AR Optics 1-8X 24mm, 30mm tube?

[Sniper66]

This scope, sold by Bushnell, is high on my list of possible scopes to mount on my new AR .223. Anyone out there have experience with this scope? Please share if you do. I'm looking for a scope that is made for the AR. I have found some I like better, but are 3X the money. What do you AR guys like? This will be my coyote calling set up, which requires quick target acquisition and occasional quick changes in magnification level.

https://www.bushnell.com/products/ar-optics-riflescopes-1-8x24/

 

[Tayne]

I put one of these on my new Ruger AR556 MPR a few months ago and I love it (see photo). The illumination is nice, but in bright daylight, I don't turn it on because the black reticle works fine. I haven't hunted with it (I'm just a range junkie), but it only took about 5 shots to zero it at 100 yards. I'd say the 0.1 minute-of-angle adjustments on the dial are kind of overkill, but as I said, I use it at the range for quick target acquisition and multiple shots, not trying to drive nails at 500 yards (although I bet it's capable of that). The first focal plane feature is also nice. At 1x it's basically a red-dot when illuminated, but at 4X, you've got cross hatches for 200, 300, 400, 500 yards.
I can't compare it to better (read: more expensive) scopes because I haven't used them. But while I may be a bit of a newbie, I do my research and the reviews for this scope all touted its specs/performance relative to price, so I think it's an excellent value. And frankly, I don't want to put an optic on my AR that makes it too precious for me to go out and shoot a lot. Isn't that the point of having a semi-auto sporting rifle?

 

[Skylerbone]

My feeling is Bushnell is hit or miss on lower end optics, and I’ve used plenty of them in the past 4 decades. I still own an RDS and recommend them but at $75 for a 1-year warranty they’ve been beaten out by others’ lifetime no-fault programs.

The one in question has a lifetime warranty on defects of material and manufacturing, but not on illumination which is a 1-year warranty. $350 or whatever street price is, is a fair amount to chance on a working rifle. I’d suggest looking at Primary Arms, a 1-6 ffp will run $399 on sale. If 6x gets you there.

 

[LoonWulf]

I've seen those Bushy's on sale for 299 or so a few times, if I do again may buy one for my .350 build.....when ever I get to THAT project ...
I've had good results with most of the 100+ Bushnell's, tho an equal amount of failures on the lower end.
Personally for my "budget" (well pretty much ALL my optics are budget) optics Ive been buying athlons and been very happy.

 

[troy fairweather]

Yup nothing wrong with most bushnells, they tend to suffer from short eye releaf. Tho on an AR you don't need much.

 

[greyling22]

my beef with nearly all of the 1-whatever AR scopes is that I hate the reticle. They are all these busy tiny dot in a huge circle with holdovers and windages etc.

 

[Skylerbone]

Rapid Reticles makes a 1-6x FFP for $499. I’ve been very happy with their 3-9x that I’ve owned for 9+ years. It’s survived some very tough hunts and a good 1,000 rounds of 30-06. https://www.rapidreticle.com/index.php/products/rr-evolution-3g Also comes in black.



Like mine, just range and shoot. Bracketing supplied within reticle.

 

[Sniper66]

Well folks, I bit the bullet and bought one. I have the good fortune of living near the Bushnell Outlet in KC so lots of availability and my local gun club membership gets me a good discount. MSRP on it was $399 and I paid $275 tax included. Even if it's a dud, it won't be a big investment The reticle is a very un-busy type so I like it. Might use the illumination in the evening when calling coyotes and coons late in the day. I'm spending quite a bit on a custom AR and hope to learn a lot with this scope and upgrade if needed. Wish me luck....my first AR.

 

[Chuck R.]

I put one of these on my new Ruger AR556 MPR a few months ago and I love it (see photo). The illumination is nice, but in bright daylight, I don't turn it on because the black reticle works fine. I haven't hunted with it (I'm just a range junkie), but it only took about 5 shots to zero it at 100 yards. I'd say the 0.1 minute-of-angle adjustments on the dial are kind of overkill, but as I said, I use it at the range for quick target acquisition and multiple shots, not trying to drive nails at 500 yards (although I bet it's capable of that). The first focal plane feature is also nice. At 1x it's basically a red-dot when illuminated, but at 4X, you've got cross hatches for 200, 300, 400, 500 yards.
I can't compare it to better (read: more expensive) scopes because I haven't used them. But while I may be a bit of a newbie, I do my research and the reviews for this scope all touted its specs/performance relative to price, so I think it's an excellent value. And frankly, I don't want to put an optic on my AR that makes it too precious for me to go out and shoot a lot. Isn't that the point of having a semi-auto sporting rifle?

My guess is it's really .10 MIL, not MOA which is slightly larger than .25" clicks normally found on an MOA scope.

 

[Sniper66]

Well crap!! Gotta return the scope. Didn't realize that the windage/elevation adjustments require a coin to turn them. I've been getting rid of scopes that are so equipped. It's back to the search. BTW, if that feature doesn't bother you, it looks like an otherwise good scope.

 

[Tayne]

My guess is it's really .10 MIL, not MOA which is slightly larger than .25" clicks normally found on an MOA scope.

What's the difference? Sorry, I don't really understand your terms and I'm here to learn. All I know is it took quite a few clicks on the windage/elevation knobs to move the point of impact a full minute at 100 yards.

 

[Chuck R.]

What's the difference? Sorry, I don't really understand your terms and I'm here to learn. All I know is it took quite a few clicks on the windage/elevation knobs to move the point of impact a full minute at 100 yards.

Generally MOA scopes have .25" adjustments (some of the LPVOs are in .5MOA). A lot of the "tactical scopes" are not MOA, they're in MILs (also called MRAD) with a MIL being roughly 3.6" at 100 yards. An MOA is about 1" at 100 yards. So a .10 MIL adjustment is about .3" at 100 VS .25" adjustment for an MOA scope. If you look at your scope it's pretty easy to sort out, just by counting the clicks between numbers.

I've seen a couple .10 MOA scopes that were designed for LR shooting because the finer the adjustment the smaller the changes at distance, meaning the scope can be more "precise".

For instance a Mil scope .10 click at 1000 yards = 3.6" whereas a 1/4MOA click at 1000 = 2.6".

So if you want to make an adjustment finer than 3.6" at 1000, you're going to end up "shading" your aim point some, because your adjustments aren't fine enough.

Here's a couple decent articles that covers it:

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2011/2/18/mil-moa-or-inches/

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2013/07/20/mil-vs-moa-an-objective-comparison/

 

[Sniper66]

Chuck R. That is helpful, thank you. Then you have scopes that don't "click", thus making the variation infinite. So you just kinda guess. I've also had scopes that click or don't and the adjustment varies widely. They can burn up a fair amount of ammo fooling with them...cheap scopes becoming not so cheap.

 

[Walkalong]

.cheap scopes becoming not so cheap.

Amen to that.

 

[vkeith]

PSA has the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 in a package deal with a Vortex 2" cantilever mount on sale for $300 shipped.

I recently purchased one and have it mounted but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

The reticle design is somewhat similar to the Bushnell in your link.

It has finger adjustable windage and elevation knobs under the turret caps and the elevation turret cap houses an extra 2032 battery.

Unlike the built-in Bushnell throw lever, a Vortex clamp-on throw lever costs $70 extra and is fairly large.

With the sale price I think it's a pretty good deal but check one out and see what you think.

 

[Tayne]

Generally MOA scopes have .25" adjustments (some of the LPVOs are in .5MOA). A lot of the "tactical scopes" are not MOA, they're in MILs (also called MRAD) with a MIL being roughly 3.6" at 100 yards. An MOA is about 1" at 100 yards. So a .10 MIL adjustment is about .3" at 100 VS .25" adjustment for an MOA scope. If you look at your scope it's pretty easy to sort out, just by counting the clicks between numbers.

That makes sense. I went back and looked at my manual; you are right, the adjustments are in 0.1 MILs. Also, I read original post too quickly to realize Sniper66 was talking about the 1x8 24mm Bushnell; my scope is the 1x4 version. My bad. Still like the scope though.

 

[jmr40]

I can't comment on Bushnell. But think you're on the right track. I don't think I'd pay extra for 8X though. 1-6X or even a 1-4X will be enough magnification. I have this on my Ruger MPR and like it a lot.

https://www.swfa.com/vortex-1-6x24-strike-eagle-30mm-rifle-scope-kit.html?___SID=U

No illuminated reticle, but I picked up 2 of these off the sample list for under $200 each a while back. I have one on another AR and one on a 308 bolt gun. These are VERY nice.

https://www.swfa.com/nikon-1-4x24-m-tactical-30mm-riflescope-179153.html?___SID=U

Looking through the sample list on at www.swfa.com I found this. Looks to be a good deal on a lightly used scope.

https://www.samplelist.com/swfa-ss-1-4x24-tactical-30mm-riflescope-demo-c-3.html?___SID=U

 

[greyling22]

https://gun.deals/product/vortex-st...antilever-30mm-ring-mount-22999-afte#comments

1-6x strike eagle with mount for $230 shipped. I used on the other day. Optics are fine, but I don't like the reticle.

 

[shoobe01]

I also live near enough the Bushnell outlet, but in my case that was a terrible thing. Was looking pretty okay at the AR scope despite some shortcomings, then I looked at an SMRS.

That's a really, really nice scope. Ended up buying a NOS SMRS-1 instead as it had mil knobs, but generally love it.

 

[jmorris]

PSA has the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 in a package deal with a Vortex 2" cantilever mount on sale for $300 shipped.

I have one and it’s pretty impressive the nightforce 1-4 is my current favorite low power but that could change. Dollar for dollar the VSE is hard to beat.

 

[SageRatSafaris]

A lot of the "tactical scopes" are not MOA, they're in MILs (also called MRAD) with a MIL being roughly 3.6" at 100 yards.

Just to be clear, 1 mil is *exactly* 3.6 inches at 100 yards. More generally, a mil is 1/1000 of the range to the target. You may recognize 3.6 inches as 1/10 of a yard (100 yards * 1/1000).

 

[Sniper66]

Still waiting on my rifle build so have no report on the wisdom of my scope choice. Should get it next week. In the meantime I'm shooting deer this weekend with a ,243 and a Bushnell Elite 4-16X

 

[gotboostvr]

I got one of the Vortex Strike Eagles in 1-6, I thought the field of view and parallax seemed better enough to sacrifice the extra magnification.

I like the reticle, it's not too busy, but still useful. Illumination is great, and has nice turrets.

I like Vortex as a company as well, their custom service has a very good reputation.

 

[Chuck R.]

Just to be clear, 1 mil is *exactly* 3.6 inches at 100 yards. More generally, a mil is 1/1000 of the range to the target. You may recognize 3.6 inches as 1/10 of a yard (100 yards * 1/1000).

Just to be really, really, clear, 1 Mil is *exactly* 3.599" at 100 yards.....and is rounded up to be 3.6".

But, who sweats small chit like that......right?

 

[pblanc]

Keep in mind that a scope with an objective diameter of 24 mm and a maximum magnification of 8X is going to have a very narrow 3 mm exit pupil at maximum zoom. There is no getting around this, it is physics. That means that at high magnification, your eye box will be very narrow and your shooting eye will need to be very precisely positioned to achieve a full field of view without vignetting. In dimmer light, the diameter of your pupil is going to be significantly greater than the exit pupil of the scope at 8X.