1-4x for an AR. Help?

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BEELZEBOB

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LOL so I think I am going to ask the girl for a nice scope for xmas.

Doing my best to only consider options <$400.

i want at least 1X4, an illuminated recticle, and a nice cross hair.

So these are what I am considering, tell me if they suck, and throw some new suggestions @ me.

Burris 1-4x24 Fullfield TAC30
I like the aesthetic look and cost here, but don't know if i like the circle dot.

or

Leatherwood/Hilux CMR 1-4X24
a bit more, but I prefer the cross hair w/ circle recticle

what would you guru's recommend?
 
Many friends i shoot 3 gun with have the TAC30. They all complain that the reticle is to busy. Otherwise they love it. Holds zero, tough, etc.

I use a Weaver 1-3x classic. It is much lighter than the 30mm tube scopes. So far i haven't missed the 4x. Most of the 3 gun matches i shoot are 300 yard or less. I much prefer a simple crosshair. A small illuminated dot might be ok, but i find illumination to be a distraction in 3 gun. I did use an Eotech for a while. It was ok, but the illumination was a distraction during distance shooting.

Out of those 2, i would go with a simple crosshairs with a small illuminated dot.

edit: i am no guru, but i did sleep at a holiday inn express once.
 
Nikon M223 with the Nikon mount.
$359.99 with mount.

http://www.nikonhunting.com/products/riflescopes/m-223/1-4x20_Point_Blank/8485

http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-1-4x20-matte-point-blank-riflescope.html

I think illuminated reticules are vastly overrated myself.
If you can see what you are going to shoot, you can see the reticule without it.

They further add to the complexity of the scope turrent, a switch to fail, and enter a battery into the picture that may leak or corrode when it runs down in the gun safe at some point.

rc
 
At some two and three gun competitions you may run in to a dark house stage.

And, if you ever think that you may use your rifle in an actual defensive situation - it's real unlikely that it'll be in the middle of day with full sunlight.

An illuminated reticle, in conjunction with a weapon mounted light, makes identification and targeting very fast. Full daylight illumination is less important, but low light situations is a whole different story. Don't underestimate reticle illumination.
 
What do you use it for? For HD, range out to 300m, and just in general, I find the EoTech to be nice. I really like the Trijicon reflex, but it just wouldn't give me as tight of groups as the EoTech does. It is pretty nice really. You can get one for the price you mention if you look around, but for the magnification, you'll need one of those swing out magnifiers. They are costly, you could put that off though, and you may find you don't want/need it later on. For a good crosshair scope on the AR that is fixed 4x, the ACOG is the tops, but it is costly. I found a good one online for $600 used, but someone snatched it up instantly.

When you get into more features on a scope, you either increase the price to keep up the quality, or you reduce the quality in order to add the features. An illuminated adj. 1-4x scope of good quality for less than $400 may not be in the cards, but I could be wrong. I think most of the decent ones with those features start around $600.

If this is just a range toy though, perhaps you may be satisfied by a lesser quality scope with lots of features. If you intend on using it for anything else, you may want to reconsider your criteria. Just my opinion, but I place a high value on quality optics, I don't put junk optics on fine rifles (and vice versa).

You didn't mention what the rifle was capable of, what it is, or what it is to be used for, so my opinions are just in general.
 
I have a leupold VXI 1x4 on my 9mm AR15. decent scope. haven't done a lot of shooting with it yet though so I cant really give a hugely detailed review of it
 
If you decide on the Vortex pst....Liberty optics gives 10% for THR members...ordered mine and with the 10% off it is a great price on that scope....only 50 bucks more then the prce range mentioned in the op
 
I have three of the Millet DMS-1 scopes myself. They are built like a tank and the lit recticle is fantastic. You can usually shop the net and find them for less than $200.00. If you have the bucks to spend, like $440+, look at the Leopold VX-R 1-4 with the new firedot recticle. You can get the European style 4A, a circle dot, or the "Hog" recticle. Good Luck...
 
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I'm researching these as well. I helped my neighbor build an AR, and the optics are the last thing. I've talked him out of a standard red dot, and he would like to shoot some longer stuff with it, so the 1-4 seems perfect. I've been pushing the Burris as I think they're quality but the Nikon looks nice too.
 
The Leatherwood reticle is similar to the Burris XTR reticle, which I like a lot. It's not a precision optic but it does the trick. Looks like a good choice.

And by the way, if you and girl part company someday - it's only fair you let the rest of us know that's she's available...
 
Thank you guys again.

And yea, my girl is a total keeper. She goes tot he range w/ me almost every time.

only grief she gave me was when i spent $660 on 2400 rounds of M193.
 
If you haven't purchased a scope yet, you might want to look at the Horus (Horus Vision)Talon (1-4x). Nice glass, good eye relief, diopter adjustment, unique, illuminated reticle that gives holdover and lead information. Reticle illumination is compatible with night vision equipment.
 
So w/ the Burris tac 30 and MTAC,

My first impressions is that i dislike the reticle
illum._ballistic_cq_5.56_reticle.jpg


It seems big and chunky for any sort of precision shooting?

I deffinatley want a reticle that condones some basic prescision.

But then these pics make it look a little better. This is 4x @ 50yards.
13688730.jpg


For those of you who have, or have used this type of reticle what are your impressions?

It is honestly the only reason I have any debate and not pilled the trigger on one
 
I just hunt paper, and have yet to shoot past 300 yards.

So it doesn't need to be crazy. I just want a 1-4x that functions impeccably for what it is, accurate and easy to acquire targets between 50-200 yards.

Therefore I have decided against the Leatherwood because of the exit pupil and reticle.

But I have decided to get a Burris.

Its between the Tac30 and Mtac. Am I right in assuming that the only difference between the 2 are the turrets (using a coin vs my hands for elevation and windage,) and the push button illumination adjustments on the tac30?

With my budget, I can get the Tac30 w/ a PEPR mount and 1200 rounds of IMI.

OR I can get the MTAC w/ a mount, but no ammo.

it would be nice to not have a push button illumination adjustment, and to have turrets that i can adjust w/o a coin...

But 1200 rounds always makes me so happy
 
I have three of the Millet DMS-1 scopes myself. They are built like a tank and the lit recticle is fantastic.
Click to expand...

I have a DMS-1 that use to be on my M&P15. I'm not so sure it is built like a tank but the weight is close to that of a tank. That thing is heavy and then some. Mine got smacked hard during a training course and no longer illuminates. Doesn't much matter....it wasn't bright enough to show up in sunlight anyway. It was moved to my M&P15-22 (I do like the reticle) and an ACOG was put on the M&P15. With the 15-22 being quite light, the additional weight brings it up to about the weight of the average AR-15.

The DMS-1 is a heavy, bulky, low end optic and might be considered higher end for a Chinese built device, but it isn't anything to get all excited about. I'll never purchase another.
 
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