16" AR scope IOR 1.1x4x26 VS Leupold 1.5x4x20

[Tokugawa]

Do you learned folks out there in rifle land have any input here? I am thinking my new flattop bull barrel AR would do well with a lowpower variable. The IOR has a much bigger objective lense and a bigger exit pupil. The Leupold is made right here , and has always had a great reputation. This will be the only sighting system on the weapon, and I envision it as a 50 to 400 yard shooter.
Cost seems to be about $600 more or less.
Help me, I am a scope novice. Any other suggestions are welcome, these are the two I thought might be close.
I looked at the IOR 3x25 AR scope also, but was a bit reluctant to lose the option of very low magnification. The advantage to me would be the thing seems like it would be very secure, with the base and mount part of the scope, and of course no need to spend $ on a good set of rings. Any comments on this scope? Thank you all!

 

[deadly50bmg]

You will probably get a ton of different responses to this post as you will see some people with an M4 with a 16 inch barrel and a collapsable stock with the Hubble telescope on top. Others will insist that no magnification is needed and an Eotech or something down that road will be your best option. Just figure out exactly what it is your going to be doing with the gun. Target: higher power. Plinker Variable mid range power. Quick target acquisition low power or no magnification. I think that a good plinker scope would be a 2.5-10X that way you have fairly quick acquisition with a good field of view and you can crank it up to 10X for those 400 yard shots.

 

[Tokugawa]

Come on folks, help me out here. Is there really a big difference between a "tactical" scope and a standard Vari-x III ? I want a scope thats quick and useful to a couple hundred yards. The only experiance I have is with a PK AV on my Vepr. The sight is great but I have a hard time seeing the target at 200 yards.

 

[SkaerE]

my $0.02, i'm in about the same boat you are (cept mines for a 300 whisper)

the IOR will have better glass IMHO.

The reticles are similar (the IOR - CQB vs the Loopy SPR reticle)

Loopy will be easy to fix if it gets broken.

i think the IOR only comes in a illuminated reticle version.

not sure if either is first focal plane or second (whether the reticle gets bigger and smaller with the power range or not) i would like to know.

im stuck inbetween these two and a US Optics SN12 (fixed 4x)