Scope for AR load testing

[JamieC]

I'm looking for a decent scope for load testing my AR. It will have a red dot on it normally. My range goes out to 200 yards. With a 4moa dot, 100 yards is tough enough. Any suggestions? My gun is a TWS, it was a kit, 1:9 barrel. Just having some fun, seeing what powders work the best.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Are you not wanting a scope for the rifle, just one to plop on there for accuracy testing? If the latter, I guess a $100 3-9x would probably fit the bill. But if you actually want to scope the rifle, consider the Nikon P-223 fixed 3x. Darn good little scope for $150.

 

[greyling22]

how about a simmons WTC? up to 20x power should allow you to see your holes at 200. It's $110. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/11...-scope-65-20x-50mm-adjustable-objective-matte It's big, but if I was testing for accuracy, I wouldn't want to wonder how I was doing. I would want to see. even out to 200.

I'm pretty sure walkalong and or archangelcd have them and like them ok.

 

[Walkalong]

how about a simmons WTC? up to 20x power should allow you to see your holes at 200. It's $110. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/11...-scope-65-20x-50mm-adjustable-objective-matte It's big, but if I was testing for accuracy, I wouldn't want to wonder how I was doing. I would want to see. even out to 200.

I'm pretty sure walkalong and or archangelcd have them and like them ok.

Yep, great scope and good glass for the money (Very good at the sale price) for shooting at known fixed distances. I bought the truplex version for $109 a few years back. I have it mounted in Burris Zee rings and YHM mini risers so I can slide on and off ARs to accuracy test them. When taken off and put back on the same gun point of impact is usually well under an inch off. I really like the scope. It can focus down to 25 yards as well if you like shooting .22 LR up close.

 

[Walkalong]

Are you not wanting a scope for the rifle, just one to plop on there for accuracy testing? If the latter, I guess a $100 3-9x would probably fit the bill. But if you actually want to scope the rifle, consider the Nikon P-223 fixed 3x. Darn good little scope for $150.

I agree with this as well. I really like my Nikon 3X on an AR. Glass is very clear to my eyes and the 3X is nice. A 1X to 3X (Or maybe 4X) variable that size/configuration would be awesome. (Hint hint Nikon)

 

[JamieC]

Yep, great scope and good glass for the money (Very good at the sale price) for shooting at known fixed distances. I bought the truplex version for $109 a few years back. I have it mounted in Burris Zee rings and YHM mini risers so I can slide on and off ARs to accuracy test them. When taken off and put back on the same gun point of impact is usually well under an inch off. I really like the scope. It can focus down to 25 yards as well if you like shooting .22 LR up close.

Probably a stupid question, why the 'Z' rings AND the mini risers? Wouldn't the tall 'Z' rings work? I'm guessing the mini risers hold the rail better? LOL, yeah, that scope IS big!
Edit: As I look at the pic again, don't think the 'Z' rings will grab the rail.

 

[Walkalong]

Zee rings by themselves were not tall enough with some forearms. I like the scope up high for shooting off bags from the bench anyway.

But yes, having more meat at the spot where you take it on and off is a good thing. YHM makes any even shorter mini riser, but I used these. Using a solid one would be even better, but I went with what I already had. Later on I used the solid one with Zee rings to mount a scope on my 300 BLK AR (Pictured). I can slide it off and slide the big scope on to accuracy test.

 

[RainDodger]

Ok, I really don't want to disagree with anyone on here... but I just gotta tell you my experience with the Simmons WTC. Remember, this is MY experience and others may have way different luck.

The one time I strayed from top of the line scopes, I bought a Simmons WTC from Midway for $109. I put it on a Savage .17HMR. Yes, the scope functions, and I didn't see any problems with the glass for a $109 scope. My problem arose when I went to adjust the turrets. It was kind of like Forrest Gump and the box of chocolates - you never really knew for sure which way your point of impact was gonna go. The reticle generally moved in the correct direction but not always, and pretty much never exactly where it was supposed to. The moral of that story is, once you sight it in, don't move the turrets.

I eventually sold the scope for $75 to a buddy with full disclosure of my findings. I will always spend all I can afford on quality optics.

Sorry guys - had to say it. I would not buy another even for simple sight-ins.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I have a SWFA 10x in a Burris PEPR QD mount that I move between my rifles for load testing. Since I use irons 95% of the time, investing in multiple optics is impractical. I just record the turret settings for each rifle's zero, and set the scope accordingly. The zero stays true , usually no more that 1.5" off at 100 when changing rifles. Since I use it on so many rifles for testing, justifying a $300 scope is easy. Doing it like this requires a scope with near-perfect adjustment accuracy.

When I am not doing load testing, I keep it on my Remington 700 .308 as its primary scope.

 

[redneck2]

^. That's one of the smartest things I've read in a while.

I have an Infinity 6.5-20 that I pretty use the same way. Not really the optical quality I expect in a scope, but it's good for occasional target use to test loads.

 

[Walkalong]

RainDodger is right about the adjustments on the WTC, they can be squirrely at times (I didn't put t well (I said, "for shooting at known fixed distances"), and maxhavoc has a great point about if you are going to move the scope around a lot and have to readjust it a good bit, a better scope would be easier on your patience, and worth the money spent, but for the price, it's good glass and for the little bit I do with it, I have been very happy.

 

[RainDodger]

I do precisely what maxxhavoc does... that Leupold Mark 4 I mentioned in my post has Leupold QRW rings on it and I keep a record of the turret settings for multiple rifles. It is easy to move it from rifle to rifle - at least to the rifles that I've put rails on. It's really nice to buy a couple of very nice quality scopes and be able to use them on multiple rifles. A better quality scope will have repeatable settings when moving the turrets.

 

[readyeddy]

The Weaver Classic 2-10 is an affordable way to have fast acquisition and precision for about $200.