Medium power variable optic for RECCE style rifle.

zdc1775

zdc1775

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I'm looking into replacing the 1-8 LVPO that I have on one of my AR's, and I am thinking a lighter weight (sub 20 oz if possible) variable with a low end of 2-4 and a high end of 10-15 with an offset micro red dot might be the perfect solution. I would prefer for the optic to be first focal plane and mil based with a usable reticle that would allow me to accurately estimate range. Illumination would be a plus but isn't necessary. And I would like to keep the price below $1,000.

Anyone have any suggestions?

This rifle is a general purpose rifle that gets carried as much as it is shot and is mostly shot between 0 and 200 yards but is still accurate out to at least 400 yards (furthest I've had a chance to shoot this particular rifle so far) with the ammo I use so I would like to have a little bit better scope to try and stretch it out a bit further and maybe be more versatile for the way I use this particular rifle.
 
Haven't tried either but the only two options I'm aware of close to that weight range and budget are the Vortex Viper Gen 1 2-10 which they don't make anymore and the Primary Arms GLX 2.5-10 with the Griffin reticle. The latter seems really popular.

Athlon Helos 2-12 is also popular at 25oz and I've used the Ares 2.5-15 at 27oz and liked it quite a bit. I've also tried the Swampfox Kentucky Long (2-12, ~25oz) and Warhorse (2-10, 30oz). Hated the Kentucky Long. The Warhorse was a beast - heavy, narrow eye relief, but a big bright FOV and a bezel that almost disappeared at 2x. If it was lighter I would have kept it.
 
You and me both.

I'll tell you that I doubt you'll make your 19oz target weight, FFP and under $1k with decent glass and eye box.

I'm looking hard at the Burris Veracity 2-10x

FFP, 22oz, $800 MSRP (Street price lower) and the reticle is simple, but useful plus locking turrets and illumination.

I'm sure there's a plethora of other good options though.
 
nugi said:
Haven't tried either but the only two options I'm aware of close to that weight range and budget are the Vortex Viper Gen 1 2-10 which they don't make anymore and the Primary Arms GLX 2.5-10 with the Griffin reticle. The latter seems really popular.

Athlon Helos 2-12 is also popular at 25oz and I've used the Ares 2.5-15 at 27oz and liked it quite a bit. I've also tried the Swampfox Kentucky Long (2-12, ~25oz) and Warhorse (2-10, 30oz). Hated the Kentucky Long. The Warhorse was a beast - heavy, narrow eye relief, but a big bright FOV and a bezel that almost disappeared at 2x. If it was lighter I would have kept it.
Click to expand...

I have two of the Kentucky Longs as well, the 3-18 and 4-24, and they are good scoped for what I've been using them for but I agree the eye relief could be better and the reticle that basically disappears at the lower end made me want to look for something other than their 2-12, haven't tried the warhorse and was hesitant due to the weight.

I will definitely take a look at the GLX

gotboostvr said:
You and me both.

I'll tell you that I doubt you'll make your 19oz target weight, FFP and under $1k with decent glass and eye box.

I'm looking hard at the Burris Veracity 2-10x

FFP, 22oz, $800 MSRP (Street price lower) and the reticle is simple, but useful plus locking turrets and illumination.

I'm sure there's a plethora of other good options though.
Click to expand...

Hadn't heard of the Veracity so that is a good option. And while weight and cost are concerns I would be willing to sacrifice on either if it got me a better scope that is closer to what I want.
 
My Maven C Series binoculars are great, haven’t looked through one of their scopes
 
The Burris Veracity line are good scopes. Not too heavy and glass is pretty good on them.
 
I see a Leupold Mark 3HD 3-9x for $500 and 15oz. The VX3 3.5-10x is $700 and 16oz. The VX5 2-10x for $1200 and 17oz. The 1-5x version is only 13oz and that would make more sense to me. Midway has factory blems for $800.

IMHO, this is easily one of those situations where I see folks going overboard on their optics and ending up with something way bigger and heavier than necessary. Any 30mm tube scope is going to be significantly larger and heavier with very little benefit. Whereas a 1" tube with a little less magnification will do the job and be several ounces lighter. I've got 30mm 1-4's that are double the weight of their 1" counterpart.
 
When I was looking for a mid range scope I wanted one that didn't weigh a ton, had a parallax adjustment and a reticle I could use.
I wound up with a NF 2.5-10x42 on a NF mount. 26oz with scope and mount.
A bit more than I was planning on spending but it checked all the boxes for me.
 
Walkalong said:
My Maven C Series binoculars are great, haven’t looked through one of their scopes
Click to expand...

Good to know about the binoculars being good quality. Hopefully the scopes are as well.

BreechFace said:
The Burris Veracity line are good scopes. Not too heavy and glass is pretty good on them.
Click to expand...

Had a chance to look through one the other day and agree that it would be almost perfect, I just wish it had a standard mil graduated reticle instead of a ballistic reticle. Very much a possibility that is the way I end up going.

CraigC said:
I see a Leupold Mark 3HD 3-9x for $500 and 15oz. The VX3 3.5-10x is $700 and 16oz. The VX5 2-10x for $1200 and 17oz. The 1-5x version is only 13oz and that would make more sense to me. Midway has factory blems for $800.

IMHO, this is easily one of those situations where I see folks going overboard on their optics and ending up with something way bigger and heavier than necessary. Any 30mm tube scope is going to be significantly larger and heavier with very little benefit. Whereas a 1" tube with a little less magnification will do the job and be several ounces lighter. I've got 30mm 1-4's that are double the weight of their 1" counterpart.
Click to expand...

While those are good scopes they aren't even remotely what I want for this rifle and I'll gladly sacrifice on the weight for FFP and a mil reticle, now if the Mk5 2-10 was half the price it would definitely be one to consider.
 
CraigC said:
Well, you never told us that.
Click to expand...

Kind of thought I did but that's why pure text sucks to convey messages.

CraigC said:
You also said an FFP and mil-dot were preferred. Not required.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I was trying not to sound like an AH coming here and demanding a recommendation for a scope that I hadn't been able to find. And yes they are my preference and I would be willing to go SFP or MOA for a scope that had a good usable reticle but if I just wanted that range and a duplex I would get an SWFA 2.5-10 at half the weight and cost.

Again not trying to sound like an AH but something like that doesn't fit in with my intentions for this rifle.
 
Trijicon Credo 2-10x36
Primary GLX 2.5-10

Two of my favorite scopes. I prefer the Credo -- no parallax adjust and more compact.
The Credo can be found pretty deeply discounted sometimes.
 
Gost rings for up close and personal with a little glow juice in the front post for blackout or daylight.

I prefer a 1-4x 30mm MOA type scope on close use firearms likely to be used outside from 0 up to 200 yards.

6x is fine for moving targets out to 400-500 yrds but a bit too much for things moving inside of 100 yards.

I go 6-20x on target rigs where time, getting the target in the frame is not an issue, and seeing the holes matters.

I do not like powered reticals on any - sux in daylight and drowns out targets in low light.
 
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ExtremeSquared said:
Trijicon Credo 2-10x36
Primary GLX 2.5-10

Two of my favorite scopes. I prefer the Credo -- no parallax adjust and more compact.
The Credo can be found pretty deeply discounted sometimes.
Click to expand...

Never looked through a Credo, also thought they were all SFP so I had completely dismissed them. And EuroOptic have them for less than 950 right now.
 
zdc1775 said:
I like that, and the reticle is almost exactly what I would design.
Click to expand...
It's pretty good, the only downside is at 3X the center gets pretty thin, not great for making a somewhat precise shot at close range. Once you get to about 5x it's fine, I solved any issues by mounting the mini reflex 45° dot.

The great thing about it is it's super compact and very light and it's easy on the wallet $300 at Eurooptics.
 
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I'm really happy with a Sightron 3-16x42 for this purpose. I'm running it on a 223 bolt action, and have shot all the way to 1K yards with it.

23 oz
FFP, illuminated MIL reticle, with center dot
Phillipine made- not China
Built in throw lever
Glass is very good for the price point.

The only downside for some users is this model does not have covered or locking turrets. It does have a nice built-in zero stop feature which could be used to confirm turret zero before shooting or adjusting.

Sightron has a very good reputation with Benchrest shooters as a quality product.
 
I haven't seen or used it yet, but I understand that Delta now has a 1-10x lpvo out with an adjustable parallax. It's worth checking out.
 
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