Great Tactical Scope for the AR on the cheap!!!

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sgtcauthon

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So I just wanted to put this out there. I went to the gun show today and bought a NcStar Mark III P4 Sniper 2-7X32. It came with a quick mount for the flat top AR already attached. I paid 95 bucks for the scope. Initially the mount didn't clamp down on my AR tightly, but without reading the directions I was easily able to tighten the mount to the point where it was rock solid and still popped off without a fight. I then took it out to the range to zero it. I didn't boresight it first. There is a BDG turret on top that goes from 100-500 yards in five clicks. There is a screw cap on top of that which reveals the adjustment knob for elevation. I really like this feature. The windage turret however does not have a mark that shows you which number you are dialed in at. It spins past itself at least twice in each direction, but the clicks are distinct and not too loose. I bought the last one, which was the display so it was scewed with alot and that may account for how off it was on the initial shot. I was able to dial it in really quickly and after a few go arounds it was holding a 1 1/4 inch group just fine at 100 yards. I was able to rapid fire and still keep a five inch grouping. My AR is not top quality so I can throw that in the mix as well. It is a FrankenAR, built on a Spikes Tactical Lower. However I am extremely happy with it's performance at this point. The retical has two colors, and three brightness settings for each. These are turned on and off with side mounted turret and you do not even have to leave sight picture to manipulate them. I really wanted a USMC RCO Acog, however I did not have the 1700 dollars to drop on one. This I believe is a great replacement. I feel that for the money you cannot beat this scope. For those of you who are looking for a tactical scope, be it for Zombies, SHTF, or rabbid squirrels this will do the trick. I would very likely deer hunt with this scope. I have some more testing to do before I reach that point though. I have not tested the BDC turret, so I can't say that it works as described, but when I am in scope and turn it I can see the crosshairs moving down. This scope I was told is calibrated for the .223, however I do not see that anywhere in the literature. The windage turret also has a set screw in the side, I am understanding it is there so you can take off the turret and turn it to zero, however with the lack of a mark I don't know where you would put the zero. The only things I would say are bad about this scope at the present point is that the instruction manual might as well be toilet paper, it has no information in it. Also the windage knob should be just like the elevation turret. Other than that, if you want a good Acog clone, get this scope!
 
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I really don't want to knock what you got into, so I'll just say this. If you go on a hunt or shoot that you took time to plan and are looking forward to enjoying, be sure to bring some form of backup method of sighting.

If you want that scope to last a little while, I'd avoid banging it around and hold dialing to a minimum. I'd also suggest that you zero it using the magnification level that you plan to shoot at most of the time and leave it at that level. Odds are that changing the magnification is going to change the point of impact.
 
Oh my eyes, wall of text, my eyes

For less expensive scopes, i like Weaver classics. Good glass, holds zero, etc.
 
Great tactical scopes are not cheap, period.

NCStars are not great scopes.
 
You may have nice scope for the price and I hope it works out well :)

If it breaks on you, and you want to keep the price down, I suggest going with a Vector Optics first focal plane Mil-Dot scope. It will be more money by a factor of 4 at least, but it will do a fine job. Is a typical world market LE/SWAT scope and guaranteed against recoil damage to 1000 Gs.

To go the next step up the line, you are going to raise the bar by another factor of four. And to get a really good tac scope, it'll be a factor of eight on the Vector Optics price point - somewhere in the neighborhood of $3K.
 
I have a buddy that had an NCStar. I was there when he bought it. I tried to talk him out of it at the time and it didn't happen. Long story short, the NCStar is gone, and a Vortex Viper 1-4 is now atop his AR. He could have saved an extra $79 if he would have just listened to me from the beginning.

I went with an Aimpoint from the get go and could not be happier. Buy once cry once - it's a great philosophy.
 
if it works and you're happy then don't let any comments get you down.
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I second this but with a word of caution: I looked up NcStars here and the opinion was that if needed a scope in a pinch, they are as good as they come. But, if you need a scope for an extended period of time/lifetime save the money and get a quality scope.
 
I used to sell NcStar when I worked H&F retail, and hated having to sell their product. Do yourself a favor, and return that thing for a refund.
 
You can start with a bargain-priced rifle and sometimes get quality that eclipses the price you paid for.

However, when it comes to optics and quality, generally you get what you pay for. The NC Star might be fine for the occasional trip to the range where you plink from the bench, but I wouldn't trust it for much more beyond that.

I run an ACOG. I've been using the same scope for several years now, and have used it under some adverse circumstances, including times when I've had to clear a rifle by slingshotting it against the ground, and it's never so much as shifted POA. I doubt the NC Star would hold up to similar abuse.

That said, if you don't ever engage in shooting sessions that would call for such abuse, and the NC Star works, feel free to go with it.
 
I used the Acog RCO while in the Marines for many years. I am not saying this scope is anywhere near that quality, what I am saying is if you don't have a few hundred to a couple thousand to put into a tac scope then this is a great option. Will it last a lifetime? I doubt it, and I have done alot of research on this scope and there seem to be hit and miss problems with it. However, if you want something that will do the trick fairly well and spend less than a hundred this is it. I wouldn't dream of treating it like an Acog though. It is not as clear as Ziess, but again, under a hundred dollars. I stand by my opinion until the scope proves me wrong. There may be alot of people who have had bad experiences, but I don't know them so I can only go off what I know. And after all rounds have been fired, the gun is cleaned, and put back in the safe this scope stays on it for me.
 
i think we have different definitions of "great". will it do what you want it to? i'm sure it will. i'm glad you like your new scope and don't let others bring you down.

let me use movies as an example. happy gilmore was a funny movie and it entertained me for an hour and a half when i had nothing better to watch. was it a great movie? absolutely NOT. now saving private ryan was entertaining and it was a great movie by all of the standards that a movie is a great. good writing, high production values, and a cohesive and engaging narrative.

will your scope magnify your target and let you put rounds on it? yeah. but the glass is low quality, the build is low quality and the enclosure is probably made of cheap chicom aluminum. so it's not really great, it'll just do the job if you have nothing better use at the time.
 
I have owned 2 Ncstars and think mine cost around $150 and were the 3-9x?? whatever. I had the first one mounted on an AR in 5.56. It worked great for a couple of months and then it would not hold zero at all when changing magnification.

Sent it back and got a replacement. The company was great when I spoke to one of their reps. Also I did a write up on the scope at THR and trust me these posters are nicer ( so far ) to you than they were to me. Second scope lasted about 200 rounds and I ended up giving it away to a kid to put on a toy gun. Maybe you will have better luck than me and I do hope so...There are some good scopes and red dots for around $100 ( look at the cheap red dot thread) that people have been using...Ncstar was never mentioned....But again maybe you will get lucky and it will work for you.
 
I used the Acog RCO while in the Marines for many years. I am not saying this scope is anywhere near that quality, what I am saying is if you don't have a few hundred to a couple thousand to put into a tac scope then this is a great option. Will it last a lifetime? I doubt it, and I have done alot of research on this scope and there seem to be hit and miss problems with it. However, if you want something that will do the trick fairly well and spend less than a hundred this is it. I wouldn't dream of treating it like an Acog though. It is not as clear as Ziess, but again, under a hundred dollars. I stand by my opinion until the scope proves me wrong. There may be alot of people who have had bad experiences, but I don't know them so I can only go off what I know. And after all rounds have been fired, the gun is cleaned, and put back in the safe this scope stays on it for me.
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If the only hurdle the scope needed to overcome was a cost of $100 or less, then I guess you managed to get the perfect scope.
 
I've got three seasons out of a leapers/UTG 4x fixed scope. I leave the lighted reticles alone and don't mess with the BDC. I don't baby it one bit.

It is possible to find a good quality inexpensive scope, but it's NOT terribly likely.
 
"mark III p4 sniper" I'm surprised they couldn't squeeze tactical into there. For plinking at the range its prob alright but I wouldn't trust it outside that.

For instance. Climbing my deer stand last year my sling snapped and my rifle fell to the ground. Other then the scratches the rifle and scope held zero and didn't break fom about a 7 foot drop.
 
When I was running AR's I was using a Bushnell with circle reticle. Not sure the proper name for it. worked great. On another AR I had a Leapers, and Ill be damned if that thing didn't shoot well even after a couple 4' drops off of my bemch onto the concrete floor.
 
I am glad you like the scope and hope it continues to serve you well...
just promise us you won't buy another NcStar scope, you won't be lucky again
 
I am glad you like the scope and hope it continues to serve you well...
just promise us you won't buy another NcStar scope, you won't be lucky again
Click to expand...

hahahahah
 
Always ask yourself: What's the worst that can happen when buying a cheap scope?

If the answer is I'd have to buy another, big deal go cheap. If the answer is I may lose the buck of a lifetimes don't do it.
 
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