I have been looking for a good “Do All” scope that is suitable for close range, but can still provide accurate fire at a distance. It needs more magnification than 4x for target identification.
I want to keep it $1500 or below.
My ideal set up would be-
1-8x.
First focal plane, illuminated, range finding reticle {this reticle (http://nordenperformance.com/crs_specs.html) is perfect}.
1/2 or 1/4 moa knobs (doesn’t really matter to me though)
Sufficient eye relief.
And of course good quality glass and durability is a must!
So I’ve narrowed it down to a few I like-
The US Optics 1.5-6x28 SN-4
Leupold Mk4 mr/t 1.5-5x20 Ill.
Norden Performance/GRSC Combat Rifle Scope (CRS)
Leupold Mk4 mr/t 2.5-8x36 (I’d just figure out to use the mil dots as hold over points though)
And the Trijicon TA31H, just because I like the reticle.
Please, feel free to recommend anything else you think would fit my specifications; but also choose what you think is best of the above as well.
Ive got two leupold 1.5-5 mk 4s and I don’t like that you can’t take them down to 1x and the 5 x just did not seem it had enough mag to go to the distances that I wanted to shoot.
I am looking at the 1-6 GRSC as well, and waiting on some more reviews on that scope. I have seen that Leupold is coming out with a MK 6 1-6 scope for the new year and it sounds interesting but has yet to be seen.
The 1-8’s look promising, but they are still not really out yet except for the Leupold CQBSS and until it gets some competition from PR and SB it will remain out of touch of my wallet.
I have the Leupold MK4 1.5-5 illuminated SPR reticle on my Recce and I really like it.
I am just as fast with it as a red dot at close ranges, and I have made first round hits on a 20" gong at 800yds from a 16" barrel. I would consider the Night Force 1-4 as an alternative.
Anything more than the 1.5 magnification does make shooting at closer ranges challenging for me.
Since you stated Reece rifle in your post, you are going to be hard pressed to find a scope over a 1x-5 that will keep it within what a Recce is built for.
It’s all about the 1x-4.
So with what options you listed the Leupold MK4 1.5x-5 is the ticket you should punch.
I am a firm believer in the ACOG as a fantastic combat optic because of the durability. They are slower up close. I chose the 1.5-5 Mk4 in your poll because they are so versatile.
FFP optics in the 1-4 range really aren’t very useable under 4x as far as ranging goes. Even holdovers would be difficult on 1x, the reticles are very small at that magnification.
The 2.5-10x24 is an amazing little scope, superb weight and size with a very useful range. Personally I don’t see the appeal of the 1.5-X scopes, as for me 1.5 is still very very slow compared to a reflex, in the case of the 2.5-10x24 you are getting a similar size package and getting double the top end at 10x. Selfishly I want to tell you to get the 1-6 since I’m actually very curious about that scope myself, but can’t bring myself to try it. I’m not sure how useful the BDC would be for me since I’m mainly shooting 77g @ ~2600 FPS as opposed to the 14.5" m855 that the 1-6 is calibrated for. The USO 1.8-10 is nice but very heavy and imho too much money when you get one with illumination and I don’t really see the need for FFP in a 10X scope when you can pick up a used 2.5-10x24 for around $1000.
ETA: OP for $1500 you are not going to find any 1-8 at all, so I would probably take that dream off your list, also why is FFP a requirement when one of the optics you are considering is a fixed 4 power? Do you envision scenarios where you will actually be ranging at for instance 2.5 power? Even if you needed to, it would be a very straightforward affair to do this with a scope where the rangefinder was accurate at 10x. I would also recommend against employing mil dots primarily as a makeshift BDC. They can be extremely useful holdover points but as a BDC you will likely be sorely disappointed.
I know 1-8 is completely out of the question but that is just so you know what i would really want it, even though i know it’ll be different because of the lower price.
I suppose I should be rethinking how much i need ffp, if second plane would indeed be better then help me decide and point me in the right direction!
oh yeah, thank you trident for all your input and pics, i appreciate and respect your information and your posts on Snipers’ hide. I love your youtube vids to!
With something like a 2.5-10x, I could see wanting a FFP. For a 1-4x, ehhh…it doesn’t make a lot of sense, at least to me.
Swaro has a 1.7-10x42 that looks good, but with the illuminated reticle and ballistic turret is upwards of $2.8k.
I don’t see a BDC reticle being very useful outside of the military where everyone has the same rifle and ammunition. You can play with the zero and get ACOGs close, but it won’t be as accurate as chronographing your round and dialing for drop.
Thanks for the kind words brother, I would have weighed in more but didn’t have any real experience with the options you listed in your op.
I’m obviously biased towards NF’s offerings, however they have treated me extremely well, and up to this point I have not personally needed anything else besides what they offered.
You can always go with a 2/3-9/10x type optic and then run a secondary optic like a T-1 in a 45 degree mount to give you the 1x type capabilities. I really like Larue’s LT724 mount in conjunct with a T-1 for this type configuration.
My recommendation would be to go with a NXSc 2.5-10x?(x24s are really hard to come by now that they are extinct, however the x32s are readily available). Then play around with it a little bit and if you find yourself wanting or needing a 1x capability, pick up a nice 45 degree offset mount and a T-1.
You certainly can get a whole lot of bang for your buck with a budget of $1500.
