Scope recommendations for AR

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Grassman

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I'm looking for a decent scope for my Remington R-15, preferable under $300. Mainly target, some varmint and some hog hunting. Any thoughts?
 
If you want to spend right up to $300, maybe a touch more buy a Leupold VX-2. If $300 is a hard limit a VX-1 is right about $200. Make sure it is a 2012 production scope and you won't do any better until you get into $600 scopes.

This years VX-2 is selling for right at $300 and is a huge improvement over 2011 models. It is a better scope than last years VX-3 and the Zeiss Conquest that sold for closer to $500. This years $200 VX-1 is essentially last years VX-2, but is $100 less expensive.

I like a 1-4X20 scope for the most part on AR's. On 1X they are as fast as irons or a red dot up close and out to 200-300 yards are accurate enough on 4X. On a gun meant for longer range varmits, or more accurate shooting a 3-9X40 might be a better choice and a 2-7X32 might be the perfect compromise.
 
There are plenty of threads about "the best" sub-$300 scopes. And, after weeding out the cheap pretenders, any consensus about what's best usually boils down to two factors: what are you going to do with it, and personal preference.

For a particular scope recommendation, it might help to know what distances you would likely be shooting/hunting. I mounted a Burris E1 3-9x50 on my new R15. I plan on using it for predators within about 300 yards. The 50mm objective will help in low-light dusk/dawn hunting. If you're looking at taking shots significantly farther than 300 yards, I'd think you would want something with more magnification; less for a "woods/brush gun". And, if you won't be shooting at dusk/dawn, a smaller objective may be appropriate.

Right now, SWFA is selling the Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 for $350; Burris is offering a $50 rebate on their E1 series through the end of the month. Leupold's in this price range are always a favorite among hunters. And, there are a few other brands that regularly come up in these discussions. Good luck.
 
Nikon makes some nice AR specific scopes for a reasonable price. I bought a P223 scope with P series rings for $200. The Nikon Glass looks great.
 
Great input here. Ill have $300 + in gift cards
after Christmas. That's when I'm buying.
 
I bought a Bushnell Trophy XLT 1.4-4 scope as a budget starter for a precision AR build we had just completed. I've been very happy with it. Seems to hold zero well and clicks seem accurate/positive/repeatable.
 
Leupold 1x-4x turkey scope with the heavy duplex.
You do need to get rings that will give you enough eye relief.
The trick to mounting is to have it be the right eye relief at 4X.

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About the rings....on most rifles you want rings as low as possible for good cheek weld. Since the stock of the AR is straight back from the bore, a scope needs to be mounted pretty high. I got rings first for my last AR, then ended up buying a YHM riser to get it high enough. Works great.
 
Either Nikon or Leupold will be great for that budget. I would get the best Nikon you can find under $300. Typically you get a little more for your money.

Burris is a good competition scope. If you ok with 1-4x then that is a good choice.
 
I got rings first for my last AR, then ended up buying a YHM riser to get it high enough. Works great.
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I did basically the same thing for this Simmons. Burris Zee rings and YHM risers. I can take the bolts out of the risers and slide it on and off or onto another AR for accuracy testing, varminting, etc. It works great. If put back on the same gun in the same slots, the zero is always very close.

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I like this little 3X Nikon for general use. I have moved the scope forward since the pic.
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This Nikon 1X4 PBR works very well too.
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That gun has been dismantled and turned into a .300 BLK that is in the 2nd pic.

There are a ton of options for scoping an AR, pretty much as many as a bolt gun. The sky is the limit.
 
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There's one answer right now. SWFA is selling Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40's for $399 with a $100 rebate. This is an absolute no brainer. I typically don't say this on THR, but if you don't buy this if it's still available, you're nuts. This is typically about a $500-$600 scope.
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Funny how that "$600 scope" is $399 eveywhere, huh? :eek:
 
As far as mounts on an AR, i like ADM and Burris PEPR. If you want a cheaper mount Primary Arms has some fairly solid mounts.
 
I slapped a Leupold Vari-X II on mine for a while. Now it wears a Millett 1-4x. If I were buying one strictly for the AR, it would probably be a Burris Tac30 and a P.E.P.R. mount. Although I'm really digging the Leupold VXR 1.25-4x we put on Dad's new SCAR 17.

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This is an absolute no brainer.
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Not really, not everybody wants a big 3-9x on their AR. I certainly don't.
 
Funny how that "$600 scope" is $399 everywhere, huh?
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I've got a friend that has this same scope on his Anschutz .22 target rifle. I believe he paid about $525 a couple years ago. Add sales tax, and you're right in the middle of the range. Midway Catalog #35, page 824. Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40 with the Z-Plex is $569.99 (plus shipping). So yeah, it's been a $500 range scope.

Mainly target, some varmint and some hog hunting.
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This was in the original post, which most guys fail to read well before they post. I've been hunting for over fifty years. A 1x4 Tactical would be one of my last choices. My idea of varmints is prairie dogs or ground hogs at 300+ yards. My idea of target shooting is hitting a little bitty dot a long ways off. That's why my Varminter has a 6.5x20 VX-III.

For hog hunting, low light performance would be a high priority. That's where this quality of scope shines. Now if you're just gonna play wanna-be operator that does a 5 second mag dump into a dirt pile, go get a cheapie red dot.
 
I do all those same things with mine and it wears a 1-4x. Actually, all of my scoped centerfire rifles wear similar glass.

There is no rule that says varmints or targets have to be at long range. "Target" is a fairly vague term anyway. It is undeniable fact that you can do any of those things with less magnification and I wouldn't get caught in the swamp hunting hogs with a 3-9x.
 
Craig, if only you'd buy a few $50 scopes you'd see the need for higher magnification!

I spent a good bit for a Leupold Mark AR in 3-9X, and it works well but with the majority of my time spent within 200 yds. I've spent most of my AR time with irons or an non-magnified red dot. If I were buying again I'd choose a lower magnification. If I could only have one I'd prefer one with reasonable magnification that can also get as close to 1X as possible.
 
I went with the Nikon 3-9x50 with Burris high mount rings, wish I could have spent more but that was the budget.
 
ditto on post #4. I bought the 3-9x40.
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Double Ditto on posts #4 & #19.

I bought the Nikon P223 with the 2 piece mount as a package online from Optic Planet w/free shipping for $172. The scope arrived in 2 days. The mount took over a week to arrive , but I have mounted and zeroed on my carbine and am VERY happy with it. Actually, feel pretty good about the purchase.
Use the rest to stock ammo.
 
CraigC...looks like a cool setup but GLOSS? On an AR? :) Just messing with you.
 
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