1-4x scope selection for an sbr

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greyling22

greyling22

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I'm building an SBR ar in 300aac. I think my existing 3-9x that works fine on the current 16" barrel will probably look goofy on the sbr, so I am exploring options. Primary use will be broad daylight shooting cans and sticks and targets, probably with subs, at 20-50yds. It might see some time hunting pigs at dusk. While a red dot might work for you, my eyes don't like red dots much (astigmatism) and my vision isn't that great anyway, so I like a little magnification.

athlon talos 1-4x24 9.2" long 18oz illuminated $140
leupold vx-freedom 1.5-4x20 9.3" long 9.6oz $170 probably the new hog reticle.
nikon monarch 1-4x24 9.3" long 12oz $190 (refurb)
millett dms-1 1-4x24 11.3" long 18oz illuminated $150(camo) or 180(black)

if I go with a 30mm tube I have to buy a new mount. Do you think the illuminated reticle is worth the extra 8oz or length?

in the illuminated category, I like the reticle and turrets of the millet. But the size of the talos. also, millet is not my favorite brand.
 
i think the safe bet is the lueold or the nikon. nanchess has the bushnell 1.5-6x33 or something close for 120 ish loonwulf has one and likes it. i dont think i like the illuminated ones yet to heavy and never gets used the way i shoot good luck either way
 
I have VX-1's in 1-4X20 on a couple of AR's. Just to be different I put a Vortex 1-6X24 with a 30mm tube and lighted reticle on another. I really like having 1X on the bottom end and the 6X on the upper end helps at longer ranges. But I'll probably never use the lighted reticle. In low light a heavy reticle is easy to see. If the light is so bad that you can't see a heavy reticle you can't see the target either. Lighting up the reticle, or a red dot makes things even worse. You can now see the sight, but it is even harder to see the target.

Unless you're going to use some sort of night vision optics the best option for night shooting is a weapons mounted light. With something at 300+ lumens mounted on the gun I can see well enough to shoot out to 50-75 yards, maybe even 100 with the 1-4X20's.
 
Avoid the Millet, they ARE decent optically, and the reticle is good, but Ive had 3 and every one has worked loose in short order.

Ive not used the Talos, but for the cost im finding Athlons optics to be pretty bloody excellent. Mechanical on the standard Argos series arnt as good as the optics but very functional.

I have a Vx-Freedom, and like it better than ive liked any other leupolds scopes to date, I can recommend them.

The Monarch would honestly be my choice, just because ive had nothing but excellent results with all the Nikons ive owned.

The little Nikon Skyler mentioned is one i havent used yet, but ive looked thru them a few times and for the cost they are really nice....if short. On an ar tho it would be perfect.
Only down side to th P series nikons is the turrets pull up to disengage, when means if your not careful it isnt horribly difficult to push them down and mess up your zero. I had that happen a couple times on my minis 1-4.
 
I've looked through the little P scope. it's ok, but mounting it is kind of hard because the tube is so short, and a fixed 3x isn't really what I want. I want to be able to back down into the 1-2x range. The only millet I have ever had was a red dot, and it broke in short order. :/ bushnell replaced it with a much superior trs-25, but still.......

I saw a posting on reddit/gundeals today that said midway althon scope s half off, and I got all excited, but it was only 2 target scopes for sale, not what I wanted.

I'd be more interested in the athlon if it was
A) lighter
B) had a different/thicker reticle
C) had capped turrets

I guess I'm leaning a little more toward leupold at this point over the nikon because it is shorter, lighter, cheaper, and has a wider FOV at max. Also the nikon reticle is the BDC one, which is not my favorite.

I am certainly open to another option. as long as it is close to or under $200.
 
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Great timing on the question.

I put a Bushnell 1-4x20 illuminated first focal plane optic on my .458S and it's not working out. I couldn't get the reticle and the target in focus at the same time. Accurate shooting at 4x was difficult.

LGS has a vortex 1-6x on sale. I'm giving that a try.
 
greyling22 said:
I've looked through the little P scope. it's ok, but mounting it is kind of hard because the tube is so short, and a fixed 3x isn't really what I want. I want to be able to back down into the 1-2x range. The only millet I have ever had was a red dot, and it broke in short order. :/ bushnell replaced it with a much superior trs-25, but still.......

I saw a posting on reddit/gundeals today that said midway althon scope s half off, and I got all excited, but it was only 2 target scopes for sale, not what I wanted.
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Maybe call Doug at cameralandny and see what he can do, those guys push the athlons pretty hard.
 
I've been happy with my Steiner P4xi on a BCM 11.5". I was hesitant to go to a LPVO on it because it was a double duty patrol and SWAT entry rifle and I didn't want the extra weight.

Now that I'm only using it for patrol I gave it a try and love it. I haven't found it to be any slower than my Aimpoints but the extra magnification is convenient.
 
I have used the Leupold VX-R Patrol in 1.5-4x24 in the Leupold unitary mount. When I sold my AR-15 (pressure from my kids), I replaced it with a "hunting rifle, a Ruger Mini-14, that my kids find more socially acceptable...LMAO. I love the reticle (mil/mil) with the firedot.
 
You couldn’t give me the Athlon or Millet. I have never had a Nikon which didn’t give me a headache after extended use, but I do use them. Most of the Leupolds in that price range aren’t very impressive, so I typically pick up Bushnells for anything in that bracket. Off of your list, I’d buy the refurb Nikon over the Leupold if it comes with standard lifetime warranty, buy the Leupold if the refurb Nikon isn’t lifetime, and hard pass on the other two.
 
Flatbush Harry said:
I have used the Leupold VX-R Patrol in 1.5-4x24 in the Leupold unitary mount. When I sold my AR-15 (pressure from my kids), I replaced it with a "hunting rifle, a Ruger Mini-14, that my kids find more socially acceptable...LMAO. I love the reticle (mil/mil) with the firedot.
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THANK YOU! I was beginning to wonder why no love for the VX-R. :D It's a great scope.
 
I just purchased another Hi-Lux CMR 1-4. I have one on a Mini 6.8 and now will have one on a Mini 30. Having the same scope on multiple rifles has its advantages. Any on your list would be good choices.
 
If astigmatism is your primary concern with a 1x optic, there are companies that make 1x prismatic optics with an etched reticle. Burris, Primary Arms, Athon and Vortex are the companies that offer them. All of them offer and illuminated option as well.

The 1-4 market has stagnated IMHO. There are a few budget options, and a few high end options, but nothing that really pushed value/quality/features. The budget stuff isn't really 1x either, so don't discount optics in that range that advertise 1.1, 1.25 or 1.5x.

The better option is look used or step up to the 1-6x optics. You could shop the used market for things like a Burris MTAC, Primary Arms 1-6 or the Vortex 1-6 Strike Eagle or Viper PST 1-4. Those would be my recommendations, and pretty close to your price range. I wouldn't stress buying a new mount in 30mm. You don't need something fancy or expensive for it to be secure and durable.

ARFCOM is going to have all of those at used prices at any given time.
 
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I have a Burris Tac30 1-4x on my AR. I think it's Burris' budget variable scope. I just put it through a wet, muddy 10K run and gun biathlon in Texas, banging it against trees, steel culverts and other obstacles. The rag I brought to wipe mud off got all wet and muddy, too, so I had to use my finger to wipe the mud off the lens. Even with a mud smeared lens, I was able to hit the 500 yard gong twice. Despite the cold, wet conditions, it never fogged up on me, either.

When I got home, the whole rifle and scope had dried-up mud caked on it. I had no choice but to use hot water and a brush to clean it all off. I thought the scope was going to be ruined or the lens at least all scratched up, but it still works great. I did manage to lose the windage turret screw-on cap, though. I also don't know if the red illumination reticle works (I never used it anyway). But I'm impressed with how it held up to the abuse and still allowed me to make those 500 yard hits.
 
I just bought the Leupold with the pig plex recticle but I haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet. I’m putting it on a 223, not a 300.
 
greyling22 said:
I looked at the tac30, but the reviews in the red dot button are spotty.
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I read those same reviews. I haven't even tried using the illumination. Maybe it doesn't even work now that I got it all wet and muddy and then had to wet it again just to clean off all the mud? But from what I remember of the reviews is that it's somewhat of a pain to figure out and adjust the amount of illumination/brightness you want when using the side button. Supposedly, the Burris MTAC addressed those complaints by using a more user-friendly system. I have no experience with the MTAC, but my friend loves his.
 
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