.primaryarms.com/vortex-optics-razor-gen-ii-hd-e-1-6x24-riflescope-rzr-16008).

Seems like it has a lot going for it.