1-6x scope vs 3-18x scope for SCAR 17S

[Ragsdale0509]

I've recently added a SCAR 17S to my collection. My use is target shooting and deer hunting. I shoot paper and steel silhouette targets between 100 to 600 yards. I live in North Georgia, so trees and thick vegetation limit my hunting range to 25 to 100 yards. I shoot from many positions: offhand, kneeling, sitting, and prone. My primary concern is weight and size. The SCAR just begs to be shot offhand, so I don't want to compromise its handling characteristics.

Leupold gives me a generous military discount, so I'm looking at the Mark 6 1-6x and Mark 6 3-18x. The reticle I chose for the Mark 6 1-6x is the illuminated front focal 7.62 CMR-W reticle. The reticle I chose for the Mark 6 3-18x is the front focal TMR reticle. Both are compact and light weight with excellent optical clarity and brightness.

Which scope do you think would work best?

 

[bgrav321]

I know you can make shots out to 600 with a 1-6x, but offhand would be difficult. It's well night impossible to make an offhand shot at any distance with an 18x. If you ever want to shoot longer than 600, I would want the higher magnification, and 3x is perfectly shootable at 100 yards offhand. People shoot ACOGs like that all the time.

I've shot out to 800 with a 20x and with a 10x, and I was able to reliably make hits out to 800 on a 22 in gong with my 10x. If the 3-18x isn't going to negatively affect the balance and handling, and you were going to spend more time shooting past 300 or so I would get the higher magnification. If you think you will shoot more inside 100 and inside 300 I'd do the 1-6x. You know what you shoot most better than anyone, and honestly with two Leupys it's a win win. If you want to do any kind of run and gun inside of 100 yards, then the 1-6x no question.

 

[bgrav321]

Also, you can always put some offset irons with the 3-18, or a Trijicon RMR on top or on the side, or even in an offset mount for a minimal handling reduction.

 

[taliv]

i'm not familiar with the reticles but i'd make sure the thickness on the 1-6x isn't wider than your target at 600 yards. if it isn't, i'd go with the 1-6x

 

[Revoliver]

Of the two you've listed, I'd go with the 3-18x as 3x is easily useable from 25-100yds and if you also want to target shoot the higher magnifications will help greatly.

 

[theautobahn]

i'm not familiar with the reticles but i'd make sure the thickness on the 1-6x isn't wider than your target at 600 yards. if it isn't, i'd go with the 1-6x

^This.

Although my question would be how often you shoot at each range - if most of your shooting is hunting and plinking / target shooting at distances less than 300 yards with the occasional long range session, go with the 1-6. If a good portion of your range time is spent past the 300-400 yard line, then go with the higher magnification.

I think your hunting conditions are like ours up in Maine - I've found myself wanting less magnification in the woods, but rarely more.

Or you could just split the difference and go with the Leupold 1.1-8. Just sayin'...

 

[Dean1818]

I have shifted from wanting more magnification to less.....

In fact, I LOVE my Leupold VXR 1x4

And it stays at 1 power most of the time hunting or plinking
for my Bison Armory 6.8

 

[rbernie]

I've found myself wanting less magnification in the woods, but rarely more.

This.

It's dang hard to track moving game or close-in game, especially in brush, with a 3x or above. Carrying an AR in the field for offhand shooting for better than a decade now has me absolutely convinced that any optic that has a bottom-end of greater than 2x ain't going to wind up on any rifle of mine...

 

[JShirley]

I missed taking a shot at a close deer because I was using 3-9x. Go low.

John

 

[taliv]

currently the ARs i use the most have

1-8x USO
1-6x swaro
1x aimpoint

that said, i can still shoot my long guns offhand or at movers with 5-25x S&B usually set at 10-12x

brush, movement and magnification are a bad combination

 

[MCMXI]

I missed taking a shot at a close deer because I was using 3-9x. Go low.

Was the scope set on 3x when you missed the opportunity?

 

[Walkalong]

brush, movement and magnification are a bad combination

Sure are.

 

[LebbenB]

I would go with the 1-6x because of the flexibility it offers you, given what you plan to use the MK17s for. I'm also digging the reticle on it - it looks very handy.