My brain is fried from researching optics so I’ve come here for some much needed advice on an optic for my RECCE-ish build.
I’ll start of w/ specs of the gun
BCM BFH 16" Mid upper.
Troy 10" or 13.8" MRF rail w/ Troy BUIS’
Bushy lower w/ A1 or Sully stock (nothing special, eventually a trigger)
I’d like this gun to take me out to about 600yds so I think the minimum “max magnification” should be 4x. The optic, if not powered by Tritium, should have a battery life of at least 80hrs. I’ve looked into 1-4x’s, 2.5-10x’s and everything in between. I’ve also looked at the ACOG TA31H and I love the reticle. Whatever optic I choose should have a reticle similar to the TA31H (horseshoe or circle/dot with ranging). Should I choose an ACOG or other optic that does not go down to 1x, I have an extra Aimpoint T-1 that I could mount at the 1 O’clock position for close range shooting.
My budget for the optic and QD mount (Larue, ADM etc.) is around $1,250 not inclusive of the T-1 I already own.
Please respond w/ recommendations and personal experiences if available. Hard to find specs such as battery life are much appreciated.
I am still on battery #1. It has been three months, shooting once a month for a couple of hours. I carry spares. I am sure that someone here has more longer term experience than mine.
Nightforce 2.5-10x32 with Zero Stop,MILDOT/MILRAD in a LaRue SPR mount. This goes a little above your price point, but this combo is worth saving the extra $ for, IMHO.
I agree, thats the route I am going when I finally figure out what rifle I am going to use it for… I was going to use it on a A3 but am going a different route on that rifle… I think I am just going to buy a 18" LT 13.2 Stealth and throw it on a Colt lower I have laying around…
The Nightforce 2.5-10x32 w/ zero stops is a tad out of my price range, however, it may be a possibility in a few months. I notice Leupold has a Mark 4 MR/T 2.5-8x36 that might fit the bill and is a quite a bit less. The ACOG is still on the table as I have simply always wanted one. For now I will run with my leftovers, a Nikon 2-7x w/ the T-1 at the 1 O’clock. This will allow me to use the gun for a bit and save a few more dollars before committing to a certain scope.
Thanks for the help guys, I haven’t made a decision yet, but at least I’ve narrowed the field.
I beat the living hell out of a MRT with my fellow redneck Jim Gilliland a few months back. It’s a fine optic. Don’t let the flavor of the month influence decisions. If you’re on a budget the MRT is a good choice. No one can shoot better than it.
If you can find the money the NF 2.5-10X24 or X32 is a supreme scope for what your looking for. I ran one for 4 years on my issued MK 12, and again for 4 more years once I started teaching for a living. It is a great product. Things that separate it are the; zero stop, lighted recticle, hollow mil dots, just to name a few.
After watching the episode Kyle and Jason did on the MK 12 I knew I had to have one of the NXS 2.5-10x24’s for my 16" Centurion barrel upper. I managed to score one off a friend here for $900 and leveled it up in a LaRue LT 104 mount. Man It’s great.
Ultimately I’d like to get a true SPR upper off Grinch (wait list for barrels…sigh) and at that point I’ll move the Nightforce to that gun and go back to my TA01NSN ACOG on the 16". I was pretty happy with the ACOG there originally but for qualifications on a 1" black circle at 100 the Nightforce wins.
Add to that my Magpul PRS stock system and a KAC 2 stage trigger and I’m living with just about as much of a dream gun as I’ve ever owned.
I heard that the 2.5-10x24 was being discontinued. I got a pretty decent deal on it from a store clearing out stock. Maybe you should look around to see if there are any being sold at clearance prices. I still wanted the 24 regardless to keep down weight and bulk.
It has zero stop turrets and a NP-R2 turret. I can’t wait to get out to try it out. I just need to figure out how to use the zero stop system. I should have got a EE Larue mount, but I didn’t know what scope I wanted at the time.
Noveske N4 Recce with a KAC 2-stage trigger and Surefire MB556 muzzle brake.
