Need scope for my AR 15

[gifbohane]

Went on Internet and my eyes are still glazed over with the amount and types of scope available.

AR is made of lite weight material top to bottom and 16 inch

My ideas

Lightweight
No Red Dot
$200 to $ 400
shooting out to 100 yards- hunting/liteweight
8 or 9 power (?)
Clarity of lense

I did search this forum and the internet and found nothing useful. I might just go to LGS and put myself at their mercy.

I have gift certificated at Brownell's that I would like to use since I cannot get anything else there that I need right now. like Powder and primers

Ideas please?

 

[redneck2]

Look in the thread currently running about Scope for 30-06

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-scope-for-my-30-06.887892/

did search this forum and the internet and found nothing useful. I might just go to LGS and put myself at their mercy.

I would suggest against doing that. You’ll get one persons opinion which may or may not be your best choice

My go to choice is a Leupold VX-3. I believe they are available in 3-10. Mine on my .22 is a 4-14.

I suspect Loonwolf, Nature Boy, or Varmintterror will be along soon. I’d take their opinion

 

[12Bravo20]

We could use some more information to help narrow down your search.

What type of reticle do you want?

Are you going to use it for hunting or precise target shooting?

Do you want FFP or SFP?

 

[LiveLife]

Scope for AR15 ... $200 to $400 ... out to 100 yards ... hunting ... 9 power ... lightweight ... Clarity of lense

I have gift certificated at Brownell's that I would like to use

Brownells has Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40 weighing at 14.4 oz for $199 - https://www.brownells.com/optics-mo...mm-scope-dead-hold-bdc-reticle-prod44671.aspx

And Leupold 3-9x40 weighing at 12.2 oz for $299 - https://www.brownells.com/optics-mounting/scopes/rifle-scopes/vx-freedom-3-9x40mm-cds-rifle-scope-prod132840.aspx?avs|Max+Magnification_1=9x&avs|Min.+Magnification_1=3x

Since you are mounting on AR, you are going to need a cantilever mount to move the scope forward and Brownells has Leupold scope and mount for $349 on the same link above.

If you are member of Amazon Prime, here's Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 for $199 but weighs more at 22 oz - https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optic...tex+diamondback+3-9x40&qid=1626631075&sr=8-10

 

[12Bravo20]

And if you are fine with a simple Duplex reticle, then it is hard to beat the Leupold scope and mount for $349 that Livelife linked.

 

[beagler]

Leupold VX Freedom line is superb. I got my 3-9x40 for $199. Vortex is worth looking into as well. I have a Vortex Crossfire that nice, but the Leupold is better and it cost only $50 more. Both have a great warranty if needed.

 

[Skylerbone]

If you’re wanting to keep it lightweight then the mount will be as crucial as the scope. I would also recommend a non-illuminated specimen to save weight but any scope chosen will still add some heft.

General recommendation would be a 1-8x or lower for magnification with a reticle you like.

 

[Lo-Profile]

1-8x24 Vortex Strike Eagle is what I have on mine

 

[LoonWulf]

So this is just my take on it and I could be way off.......Basically low weights and acceptable optical performance are your primary criteria?

If so I would probably recommend sticking with hunting specific scopes, and my recommendations are simply what I have used and liked.

Leopold VXF up to the VX3 HDs. Either the straight tubes or the smaller 2-7/2.5-8 or 3-9/3.5-10.

Burris fulfield 2 3-9x40

Sig Sauer whiskey3 3-9x40

Im sure I'm forgetting a few I should recommend, and I'm ignoring some good optics on the heavier side of "light"

I'll also add one that I've been meaning to try which is the SWFA 3.5-10x32 ultralight

There's a few types of scopes I would avoid if lightweight is of primary concern.
Straight tube "tactical" style (Read most of the 30 mm scopes marketed for ARs), which while an awesome fit for that basic usage tend to be heavier by a noticeable amount.
All of the first focal planes in that price range.... At least that I'm aware of....
And most of the pseudo-entry level 3-9x40/4-12 etc that are not hunting specific.
Again mostly because they tend to be on the heavier side.

If weight's not an issue then my list of scopes that I would choose in that price range changes dramatically.....sorta..... I would actually start looking in the 150 to $200 range and going with them heavier unit from either Athlon, Bushnell, the Sig previously mentioned, or some version of the Burris fulfilled series including the 3-9x40 also previously mentioned.

 

[gifbohane]

We could use some more information to help narrow down your search.

What type of reticle do you want?

Are you going to use it for hunting or precise target shooting?

Do you want FFP or SFP?

Just a simple reticle, nothing fancy, crosshairs.

90 % used for hunting. Precise shooting not required. Maybe a little practice plinking on a target. FFP? Full focal plane?

LoonWolf Thanks for thorough advise and all the rest of the guys who jumped in. Going to Brownell's online tonight.

 

[12Bravo20]

Sorry bout that.

FFP - first focal plane
SFP - second focal plane.

And by the sounds of it, the Leupold and mount combo for $349 from Brownells's meets all of your criteria and is within your budget. Yes there are other brands available for less, but Leupold's are good to go.

And this is coming from someone that uses a lot of Primary Arms and Swampfox Optics brand scopes. Those all have fancy reticles in them.

 

[beagler]

I should also mention, I recommend installing a scope mount designed for AR15s. This will ensure your scope height is where it needs to be. I have a Burris PEPR. It seems very solid.

 

[Skylerbone]

https://www.eurooptic.com/RZR-6638-Razor-HD-LH-15-8x32-Riflescope-with-G4-BDC-RZR-6638.aspx

with this mount
https://www.primaryarms.com/aero-precision-ultralight-extended-1-scope-mount-ap210400

$510 for very decent glass and a solid lightweight mount.

 

[LiveLife]

Just a simple reticle, nothing fancy, crosshairs ... 90 % used for hunting. Precise shooting not required. Maybe a little practice plinking on a target.

If weight's not an issue ... start looking in the 150 to $200 range ... Athlon, Bushnell, the Sig ... 3-9x40

How about Burris Fullfield IV 2.5-10x42 at 16.8 oz for $169 - https://www.brownells.com/optics-mo...v-2-5-10x42mm-sfp-rifle-scope-prod137802.aspx

Burris PEPR mount $85 - https://www.brownells.com/optics-mo...-sets/ar-pepr-permanent-mounts-prod42009.aspx

And $15 off with discount code SAE on $150+ orders.

 

[gotboostvr]

Those Burris PEPR mounts are solid, but heavy.

I've heard good things about the Aero mount, and will likely be using one of those myself.

 

[LiveLife]

Those Burris PEPR mounts are solid, but heavy.

I've heard good things about the Aero mount

The Leupold Mark AR mount weighs 5.8 oz.

Burris PEPR mount weighs 8.3 oz.

And Aero Ultralight mount weighs 3.07 oz -
https://www.brownells.com/optics-mo...tralight-extended-scope-mounts-prod73337.aspx

 

[JeeperCreeper]

Leupold VX freedom 1.5-4x20
9.6oz

Leupold VX freedom 2-7x33
11.1oz

SWFA SS 2.5-10x32 ultralight
9.5oz

If you wanna go light, on an AR, at moderate ranges. Priced around $300-350. These are the options I'm looking at

 

[Skylerbone]

I’ve had a number of Leupold scopes over the years, fewer and fewer lately. Currently I believe the count is 5. The VX- Freedom is one I didn’t care much for as it felt like a watered down VX-2 with mushy turrets. The one I had went down the road as another give away. Just my opinion.

I have an SWFA mount that is similar to a Burris, an RRA (both brands are solid but bulky and heavy), a Warne (PITA to mount but very nice), and several Aeros which I feel are the hands-down bargain. Barring some cosmic leap by another manufacturer, I’ll be using Aero mounts on all ARs going forward.

 

[FL-NC]

If you are primarily using it for deer at 100 and less, a very high level of magnification isn't needed. The standard combat optic in the mil for the M4 is a 4x. When I hunt deer and hogs in at shorter ranges with a variable scope, I dial it down to no higher than 3. The Vortex strike eagle 1-6 is more than sufficient for your requirements, and has a lifetime warranty and a retail price of $400. You will want to get a good mount. It can also be dialed down to 1x, and used as a RDS for close/rapid engagements.

 

[CaptHank]

I was changing out scopes and finally settled on the discontinued Leupold 3.5x10 Tactical on a Larue mount. A many of PA groundhogs met their maker with this setup.

 

[JohnB-40]

Leupold VX Freedom 1.5x4-20

 

[LoonWulf]

VX- Freedom is one I didn’t care much for as it felt like a watered down VX-2

That's my opinion also.
Optically I think they're fine but uninspiring, and as a set it and forget it scope they do just fine.
Where they have an advantage is in their low weight and decent eye relief.

Otherwise If you're willing to give up some weight advantage, you can get an optically better scope for less money..... At least in my opinion.

 

[gotboostvr]

That's my opinion also.
Optically I think they're fine but uninspiring, and as a set it and forget it scope they do just fine.
Where they have an advantage is in their low weight and decent eye relief.

Otherwise If you're willing to give up some weight advantage, you can get an optically better scope for less money..... At least in my opinion.

Optically, I thought they were better than anything I got my hands on to test drive in the same price range. Maybe not by a huge margin, but by at least a bit.

But eye relief and weight were the two biggest concerns for me and it won hands down in those categories. I think they're great hunting optics.

 

[Taylor Self]

I just recently bought a Burris fullfield IV 2.5-10 X 42 with the illuminated E3 reticle that is really nice and pretty lightweight

 

[Elkins45]

I just happened to trade for a rifle that had a Leupold fixed power 4x scope. As a general purpose truck gun I think I like it just as much as any of the fancier optics on my other rifles.