Best 1-4x Variable Scope For Tactical Use

[dart368]

Thanks for all the information guys. :-)

[patriot_man]

S&B is #1 on my list no doubt.

[uscbigdawg]

NF 2.5-10x. I have this on my LR-308 and it does EVERYTHING right.

Rich

[rero360]

My vote is with the USO 1-4x, I'm in the process of designing a reticle with them that would be the best of both worlds, fast up close target aquisition and have the ability for accurate aimed fire out to 6 or 8 hundred yards (its still in the beginning phase) I'm hoping to get the design figured out and built so I can test it and use the scope on my next deployment.

[Ak707]

Im in the same boat..im looking for an optic i can use for quick aiming at short distances and somthing i can zoom in for mid range. I also want it to be short and compact.
I just bought my first AR (sig 516) and ill pretty much just be messing around shootin it when i go camping and maybe a little range shooting here and there..

AT first i was just gonna buy an aimpoint but i really want to be able to have a zoom option(not interested in adding the 3x aimpoint zoom)
THEN my buddy let me borrow his Bushnell Holo sight, im really diggin the recticle and the ability to pick up targets at close range, so now im leaning more towards a EoTech than just a dot the aimpont offers..
BUT neither offers a zoom option without adding their 3x zoom.
SO NOW im really considering a BURRIS AR-332 but its a set 3x zoom and im concerned it will be a little difficult to pick up targets quickly at close range..Anyone have any experience using one..? Pros n Cons..?

In the perfect world id have a ton of money and just buy a Leupold Mark 4 CQ/T and a Elcan SpecterDR and play with both of them..

Im really in a bind here i cant decide lol

[Randee]

A lot of good info in here, I was looking at the Leatherwood CMR

To the more experienced/senior (no offense intended) members here, any pros or con to it? Obviously it wont match up to lets say the Schmidt and Bender but what about to the other popular choices?

[Omega13device]

Im in the same boat..im looking for an optic i can use for quick aiming at short distances and somthing i can zoom in for mid range. I also want it to be short and compact.
I just bought my first AR (sig 516) and ill pretty much just be messing around shootin it when i go camping and maybe a little range shooting here and there..

AT first i was just gonna buy an aimpoint but i really want to be able to have a zoom option(not interested in adding the 3x aimpoint zoom)
THEN my buddy let me borrow his Bushnell Holo sight, im really diggin the recticle and the ability to pick up targets at close range, so now im leaning more towards a EoTech than just a dot the aimpont offers..
BUT neither offers a zoom option without adding their 3x zoom.
SO NOW im really considering a BURRIS AR-332 but its a set 3x zoom and im concerned it will be a little difficult to pick up targets quickly at close range..Anyone have any experience using one..? Pros n Cons..?

In the perfect world id have a ton of money and just buy a Leupold Mark 4 CQ/T and a Elcan SpecterDR and play with both of them..

Im really in a bind here i cant decide lol

Asking here can give you some guidance on where to start but the reality of optics selection is that you cannot know what works for you until you try it. Buying and selling several until you find what you like is par for the course.

A lot of good info in here, I was looking at the Leatherwood CMR

To the more experienced/senior (no offense intended) members here, any pros or con to it? Obviously it wont match up to lets say the Schmidt and Bender but what about to the other popular choices?

It's hard to state the pros and cons without knowing what you're going to use it for.

[Randee]

My main purpose is simply that I want something I can get a little bit more range out of, I essentially have an SPR style AR15, I would like to be able to hit the steel out to 3 or 400 yards at Angeles but also be able to have something in the event someone decides to break in that I can run

In all honestly I don't want to be some crazy 1000yd tack driver but I want something with comprimise if that makes any sense

I guess what I really want to know is whether the CMR is a quality optic and any thoughts on it

[Omega13device]

It would be fine for plinking at the range out to those distances.

For home defense, you could make it work with a lot of practice. It's going to be slower and generally harder to use than an Aimpoint under stress because the eye relief is limited and you have to align your eye with the scope. An Aimpoint doesn't have these limitations and has the advantage of 5-year battery life with the unit left on, so you just leave it on at all times.

If I were limited to one general-purpose upper I'd have an Aimpoint and a 1-4x scope, both in LaRue mounts, and the Aimpoint would stay on most of the time.

[bombadillo]

My main purpose is simply that I want something I can get a little bit more range out of, I essentially have an SPR style AR15, I would like to be able to hit the steel out to 3 or 400 yards at Angeles but also be able to have something in the event someone decides to break in that I can run

In all honestly I don't want to be some crazy 1000yd tack driver but I want something with comprimise if that makes any sense

I guess what I really want to know is whether the CMR is a quality optic and any thoughts on it

From reading reviews, I almost bought one before I got my Mark AR, and they really look promising. The CMR is supposed to have really decent glass for the money, and their ranging system isn't bad either. I would drop my money there without a doubt, and if I were to do it again, I would stay with a little higher magnification. At 300-400 yards, I don't like the 1-4 or 3-9 scopes, I got a 4-12x40 and really like it at all ranges so far. Just strictly a preference, but I can see so much better with the higher magnification personally. The 1-4 MKIV that I used was great glass, but definitely more difficult at 200 and up yards.

[tacticalcity]

With an SPR you can get away with a much higher magnification scope, it would be much more enjoyable to use at 200+ yards. It is not that you can't get good hits with a 1-4, it is just that you won't know about it unless somebody with a spotting scope tells you so.

An SPR is by it's very nature is something of a range whore. It is meant to reach out and touch someone more so than your standard military type AR. It is not meant for knocking down doors.

A 3.5-10x40 or even something more powerful would not be awkward on an SPR.

Then again, I guess that depends on how you define SPR. I've seen guys call a standard M4 an SPR just because they put a scope on it. So not everybody is on the same page with how they use their terms.

For example, a lot of the guys who hear "general purpose" are thinking CQB. Which is not really what comes to my mind when I think general purpose. Just like I do not think of an SPR as a "general purpose" rifle. I tend to think more plinking when I hear "general purpose". A general purpose AR wouldn't really need optics by my definition...so it is all in how you interpret the terms you are using.

This is what I think of when I hear the term SPR...

1) 18" Stainless Steel Barrel with 1-8 or 1-7 twist rate to handle match grade ammo.
2) Rifle length gas tube with low profile or flip-up sight.
3) Rifle length free floating handguards (railed or non-railed)
4) Flat Top Upper
5) Match grade trigger

Which rules out banging down doors and begs for a nice powerful scope and a bench rest in the civilian world. It is not something an entire team would be equiped with in the military. They are not used for banging down doors. They are perimiter security and designated marksman type use.

Perhaps you mean Recon or Recce rifle?

1) 16" Stainless Steel Barrel with 1-8 or 1-7 twist rate to handle match grade ammo.
2) Carbine length or Mid-length gas tube with low profile gas block to fit under the handguard
3) Rifle length free floating railed handguards
4) Flat Top Upper
5) Match grade trigger or Military Grade Trigger

Which is where you see a lot of 1-4 scopes. It is not something an entire team would be equiped with. It is used pretty much the same way the SPR is used, except in a pinch it still works for CQB.

Just my $0.02.

[Randee]

It would be fine for plinking at the range out to those distances.

For home defense, you could make it work with a lot of practice. It's going to be slower and generally harder to use than an Aimpoint under stress because the eye relief is limited and you have to align your eye with the scope. An Aimpoint doesn't have these limitations and has the advantage of 5-year battery life with the unit left on, so you just leave it on at all times.

If I were limited to one general-purpose upper I'd have an Aimpoint and a 1-4x scope, both in LaRue mounts, and the Aimpoint would stay on most of the time.

From reading reviews, I almost bought one before I got my Mark AR, and they really look promising. The CMR is supposed to have really decent glass for the money, and their ranging system isn't bad either. I would drop my money there without a doubt, and if I were to do it again, I would stay with a little higher magnification. At 300-400 yards, I don't like the 1-4 or 3-9 scopes, I got a 4-12x40 and really like it at all ranges so far. Just strictly a preference, but I can see so much better with the higher magnification personally. The 1-4 MKIV that I used was great glass, but definitely more difficult at 200 and up yards.

Thank you for the input guys!

The "scout" optic concept is still new to me, out of curiousity what is the max effective range on these style optics, I would assume the larger objective models such as 28mm or 30mm would have an advantage, in either event definitely some good info on here!

[JaeOne3345]

Thank you for the input guys!

The "scout" optic concept is still new to me, out of curiousity what is the max effective range on these style optics, I would assume the larger objective models such as 28mm or 30mm would have an advantage, in either event definitely some good info on here!

Randee, you know who...

I think you should state how much you are trying to spend as well.

Have you looked into the Burris Tac30 1-4x from Midway? It is getting good reviews on brianenos.com. I haven't used it but people seem to like it a lot.

Perhaps a higher power scope with a red dot on an offset mount? Just depends what you wanna do.

Look around at snipershide or the brianenos forums.

[Randee]

Randee, you know who...

I think you should state how much you are trying to spend as well.

Have you looked into the Burris Tac30 1-4x from Midway? It is getting good reviews on brianenos.com. I haven't used it but people seem to like it a lot.

Perhaps a higher power scope with a red dot on an offset mount? Just depends what you wanna do.

Look around at snipershide or the brianenos forums.

lol, I thought you were gonna preface this one with a...

"hey guys, NutnFancy here"

The burris is one that I am looking at but to be honest I am thinking a bit more about running something with more serious magnification and just running a doctor site off the side, the debate for me know is whether I want to go with a fixed 10 or go with a 3.5 to X

Ive seen some very nice Leupold Mk4's lurking around so Im keeping my eye on those right now, but I am still up in the air with everything

[Crusader]

We offer a high end close quarters optic called the SN-4 line. In that line we have two scopes, a 1-4x, and a 1.5-6x. We can build the scope to whatever you want, including choices of reticles, knob configuration, and anodizing finish.

Check us out at USOptics.com, but admittedly our site is under construction so if you have questions, give us a call at 714-582-1956