Good low priced AR scope?

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bantam9

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just dipping my toes in these waters and not sure where to start.
Lots of cheap choices under $100.
What is a decent cheap scope which would be good out to 300 yds?

bantam
 
Nikon P-223, but you do have to buy their special rings.
Click to expand...

Agree on the optic, but they do not require special rings. Mine is mounted in a Leapers rig:

IMG_1228_zpse2829f5a.jpg

I have it mounted low (no riser) because I'm running the micro RDS on top, splitting the difference.
 
Yep, nothing special about the rings. This one is mounted using a YMH riser and Burris Zee rings. And I agree with many when I say anything under $100 isn't worth having on anything more than a play toy, and even then in the long run they're not worth it.

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Take a look at http://primaryarms.com
Their own brand are Chinese but better than most of the others in their price range. For close work there is nothing wrong with iron sights. Red dots are OK but in your price range they tend to have small apertures and fuzzy dots. The other problem is that as distance, the dot will cover much of the target so you will not be as accurate as you would be with a 2.5-4X scope.
 
 
Take or leave my optics advice. In many years of shooting, anytime I cheaped-out on a scope I regretted it. If you have to wait for a little while, it's worth it. You will get what you pay for in a scope and what you'll get with a cheap one is frustration.

Edit: my personal experience with Vortex scopes is excellent, so I'd guess the less expensive Crossfire scopes will be good for the money.
 
I just picked up a Millett DMS for like $120, I think Midway? A little big/heavy but it was cheap and I like the donut-dot reticle for close to mid range. Put it in a PEPR I gor around black Fri last year (for something like 10 bucks after rebate?), and aside from the mount being a little jiggly seems like a good low budget setup.
 
My go to bargain scope are the Redfield scopes. Leupold owns the brand and makes them in Oregon and has lifetime guarantee. Ive been happy with my 2-7 which is fine out to 300 yards n
 
There is no such thing as a good scope under $100 unless you happen to find a used bargain. It's not that unusual to see a Leopold M8 in 4X sell for around that price on eBay. That might not be a bad choice for you.
 
You can prob use one from some of the airsoft guns if you want it cheep. Let me know how it works.
 
My go to bargain scope are the Redfield scopes. Leupold owns the brand and makes them in Oregon and has lifetime guarantee. Ive been happy with my 2-7 which is fine out to 300 yard
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I have the same scope on my AR15 carbine, and have been extremely happy with it
 
Try a Bushnell banner for under 100, and a sighhtron s1 for a little over. Or poke around eBay for something used.
 
Probably too late...but Wallyworld was selling the Nikon P-223 for $75...didnt need one...but for the price I snagged one anyway.....very clear glass.....
 
I've been using Sight Mark scopes lately, they are an excellent value. I bought a used one at a pawnshop as it seemed to be worth more than they were asking, now I own 3 more I bought new. Also have one of their prism sights on my Kel_tec Sub2000, works like a champ.
 
The least expensive scope I would consider would be a Buckmaster II, but would probably stick with a Fullfield II.
 
What's with all the "nothing under $100" elitists?

Just get this Nikon for $79
http://www.natchezss.com/nikon-refur...c-carbine.html
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Probably nothing wrong with that scope but it is used. I don't have much experience with "refurbished" but it would lead one to believe it was factory reconditioned which means it must have been returned at some point.
To have enough returned items to market back to the public tells me there must have been some issues in the original purchasers satisfaction.
Please help me out here if I'm off base in my thinking.
To the OP's question, I'm in agreement with those who say you won't get much for $100 if you are buying NEW, I have picked up some good used scopes for between 1&2 hundred but you will still need rings/riser depending on configuration.
 
I picked up a used Sightron 3X9 at a gun/pawn shop up in Beaver, Utah a couple of years ago, believe I ended up paying $75.00 for it. I've mounted it on my Kel Tec Su-16A, and it has ridden on my Can Am 4wd Quad for over a year now. Used cheap Weaver mounts on it and it still is zeroed in at 100 yards. The glass is clear as most of the Leopolds I've had the pleasure of using. I do know there are a lot of guys here that thumb there nose at inexpensive scopes, but if the truth be known, there isn't really that much difference between a $100.00 scope and a $300.00 scope, as they all are made in China. Ok let the flaming begin.
 
Berg said:
What's with all the "nothing under $100" elitists?

Just get this Nikon for $79
http://www.natchezss.com/nikon-refurbished-p-223-riflescopes-3x32-matte-bdc-carbine.html
Click to expand...
I'll tell you what's with this one: <$100 is a crapshoot, with the emphasis on crap.

There are people who have had cheap scopes not fail. There are also people who routinely drink and drive or survive crashes without a seatbelt. Put retreads on your Corvette if you want, but if you want to save money you can make gunbarrels out of plumbing pipe and stocks from construction lumber.

A decent gun shoots like a poor one when aimed with a mechanically defective scope, and <$100 scopes have a much higher failure rate than good ones.

PS- I have owned five Nikon scopes. Four were garbage and one was OK at best.
 
My R15 has two scopes, a Bushnell Dusk to Dawn1.5-4.5 X 32. great I low light, much faster for me than irons. Second one is a 3-9 Leupold VX1. Quick change rings, can swap out in about a minute. One day spent at the range showed me that it in more than repeatable enough. Though the Leupold doesn't get much use except for coyote hunts or maybe deer season depending on my mood.
 
loose noose said:
I picked up a used Sightron 3X9 at a gun/pawn shop up in Beaver, Utah a couple of years ago, believe I ended up paying $75.00 for it. I've mounted it on my Kel Tec Su-16A, and it has ridden on my Can Am 4wd Quad for over a year now. Used cheap Weaver mounts on it and it still is zeroed in at 100 yards. The glass is clear as most of the Leopolds I've had the pleasure of using. I do know there are a lot of guys here that thumb there nose at inexpensive scopes, but if the truth be known, there isn't really that much difference between a $100.00 scope and a $300.00 scope, as they all are made in China. Ok let the flaming begin.
Click to expand...
The Sightron S1 used to be the exception to the rule back when they were still made in Japan. Sadly that's no longer the case.
 
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