Good Deal: Nikon M-223 scope promo (free mount through May 31)

[Idempotent]

Nikon is running a promo for a free M-223 mount with purchase of an M-223 scope through May 31st. It's not a manufacturer rebate kind of thing; the free mount actually comes with the scope (not bad, right?). The M-223 has been on my radar for awhile and I think this promotion is actually going to have me pulling the trigger.

The specific one I'm looking at getting is the 2-8x32 scope with BDC reticle which, thanks to the promo, costs $350 shipped from Opticsplanet. It's the same price at Webyshops too. When ordering, don't forget to select the M-223 as a free gift/accessory from these sites.

Has anyone found a better deal out there? There are several sites out there that offer significantly better deals on the scope, such as $278 shipped at Cals Sporting Armory. But that site doesn't mention anything about the free M-223 mount, so I'm assuming they aren't in on the promotion for some reason. Basically I'm looking for the cheapest site that offers the scope while still having the promotion on the mount as well, and I was wondering if anyone else had already found one.

Oh, and I'm still not entirely sure about the BDC reticle versus the Nikoplex reticle. I think I'm settled on the 2-8X scope versus the 3-12X scope, at least, because my AR-15 is a 14.5" carbine, not an 18" SPR, and the additional weight/size/higher minimum zoom of the larger scope doesn't seem to make sense on a carbine. At the same time, this gun is going to see a lot of bench rest shooting just because Cresap is the range I go to most often, so the 1-4X offering seems too weak.

 

[Shurshot]

I just bought a 4.5-14 Nikon Coyote Special with the BDC reticle. The reticle was not as depicted on the websites. rather than the first circle being just below the point where the crosshairs meet the way they show, the top circle was dead center without any crosshairs inside the circle. just so you know the precision of the crosshair isn't there, it is just an empty circle. I was however abe to zero using the circle on the target evenly inside the circle on the reticle but it is different than they advertise. I assume your scope has the same type of BDC as mine.

 

[G27RR]

2-8x sounds sensible for your use. For pure benchrest shooting there's not much benefit to the BDC reticle in my opinion. For field shooting, it has its place and the Nikon website has a calculator to help you determine the range for each point given your chosen load.

I don't have the M223 scope, but I do have the mount - it is well made and nice and light.

 

[bman940]

G27, YOu are correct in Nikon's Ballistic Calculator. Spot On, a FREE site that can be found on Nikonhunting.com. It will help you make the most of your Nikon BDC scope. Here's a pic of the target after sighting in my DPMS .243 with a 4.5-14 Coyote Special Scope using Winchester 55 gr. ammo. just under an inch, not counting the first shot flyer while sighting in. I took it Coyote hunting this weekend but being tin the mid 90's we didn't see a thing. Hopefully next time. I have shot steel plates and I find that the Coyote Special Circles make for fast target acquisition. I look forward to heaing aobut your experiences with this scope.
Bart
Nikon Pro Staffhttp://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd363/bman940/243targerWin55Gr.jpg

 

[Shurshot]

I need to correct and clarify what I posted above. the reticle for the Nikon Coyote Special is depicted properly everywhere. this is the BDC Predator reticle it has. thanks Bart!