Scope for a DMR style rifle

[Mr Blu]

Hey, y'all.

I'm building a DMR rifle (Designated Marksman Rifle for the uninitiated) and I'm on a budget for the scope because everything else is already expensive. For me, anyways.

Rifle : Springfield M1A Scout

Standards the scope in question needs to meet, are the following :

Magnification : 3x min - 9x max
FFP/SFP : FFP
Cost : $400 max

Anything that meets most of the standards, always ends up being an MOA adjustment scope. Such as the Vortex Viper 3-9. If it weren't for the BDC reticle, I might deal with the MIL/MOA combo. I just don't like making the math conversion for a MIL/MOA scope.

Can I get some love/help on this one, please???

Thanks in advance.

EDIT!!! : I've removed the MIL-dot requirements, due to anything with it is too high of a magnification, or costs way too much.

[tinman1975]

Maybe look at the primary arms offerings. You are asking a lot with the budget you are working with. A quality illuminated mil dot first focal plane scope for under 400 bucks is gonna be tough. From what I understand, the M1A action is also pretty rough on scopes, so you want something fairly robust. If you are willing to give up the FFP then I think it opens a lot more doors

[Cypriss32]

3-10 weaver tactical is a great scope. I have s few of them on my 22 rifles.

[Cypriss32]

Also a used 3-9 SWFA HD is a good scope that can be had under 500 used.

[Mr Blu]

Maybe look at the primary arms offerings. You are asking a lot with the budget you are working with. A quality illuminated mil dot first focal plane scope for under 400 bucks is gonna be tough. From what I understand, the M1A action is also pretty rough on scopes, so you want something fairly robust. If you are willing to give up the FFP then I think it opens a lot more doors

Second focal plane requires additional math to compensate for the reticle NOT adjusting with the change in magnification.

[tinman1975]

Second focal plane requires additional math to compensate for the reticle NOT adjusting with the change in magnification.

I know how it works.....I'm just saying, trying to meet all your criteria is going to be tough.....and gave the best option I could....being the primary arms 4x14 FFP mildot.....it matches all of your qualifications with the exception of the illuminated reticle. And A lot of people still use second focal and either make a cheat card for the other magnifications, or just use them more like a BDC and memorize what ranges the other dots correspond to for their particular round they are shooting. Your mil dots will be true at 9 power, and if you are shooting lower power than that, I would imagine you are shooting fairly close targets and aren't going to be doing a whole lot of holding over or windage math anyways....or at least the small difference in the scale isn't going to make a huge difference for a DMR type rifle....now bullseye shooting would be a whole different story.

[MarikinaMan]

If you move environments and need to range targets, FFP and mil dots are great. If you just wanna go to a couple of ranges and hit targets at known distances....

Use the max magnification all the time and treat it like a fixed power scope, no math needed.
If you know the distance to the targets, no need to range targets, SFP is fine, MOA turrets and MOA reticle are fine.

Mil mil scopes are great but are you going to shoot at so many ranges where you don't know how far stuff are? Are you really going to do the math or learn to use a ballistic app? Ask yourself that, then go with what you decide.

[HK Dave]

Also a used 3-9 SWFA HD is a good scope that can be had under 500 used.

This one shouldn't disappoint.

[MarikinaMan]

Btw, for 20 bucks, you can purchase the Ballistic AE app which will allow you to import your reticle and visually show you how to range with an SFP scope with no math on an iPhone.

It takes about an hour to learn to use the app, collect data, input and get to actually using it.

[tinman1975]

I suggested the best one I could think of. I was only pointing out that personally, for an M1A DMR type rifle, I would spent the extra money chasing durability and good glass over FFP. There are stories all over the net about M1A's eating cheap scopes. I can't confirm or deny them, because I love the irons on mine and keep it stock. I would get a good 3-9 scope and zero for 250. With an M1A that will get you torso hits at any range from 0 to 400 yards with a simple COM hold in any magnification. Hold belly button or so for 100 and collarbones for 400 if I really felt the need to hold over. Then If I really had to use mildots to estimate range, I would dial to 9 power because that would give you the most accurate reading anyways. Memorize the ranges for the first 2 mildots in 4 or 6 or whatever you want to keep the scope in for most of the time and that should keep you covered to about 600 yards in any magnification without any math or any adjustments

[Mr Blu]

OK, y'all.

I have done some rethinking on the subject, with the help of an Army armorer buddy of mine, and I have changed SOME of the requirements for my scope. I have even come across some decent models, but there is always SOMETHING that doesn't work for me.

I found these only a few minutes ago and I would like y'alls input.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2420141935/vortex-diamondback-hp-rifle-scope-3-12x-42mm-side-focus-matte

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-diamondback-hp-2-8x32-riflescope-with-dead-hold-bdc-reticle/reticle

[Mr Blu]

DISREGARD my last comment!!!

I had to click on the second manual, to find out this is a SFP scope, which is REALLY annoying. It's the only place that says it's a SFP scope, which (in my opinion) is poor advertisement.

[bombadillo]

How about the Falcon Menace? 4-14x44 with sunshade. FFP, Mil/Mil and from all the reviews I've read on this one it has surprisingly clear glass. I'd probably prefer one of these over the Primary Arms version although I believe the PA scope is cheaper.

http://swfa.com/Falcon-Menace-4-14x44-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P47573.aspx

[Mr Blu]

How about the Falcon Menace? 4-14x44 with sunshade. FFP, Mil/Mil and from all the reviews I've read on this one it has surprisingly clear glass. I'd probably prefer one of these over the Primary Arms version although I believe the PA scope is cheaper.

http://swfa.com/Falcon-Menace-4-14x44-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P47573.aspx

The min/max magnification range is too high. This is for a DMR style rifle, meaning close to medium range use. I do appreciate the find, though. I have looked at PA scopes, but they are mostly 4-14 power.

[bombadillo]

Oh I don't follow all of the acronyms real well, so I wasn't sure hundred percent but I thought ADMR consisted of a 10 - 14x maximum power scope. What is the official DMR scope requirements or something of the like