New optic for AR

[MJD]

I've been shooting a carry handle/fixed front sight for years and am looking to get into an optic for my AR.

I would prefer some magnification, but don't need a ton. My shooting is usually within 200 yards. I have opportunity to go longer, but that's mostly for practicing for hunting with my regular hunting rifle.

I do prefer having a reticle that'll always be there, so I'm leaning away from red dots/magnifier combos for simplicity's sake. Nothing wrong with them - they are easy to shoot with and have obviously proven their mettle overseas the last 16 years - I would just prefer to not be entirely dependent on the presence of a battery.

I've looked at the Burris AR-336, Vortex Spitfire 1x, Burris Mtac 1-4, and Leupold Mark AR 1.5-4 so far. I know the spitfire also comes in 3x, but am I missing any other models? I'm looking for guidance and feedback on these and other relevant models from those who own them or sell them.

Purpose is usually just plinking and general shooting, I don't hunt with this rifle. I'd prefer to spend south of $500 (including mounts where applicable).

 

[Old Dog]

Within your guidelines (under 500 including mount), I'd opt for something such as a Vortex Strike Eagle (1-6 or 1-8). Etched reticle, second focal plane, reticle still present and quite clear without turning power on.

Typically around $329 (more for the 1-8) on sale at retailers, a good Burris PEPR mount can be had for under a $100, a little more for a QDR version. This is about the least expensive optic I've ever used on any AR, and I've gotten pretty good service out of mine. At no magnification (a true 1x), the reticle is good out to 100 yards.

For plinking and general shooting (and defensive purposes), I have found the Strike Eagle good to go for a fairly budget optic. It's not great glass, but for the money and light use, it serves its purpose.

 

[Skylerbone]

I own 3 Leupold Mark ARs, a 3-9 in a Rock River mount and two 1.5-4s for a .357 lever and a .177 pellet rifle. All 3 have good glass, hold adjustment well and track reasonably well.

I own a lot of scopes from numerous makers. Three of the past four I purchased (all this year) were Leupolds and now is a fantastic time to buy one with prices having dropped significantly the past few months. I paid $188 ea. For the 1.5-4s on clearance locally at Field & Stream.

 

[chicharrones]

. . . so I'm leaning away from red dots/magnifier combos for simplicity's sake. Nothing wrong with them - they are easy to shoot with and have obviously proven their mettle overseas the last 16 years - I would just prefer to not be entirely dependent on the presence of a battery.

Smart. By avoiding the combo, you can keep the total weight down.

What kind of AR? Rifle, Carbine, fixed stock, adjustable stock, etc? Removable carry handle, I assume?

 

[MJD]

Smart. By avoiding the combo, you can keep the total weight down.

What kind of AR? Rifle, Carbine, fixed stock, adjustable stock, etc? Removable carry handle, I assume?

You are correct - removeable carry handle on a 16 inch barreled mid length with a collapsible stock.

Leupold is local to me, so l a few retailers have pushed them hard. I've hunted with a VX3 for years and it's always been good glass. Hard to tell under perfect store conditions, but the Mark AR's glass seems to be pretty good quality....then again, all the above mentioned looked good in the store too.

 

[chicharrones]

. .. removeable carry handle on a 16 inch barreled mid length with a collapsible stock.

My AR started off similar to yours, except I went straight to optics and put on a fixed stock after some time. After using a couple of different red dots, I went with a 1-4x20 Leupold VX-Hog in an Aero Extended mount. The VX-Hog was on sale at the time, so I jumped. Plus, I prefer to have the turrets capped as I tend to bump into things. The VX-Hog and Aero Extended mount weigh in at 11.2 ounces together, which actually weigh less than the EOTech 517 I had on there before.

The VX-1 and VX-2 are the same size and weight without the busy reticle of the Hog.

View attachment 769192

 

[Orcon]

Not sure if you like Bushnells at all but Brownells has the Bushy 1-4x24 AR Optics on sale for 80 bucks with free shipping code. I ordered one this morning, hope it's good.

https://www.brownells.com/optics-mo...cope-drop-zone-223-bdc-reticle-prod58423.aspx

 

[chicharrones]

Not sure if you like Bushnells at all but Brownells has the Bushy 1-4x24 AR Optics on sale for 80 bucks with free shipping code. I ordered one this morning, hope it's good.

Gotta love Black Friday sales!

 

[MJD]

Man, that's a deal. I would like capped turrets, but I'm keeping my eye on that.

 

[Skylerbone]

The older Mark ARs had capped turrets, all of them have resettable to zero turrets. (The mounted "reference" scope below is a Nikon P-22, uncapped, lift and spin to zero turrets).

3-9x

1.5-4x

 

[MJD]

Great comparison photo, thank you. Is that a marlin 22? I grew up on the same!

 

[Skylerbone]

Is that a marlin 22?

Yes sir, my pride and joy! That Marlin 25N outshoots everything I own in rimfire though I'm finally finished with an old Western Field (Mossberg) that may edge it out but I won't hold my breath. Even my CZ 452 only equals it at 4x the price.

Orcon's link had me wanting one of those Bushnells at that price and clearly I don't need another AR scope what with the 3 I own and the 2 red dots. I could always swap it on to the pellet rifle and put the Leupold on the 10/22 I bought last night...hmm... I think for what you're wanting to do you ought to figure it being the best suggestion yet and spend the savings on a good mount.

 

[Orcon]

Yeah, pair that scope with a Burris PEPR or Leupold IMS and you'd be ready to rock for under $200.

 

[MJD]

Lots of good options here. I have my research cut out for me...hope it doesn't turn into paralysis by analysis!

Good thing the irons won't wither and fall off in the interim.

 

[MJD]

Yes sir, my pride and joy! That Marlin 25N outshoots everything I own in rimfire though I'm finally finished with an old Western Field (Mossberg) that may edge it out but I won't hold my breath. Even my CZ 452 only equals it at 4x the price.

Orcon's link had me wanting one of those Bushnells at that price and clearly I don't need another AR scope what with the 3 I own and the 2 red dots. I could always swap it on to the pellet rifle and put the Leupold on the 10/22 I bought last night...hmm... I think for what you're wanting to do you ought to figure it being the best suggestion yet and spend the savings on a good mount.

Skylerbone, my dad's model 25 has provided many a squirrel gumbo and rabbit stew over the years. What a great rifle it is. I've spent a lot of hours in the oak flats with that one!

 

[jmr40]

A 1-4X scope is near ideal for an AR. And would work for 90% of the needs of most hunters. I started with 3-9X scopes and still use them on most of my bolt guns. For a while I was a fan of 2-7x scopes for lighter weight and more FOV on 2X vs 3X. But after trying a 1-4X on an AR I'm sold, they are near perfect for lever rifles as well. When set on 1X they are really fast to use, much better than I'd have thought over 2X, faster than irons or dot sights too. Weight on most of them is around 8 oz. and 4X magnification will cover big game hunting farther than most people can shoot.

If you're interested in precision or varmint shooting more magnification is a good thing. But on most AR's something with 1x on the bottom is good. I have the Leupold hog scope, but there are other good options. I'm wanting to try a 1-6X scope on a 30mm tube for use on a big game rifle. I may purchase one after the 1st of the year.

 

[Walkalong]

Compact, always "on", decent glass, BDC reticle for .223/5.56, Nikon P-223 straight 3X. Only thing I would like to see different is capped turrets.

 

[lindy]

AR-15 flat top in 22-250 with a Vortex Viper 51/2X20X50 Scope, Heavy barrel, Good on varmints to About 600 Yds.

 

[IndianaBoy]

MTAC with the new reticle is a pretty solid option out to 200 yards.

 

[BobTR]

Hello! If you need to shoot at long ranges and in poor visibility, you can use atn x-sight II hd 3-14x. I want to buy this scope for my AR.

 

[Wisco]

One of my favorite all time setups for a utility AR is a lightweight middy with a fixed Leupold 2.75x Ultralight. I always viewed it as a poor man's ACOG.

 

[NWPilgrim]

I have used a Leupold 1-4x20 and 3-9x40 on an AR15 16" but have settled on the VX1 2-7x33 as the optimal range for me. I think 1-4x is perfect for practical use to 200 yds, and it is smaller and lighter. However, I want a little more magnification when sighting in test loads at 100 yds. I have an AR15 set up with an Aimpoint PRO red dot for home defense, but for informal target, testing handloads, and plinking fun I like the 2-7x. Could have gone for a 1-4x for field shooting and a fixed 10x or something for ammo workups, but that would require more cost in scopes and costly quick release bases. I really like the Nikon M223 cantilever mount, but I think Leupold and Burris have similar ones.

 

[MJD]

Thanks for the observations. An impending cross country relocation has me stepped back from a purchase for the short term, so the irons remain for now unless a killer deal pops up.

Over the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to look through nearly all the options listed by posters. All have been in store and I wish I could have seen them all in field conditions at different times of the day for a more objective evaluation, but I didn’t see any that flat out didn’t look clear.

I think my sweet spot here would be:
-a 3x to 5x fixed power
-1 MOA dot or point (maybe with crosshairs, or a chevron like an ACOG)
-capped turrets
-illumination (I’m willing to forgo this)

I haven’t had my first cup of coffee yet and my memory may suffer as a result, but I don’t know that I’ve triangulated on one optic that does all these (correct me if I’m wrong!). This seems like it pulls elements from, among many others, the Vortex PST, Leupold patrol, Burris/vortex/PA prisms, Nikon AR 3 power, MTAC, and so on.

I very well may go with one of the variable 1-4 scopes since, of all those, it combines the majority of those elements.

Of course, having a great deal pop up may be the deciding factor. This area has a fairly brisk used market.

 

[md7]

I’d put forth the swfa 1-4 ss forward for consideration.

It has an interesting range finding feature etched into the glass, a diamond shaped reticle in the center for 100, 200, and 300 yards, hashmarks in the bottom for beyond 300, and it can be used without batteries or illuminated with batteries.

SWFA also has outstanding service, should you ever need it. They usually have a sale around tax day, if memory serves. Solid, affordable, and I personally love the reticle.

Good luck