Best Scope for Longer-Range AR Shooting?

[papa zulu]

my current rifle: DDM4V7
my current shooting goal: precision shooting out to 600+ yards on AR platform
my preferred scope: the best FFP scope that combines quality/features for this or a future rifle with greater range/precision
my scope budget: $600 to $2000

I'm trying to decide on a rifle scope that has the quality, precision and features that will optimize my relatively new, 4x/month at the range rifle skills and give me a steady, fun learning curve for long-range target shooting, albeit on a AR platform for now. I'd like to use this same scope on a bolt gun in the future.

I've begun looking hard at these scopes:

1. Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP for $949.

2. IOR/Valdada 3-18x42 35mm TACTICAL FFP MIL/MIL MP-8 DOT MOD SF, for $1795.

3. Nightforce 3-5-15x50-F1-NXS, for about $2,300 (beyond my stated budget but throwing it out thereanyway).

4. U.S. Optics ST-10 x10 (fixed power) that I can get new for about $1,000.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

[pterrell]

Honestly, your score choices exceed the limitations of the 5.56 round IMO. If I were spending that kind of money on long range shooting is look at a .30 caliber round rather than .22.

The 5.56/.223 is an intermediate round. It's too light for the long range that I'm sure you're hoping to shoot. Stick with a 4x scope. Just my .02

[ExtremeX]

Honestly, your score choices exceed the limitations of the 5.56 round IMO. If I were spending that kind of money on long range shooting is look at a .30 caliber round rather than .22.

The 5.56/.223 is an intermediate round. It's too light for the long range that I'm sure you're hoping to shoot. Stick with a 4x scope. Just my .02

I agree with you, but its still fun to take it out to those 600+ distances. With the right loading and a little luck, I've had some good results at 700-800 yards, but its FAR from ideal. Its all a huge wind game at that distance.

That said, I say go big on the scope... as in buy what you want / best you can afford. Nice thing about optics is it doesn't have to stay on that rifle and if you are buying for keeps you will have years of good service regardless of the rifle its sitting on.

I would put the SWFA 5-20x into the mix as its gives a lot of value for the money, glass is great, much better than the PST line at least. The Razor 5-20x also fits the bill @ under 2k.

If you can stretch the budget a little OP the Vortex Razor HD Gen II 3-18x50 would be a nice fit, and make a nice home on a bolt gun down the road too.

The Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56 is the one I am personally after as an upgrade to my PST 6-24 FFP, but its a healthy chunk of change, and its also a pretty monster scope to put on top of an AR.

[Dave626]

Burris XTR II 15x
Viper pst ffp 24x
Nightforce ATARC. Not ffp, but it amazingly clear lens.
Steiners ffp 2014 release T5Xi.

Currently I'm using steiners military msr and NF atarc. I mount on my lwrc spr. I'm able to hit the 600yds big pig steel plate but not the 12" plate at angeles range. You should go with an 308 ar10 with heavy barrel if you want to do AR precision shooting.

[Josh3239]

All those options you listed are too much scope for that rifle IMO. Based on my modest experience, shooting 600 yards or even further, you will be more than proficient without even needing to go up to 14x magnification. My 308 (soon to be 6.5) is a Vortex 6x-24x, even at 1,000 yards I don't think I use more than 12x magnification. The problem is, especially since you want an 1st focal plane, the crosshairs become very large and the FOV shrinks. Not only does that combo making long range shooting a bit more difficult but with the small FOV it is much harder to take advantage of the reticule to make corrections.

Honestly, the USO 10x is a very good option.

[JMP]

The 5.56/.223 is an intermediate round. It's too light for the long range that I'm sure you're hoping to shoot. Stick with a 4x scope. Just my .02

The OP said nothing of 5.56/.223, just an "AR" platform. However, with a long barrel, even the .223 is capable of reaching much further than people give it credit for. You CAN get it to 900-1,000 yards with a heavy bullet; in that case, you need to be looking for a scope with a lot of adjustment.

[papa zulu]

Thanks for the replies. My AR platform is indeed AR15, so I'm shooting 5.56/.223 (shoulda been more specific in my OP).

JMP, what does a "heavier bullet" mean? A 308 and up, or a 5.56/.223 round with 62+ grains? (My rifle is 1/7 twist, so I believe it can handle such rounds but I'd need to 2x check, obvi).

Thanks again for the good thoughts.

[Josh3239]

He would be referencing 5.56 rounds in the 68-77gr area. Even then, while capable, the bullet has lost a lot of "zip" at that range and would be easily pushed around by any wind.

[RobG]

None of those are too much scope on an AR. Look at it this way, great glass can be swapped around as needed. If you have 2k to spend I would forget the PST as you can do way better. The USO is a fixed 10x, so ditch it too. The IOR is seemingly good although there have been reported issues in the past. The NF is nothing short of awesome but, it is spendy. You can find a used one for 2K though if you look around.

The Bushnell DMR 3.5-21 is a great optic for 1300ish. The Vortex Razor (original model) is a great optic for 1800 new. Can be found used for 1500ish. If you do not need FFP the original NF NXS is still a great scope.

You have many options for 2k. Unless you have the dough to spend frequently or are a gear whore buy for the future. Meaning, a great optic that you can use for a long time on nearly any platform.

[HK Dave]

At $2K, you have a ton of great options.

I would however stay away from IOR and any fixed scope if you're playing in the $2K range.

My precision AR15 that i shoot 77gr with has a Nightforce F1 with MLR2.0 reticle and it's perfect for me.

[JMP]

JMP, what does a "heavier bullet" mean? A 308 and up, or a 5.56/.223 round with 62+ grains? (My rifle is 1/7 twist, so I believe it can handle such rounds but I'd need to 2x check, obvi).

The diameter will be the same, .224" but it will be a heavier, longer bullet. These start out initially slowly, but they will outperform the lighter bullets the further out you go as they are ballistically more resistant to drag. 77gr is very popular, but they make bullets up to 90gr for the .223 cartridge. It ain't pretty or fast, but they can make a 1000k landing. Of course, this is dependent on the barrel. You'd want a long barrel to get as much velocity as possible.

[Manh3]

Best scope, anything premier or schimdt and bender but that'll run you out of your budget. If it was my money, I'd spped a bit more (2500-2700) and get a 3-12x pm II from s&b. If 2k is the max, something used from us optics or new bushnell xrs series.

[Pauliedad]

Tag

[cavemanlrrp]

LaRue has a good deal on the Bushy HDMR. Scope with H-59 or Trmr2, mount, and padded case...$1575.

Been running the H59 for a few years and loving it.
The LT104 mount really does return to zero. I put the scope on when I start shooting and take it off when I'm done.
If I had the bucks right now I'd get another one.

Best
caveman

[papa zulu]

Thanks, guys. Really helpful.

Today, based on everything I've read, watched and researched, including the excellent advice from y'all, I purchased a Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50 (35mm tube, FFP).

I think it combines the features, quality and learning curve that fit my needs and style now and provides a nice learning curve for the future. It'll be fun getting to know how to use a scope of this quality to its fullest, on this rifle or on a true precision long-range gun.

(And if I figure out before Wednesday that I'm wrong and that I truly need a S&B or that NF F1 so many people rave about, the beauty of Amazon is I can send back the box no questions asked and start over. But I don't expect to.)