'Scope choice for AR10?

[WaynePatrick]

I’m planning for an AR10 build.
I’m definitely going with an Aero Precision upper. Not sure about the rest yet but I want good quality.
I’ll be looking for a long range scope too. I have no idea what I’ll end up with.
I’m budgeting $1500.00 for the scope.

 

[ms6852]

I have the Nikon Monarch with BDC reticles on my AR and have it set out to 600 yards with a 200 yard zero. I have shot at 500 yards using the reticles and they are dead on. Only problem is that you have to use the same bullet weight which I do. You can use different weights but you must zero for each weight for the BDC reticles to perform as they should.

 

[Polar Express]

Similar to your planned build, I'll be using an Aero upper. I'm also going with an Aero lower, and for my first upper, I plan on using a Vortex scope. I just posted in another thread, about a Vortex unit I'm wanting to put on my M1A, but these will be the first two Vortex products I've tried. (they aren't here yet, but my awesome wife wanted Christmas ideas). I'm really curious to try them out, and see how well I like them. I don't plan on doing long-range competitions as of yet, so I'm just not sure I need or want to spend the big-dollars for the extra-fancy optics out there. The one I put on the list is the 4-12x56 AO "hog hunter", so we'll see what Santa brings!!!

PE

 

[dcloco]

I am NOT a Nikon fan. ...need to say that up front. I REALLY LIKE my Nikon P308 on my ARTen.

As ms6852 - easy to roll to 6 bones.

After that, I would prefer a Leupy, of the Mark 4 variety, with some spinny knob tacticool things.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

With $1500 you can get something pretty nice. If you're current/prior mil/LE/etc Vortex does 40% off MSRP. Other companies offer discounts as well. The Vortex Razor Gen 2 scopes are excellent (but a little heavy).

Maybe look around for a used Nightforce NXS or something similar. There might be some deals out there especially with people looking for holiday money. Kahles, IOR, etc. would also serve you well. Something in the 5-25x50 range, but a 1-8x could be really versatile too. Check out Elcan's offerings, although new they cost a bit more than $1500. Trijicon has awesome stuff too, but then you're looking more at a combat-oriented optic rather than a long range precision setup.

I cannot recommend the Leupold MK4. It had its time, but the reality is that Leupold has failed to produce scopes that are as durable and repeatable as their competition. There are well-documented tests demonstrating this, to include the MK8, particularly one where scopes were tested after undergoing a series of vibrations and adjustments in a vice. Another highly respected YouTuber, TiborasaurusRex, only gives the MK4 a "C" grade. They just aren't all that great anymore.

It all comes down to what/how you want to shoot. Once you decide it'll be easier to guide the rest of your build

 

[cdb1]

It would be Leica, Steiner, Meopta or Leupold for me.

 

[Everready73]

SWFA is really solid https://swfa.com/swfa-ss-hd-5-20x50-tactical-30mm-riflescope-3.html . They offer an iluminated version at the top of your budget as well.

 

[farmerboy78]

Go vortex, or regret the purchase

 

[Txhillbilly]

Go vortex, or regret the purchase

Now that's funny!

The Razor series is the only "Good" scope they make.

 

[Walkalong]

Go vortex, or regret the purchase

Vortex has a good rep these days, but there are numerous other fine choices.

 

[Skylerbone]

I’ll be looking for a long range scope too. I have no idea what I’ll end up with.
I’m budgeting $1500.00 for the scope.

Inquiring minds want to know: what does "long range" mean to you? Yardage settled, what's the target or are you shooting solely for group size? Does the price include the full budget for a mount which may run several hundred dollars or is that separate? There are a dizzying array of reticles to choose from, have you tried any that struck your fancy?

If your budget were $400 I could rattle off a list of excellent choices, but spending more than most do on the whole works for glass means due diligence and perhaps some time on the Competition/Shooting sub forum where a few guys have been there and spent that (and are hopefully wiser for it).

 

[farmerboy78]

Now that's funny!

The Razor series is the only "Good" scope they make.

That' certainly not the truth... I have two razors, pst, and hst... haven' had one single issue with any! And the best warranty on the market that other companies are beginning to copy.

 

[imashooter]

That' certainly not the truth... I have two razors, pst, and hst... haven' had one single issue with any! And the best warranty on the market that other companies are beginning to copy.

Same here. I have 5-6 Vortex red dots, reflex / variable scopes, mounts, etc and all have been excellent. Have another coming in today (Sparc AC and 3x flip-style magnifier). A while back I purchased one new Vortex variable and a used one of the same type but with the bdc. The used one was perfect but did not include the covers. I called vortex wishing to purchase the covers and they insisted on sending them for free, which they did. That was my one experience with their customer service and I was impressed.

 

[cdb1]

Now that's funny!

The Razor series is the only "Good" scope they make.

The Razor is the only Vortex scope I’d own. And in the Razor price range their are others brands I’d rather have.

Go vortex, or regret the purchase

If that were true Vortex would have already put just about every other optics company out of business. I’ve found Vortex eye relief and low light clarity sub-par in everything but the Razor line. Also when mounting Vortex scopes the criticality of the eyebox is the worst I’ve ever seen taken as a whole and excluding Razor, and of course excluding bubble pack optics. I’ve also mounted many many of them.

 

[Txhillbilly]

That' certainly not the truth... I have two razors, pst, and hst... haven' had one single issue with any! And the best warranty on the market that other companies are beginning to copy.

The Viper PST's have a reputation for breaking more often than other scopes in the same price range.They have great features,reticle styles,etc. I find the lense quality isn't as good as other scopes in the same price range.
There are so many other companies that have excellent "Lifetime" warranties,Vortex's warranty isn't any better than most other companies.

The best warranty is the one you never need to use!

 

[cdb1]

Vortex pretty much copied Leupold’s warranty.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

Wayne, we're all dying to know more details about your build! Fill us in so we can focus our energy on offering some specific options.

There's obviously a wide spectrum of experiences/viewpoints here, which is nothing but good for you

 

[hq]

I’m budgeting $1500.00 for the scope.

What are you going to do with it? Hunting? Targets?
For a grand and a half I'd look at Zeiss or Swarovski for hunting, Schmidt & Bender for target duty, interchangeably according to primary preference. Maybe Kahles, Docter or Meopta too, depending on lots of factors. So let's start with the #1 question, the primary purpose you'll use the rifle for?

 

[imashooter]

For you Vortex haters: New additions today and love them:

 

[cdb1]

I have a Vortex Razor Mini Red Dot I really like. When Vortex first started selling scopes I read incredibly good things about them so I purchased two Vipers, a 2-7 and a 3-9. When I used them the first time I also had rifles with a Bushnell Elite 2-7 and a Burris Fullfield II 3-9 along. It surprised me that the glass was less clear to my eyes with the Vipers than the other two. The eye box was much more critical and the eye relief shorter. When I was selling scopes for two years we also had more Crossfires and Vipers returned defective than other non bubble-pack brands. It may be a statistical anomaly but we had very few Diamondbacks come back.

It is what it is. One area where Vortex is better than quite a few others is adjustments. They are more precise and repeatable than my Leupold VX-2, VX-R and VX-3, at least the Vipers are that I’ve messed with. If I twisted turrets that would be important but since I set and forget it isn’t. Everyone’s eyes are different. In low light I find Vortex and Nikon lacking compared to Bushnell, Burris, Leupold, Meopta and Zeiss. You may not.

All I can do is speak from personal experience instead of repeating what I’ve read or heard others say. If someone wants to define that as “Vortex hating” then so be it. I also believe Vortex binoculars and spotting scopes offer good value for the money, I’m just not enamored with their scopes.

 

[Ks5shooter]

You can get a nice Leupold for that money. Go LaRue for the mount,dont cheap out on the mount.