3-gun scope recommendation

[FluorideInMyWater]

There's a difference between what you need and what you want. All you need to shoot 600 yards all day is a red dot - but you probably don't want to.

OP said they were likely to run a 8x at 6x most of the time, making the BDC dots completely useless in most cases.

Maybe you don't need BDC for most shots... maybe you do, dunno. But you're buying a scope that's zeroed for a specific magnification and then not running it at that magnification seems like a waste unless it's FFP and you can shoot accurately at any magnification.

The price difference between the FFP and SFP Primary Arms 1-6x and 1-8x is about $100. Worth it? That's up to you.

i read that if you run at 1x you are essentially running a red-dot.
yeah, i don't need 8x i'd like to be able to reach out 600 yards. question is will the rifle actually spit it out that far accuratelly. if not i'll just go 6x with bdc and 1x for red-dot for 100 yard encounters (what do you think about that approach?)

[HKAllTheThings]

You can hit a 600 yard target with an 18 inch barrel and 6x magnification.

Having said that, there will be very few 3 gun matches that shoot that far. Most will be under 400 yards.

[NorCalRefuge]

i read that if you run at 1x you are essentially running a red-dot.
yeah, i don't need 8x i'd like to be able to reach out 600 yards. question is will the rifle actually spit it out that far accuratelly. if not i'll just go 6x with bdc and 1x for red-dot for 100 yard encounters (what do you think about that approach?)

The advantage of LPVO is at 1x, it's very similar to a red dot. Although, not quite the same - always trade offs. As someone said, daylight bright is a problem with some LPVO's, and all LPVO's will have horrible battery life compared to a real red dot (which usually measure battery life in 10's of thousands of hours these days).

600 yards is pushing a 556 pretty good. Depends on your rifle and your skills though, theoretically you could shoot 1k yards with 556 if you wanted and have the skills to do so, but it's not the best choice if you plan to shoot that distance frequently. For out to 600 yards, a 1-6x is probably fine, so would a 1-4x too. Just depends how much magnification you want/need to shoot accurately and identify what you're shooting at. At higher magnification, the optic will have a less forgiving eyebox, so shooting from strange positions will become much more difficult.

Some guys run a reflex style red dot in a canted/offset mount along with their LPVO. Roll the gun and use the red dot to get on target quick, then snap back to the LPVO which is dialed into 6x or whatever, and fire. Also quicker to roll the gun and use the RDS than to mess with the magnification on the LPVO for close-in shots.

Up to you though, and depends what you want to do with your rifle.

Maybe some guys that run competitions can chime in too. From my understanding, the LPVO + offset RDS is the current go-to combo - but it's expensive because you need two sights and two mounts now.

[sigstroker]

If you sight in at 36/200 yards you basically have a point blank zero out to 300 yards. I thought 3-gun tried to stay at 300 or closer.

[HKAllTheThings]

[FluorideInMyWater]

You can hit a 600 yard target with an 18 inch barrel and 6x magnification.

Having said that, there will be very few 3 gun matches that shoot that far. Most will be under 400 yards.

oh! cool! that sounds like it meets the criteria! At some point i'm planning on getting a bolt action long range rifle. I'd like to reach out to 1200+ yards. the rifle is only $2k but the scope is gonna cost......at least $5K, i'm guessing. probably going .338 Lapua or equivelant. maybe someone should invent a bolt-action-scope!!! LOL. just cut out the middle man.
but then i'll have all distances covered, from 10 yards to 600 to 1200+ (all for fun or competition....more for just fun. not into hunting)

jut as far as the AR is concerneded, i'd like a scopt for 3-gun and then be able to hit the max distance for the round....which i think is 500-600yards. never heard of someone hitting 700yards with 5.56, but i'm sure it's possible, but a bolt-action remington 700-type rifle in .308 would be better suited for that job. If memory serves me well, that's the distance Carlos Hathcock hit the NVA General in Laos at with his winchester 70 (read the book "marine sniper").

so i guess i have to go back and watch reviews for 6x scopes since i watched mostly 8x videos.
you response is appreciated, HK!

[FluorideInMyWater]

The advantage of LPVO is at 1x, it's very similar to a red dot. Although, not quite the same - always trade offs. As someone said, daylight bright is a problem with some LPVO's, and all LPVO's will have horrible battery life compared to a real red dot (which usually measure battery life in 10's of thousands of hours these days).

600 yards is pushing a 556 pretty good. Depends on your rifle and your skills though, theoretically you could shoot 1k yards with 556 if you wanted and have the skills to do so, but it's not the best choice if you plan to shoot that distance frequently. For out to 600 yards, a 1-6x is probably fine, so would a 1-4x too. Just depends how much magnification you want/need to shoot accurately and identify what you're shooting at. At higher magnification, the optic will have a less forgiving eyebox, so shooting from strange positions will become much more difficult.

Some guys run a reflex style red dot in a canted/offset mount along with their LPVO. Roll the gun and use the red dot to get on target quick, then snap back to the LPVO which is dialed into 6x or whatever, and fire. Also quicker to roll the gun and use the RDS than to mess with the magnification on the LPVO for close-in shots.

Up to you though, and depends what you want to do with your rifle.

Maybe some guys that run competitions can chime in too. From my understanding, the LPVO + offset RDS is the current go-to combo - but it's expensive because you need two sights and two mounts now.

"roll the gun"? you mean that they have a red-dot mounted on a side picatiny and then a rifle-scope on top? that could be an interesting set-up!...if that's what you mean.

[FluorideInMyWater]

The advantage of LPVO is at 1x, it's very similar to a red dot. Although, not quite the same - always trade offs. As someone said, daylight bright is a problem with some LPVO's, and all LPVO's will have horrible battery life compared to a real red dot (which usually measure battery life in 10's of thousands of hours these days).

600 yards is pushing a 556 pretty good. Depends on your rifle and your skills though, theoretically you could shoot 1k yards with 556 if you wanted and have the skills to do so, but it's not the best choice if you plan to shoot that distance frequently. For out to 600 yards, a 1-6x is probably fine, so would a 1-4x too. Just depends how much magnification you want/need to shoot accurately and identify what you're shooting at. At higher magnification, the optic will have a less forgiving eyebox, so shooting from strange positions will become much more difficult.

Some guys run a reflex style red dot in a canted/offset mount along with their LPVO. Roll the gun and use the red dot to get on target quick, then snap back to the LPVO which is dialed into 6x or whatever, and fire. Also quicker to roll the gun and use the RDS than to mess with the magnification on the LPVO for close-in shots.

Up to you though, and depends what you want to do with your rifle.

Maybe some guys that run competitions can chime in too. From my understanding, the LPVO + offset RDS is the current go-to combo - but it's expensive because you need two sights and two mounts now.

wow, that's crazy (in a good way i guess) i've seen off-set iron-sites, but never seen an off-set red-dot. makes sense but yeah, i bet that is costly!!

[sigstroker]

wow, that's crazy (in a good way i guess) i've seen off-set iron-sites, but never seen an off-set red-dot. makes sense but yeah, i bet that is costly!!

It was pretty common a few years ago. I asked above if it was still popular. It's expensive if you use an RMR, not so much with a Holosun.

The problem with using the BDC is it's only accurate in a SFP scope at or near max magnification. I have a Primary Arms 1-6 FFP but haven't used it yet. I think they're ~400-ish. It has an ACSS Raptor reticle.

[theEclipse]

Anyone with the Leupold 2.5-8x, Vari-X-III scope, sure you can testify to how great it is.

[smoothy8500]

Hi guys.
i've watched 50 videos on different scopes that are 1-8x24...but never seen an off-set red-dot....so i guess i have to go back and watch reviews for 6x scopes....no. i've never been to a match.

Sounds like you need to actually go to a match and talk to people to get an idea to see what's out there and what people are using. Just go and observe. You'll quickly see who is pretty good and I'll bet they're totally cool and will talk about equipment.

[Mute]

In this price range, I'd also take a look at the Delta Stryker 1-6:

https://www.edgunwest.com/store/scopes/item/delta-optics-stryker-1-6x24/

[NorCalRefuge]

Hi guys.
i've watched 50 videos on different scopes that are 1-8x24

top 4 are
1- primary arms strike eagle acss SFP (preferred)
2- atibal xp8 SFP
3- vortex strike eagle 1-8x24 gen2 riflescope w/ ar-bdc3 reticle (preferred)
4- Bushnell 1-8x24 AR Optics Ill BTR-2,

so, i prefer the BDC reticles, primarily the Primary arms (#1) and the Vortex Strike Eagle (#3) the primary arms seems a bit tighter on the reticle, but i'm going on pictures are videos. not actually seeing in person.

anyone have experienc/comments on these? they are all in the same price range. the next level is over $1k and i can't afford that right now. so unless someone knows of a scope that is "inbetween" these 2 groups, please let me know.

I also need a recommendation for a good mount that will hold the scope and not need readjustment all the time. i guess they are $100+ for a decent one, which is find. just need a recommendation.

Thanks in advance, friends!
John

Careful here, all of the LPVO's you have listed are questionable if their red illumination can be considered "daylight bright". Most are intended for low-light situations instead of being out in sun where the red will be washed out.

That alone is a pretty good reason to pony up for at least a Vortex PST, if daylight bright is a factor for you and where you plan to shoot.

Good "First Person View" video/review of the Strike Eagle:


Same guy doing the PST:


And finally the Razor HD:

[tonyxcom]

You want the Razor 1-6. End of story really and you can get one used for around $1000 pretty regularly.

[ldsnet]

I say, shoot what you have and enjoy the day. When you have completed a few matches, you will have a much better idea what class you want to shoot in and what it takes to be competitive in that class. Optics are great for long distance, but they are heavy and will be a real challenge for the close in targets (way more shots under 100 yards than beyond). My last shoot, all the targets beyond 100 yards had a prone option (I can hit 250 to 300 with irons provided there is enough target contrast for my eyes). For 2 targets I was better off taking the attempt and missing than skipping them or waiting to make um ring.