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Rifle Scopes DMR rifle scope power & focal plane

C

CTown137

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 30, 2011
151
0
44
Caldwell, Idaho
#1
Hello,
I am need of some guidance for a rifle I am putting together. I am setting up a DMR style AR15 in 556. I have a SBR for everyday use and a bolt 308 for extended ranges. I am wanting a rifle that I can run out to say 600. I have the rifle built but now it needs an optic.

I have narrowed my search down to the Viper PST series as they fit my budget and have the mil/mil option I am looking for. My first question is which would be your suggestion for power. I was looking at the 1-4 and the 2.5-10. The 1-6 is a little out of my price range. I have heard that the golden rule is 1x for every 100 meters (is this true?) Thus the 2.5-10 would be better.

My second question is whether to go first or second focal plane. I am familiar with the differences and I have a FFP on my 308, but I am wondering ifif it is truely needed for what I am building.

The rifle will not be deployed in any type of operational setting and is basically for me to have a smaller and lighter alternative to my bolt gun. Something to work on my precision skills and have some fun with.

Thanks for the help!
 
#2
Question for you first, do you have multiple uppers with different purposes, or is this a one upper for any situation? If you have multiple dedicated uppers for different purposes, get the 2.5-10x 32mm FFP. If it is a general purpose upper with no intentions of any one particular role, the 1-4x will be more flexible for close and longer range shooting.
 
#3
If you are talking about hitting silhoutte type targets at 600, the 1-4 will work just fine.
To be honest, I don't see the need for FFP on low power variables, if you do any ranging, or the distance is far enough to require holdovers, you are going to be on the highest setting anyway.
The PST is a dandy scope, a quality 2-7 would work very well also.
Have you considered the Weaver 1-5?
Other contenders are the aforementioned PST 2.5-10, the Weaver 2-10 and the VX-R Patrol 3-9.
 
#6
CTown137 said:
Hello,
I am need of some guidance for a rifle I am putting together. I am setting up a DMR style AR15 in 556. I have a SBR for everyday use and a bolt 308 for extended ranges. I am wanting a rifle that I can run out to say 600. I have the rifle built but now it needs an optic.

I have narrowed my search down to the Viper PST series as they fit my budget and have the mil/mil option I am looking for. My first question is which would be your suggestion for power. I was looking at the 1-4 and the 2.5-10. The 1-6 is a little out of my price range. I have heard that the golden rule is 1x for every 100 meters (is this true?) Thus the 2.5-10 would be better.

My second question is whether to go first or second focal plane. I am familiar with the differences and I have a FFP on my 308, but I am wondering ifif it is truely needed for what I am building.

The rifle will not be deployed in any type of operational setting and is basically for me to have a smaller and lighter alternative to my bolt gun. Something to work on my precision skills and have some fun with.

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

Super Sniper 3-9 or Sightron 3.5-10 S3
 
#7
As far as different dedicated uppers go, no I don't have any other uppers for it. I have an 11.5" rifle with a 2 moa micro that is my everyday gun. I am basically looking for an optic that I can use on my build to shoot some steel plates out to about the 600 meter range. I do not see myself using it as a daily carry rifle as my SBR is more than capable of dropping 6" steel plates at 110 meters.

My usual range has 10", 12", and 24" steel plates out to 600. I would like to hit those and maybe even shoot larger targets past that.

I completely respect the idea behind a 1-4 which is probably more suited for "real world" usage. I am just not sure if "I" will be able to hit the targets I want to with it.
 
#10
For what you want to do, I would not go below 8x on the top end. Using 4x on 2moa plates at 600 isn't ideal for me, and why go 6x when you can go 8x. Having 1x on the bottom is fine and I've run the same with a CQBSS on my MK12 before, but I since took it to spec and put the Leupold MR/T 2.5-8x on it. I don't miss that bottom end one bit with it, and the CQBSS will be better suited on top of my carbine .308 anyhow. DMRs are typically pretty hefty rifles, especially with bipod attached, so I doubt you're going to do shoot and move hammer pairs with the thing. Like you said, you have an SBR for that...

Me personally, if I were buying a new scope for a DMR, I would be looking at the Vortex 2.5-10x32 FFP right now. No, FFP isn't necessary for mine or most others purposes below 10x as anytime you're shooting at distances you're going to be holding off for wind, you'll be on max magnification anyhow (8 or 10x). Higher than 10x I personally wouldn't buy anything other than FFP. Below 10X, SFP is fine for me but so long as the reticle is able to be picked up easily with a FFP scope at 2-5x, I'm good with that as well but it's far from necessary.

SWFA 3-9x is another great choice and I've used that one before as well, but I think the Vortex outclasses it in that price range for a bit more. There's something to be said about zero stop and illumination.

Getting one scope to do many things well is extremely difficult, and usually you get "good enough" performance. Focus on the rifle to do the job you want it to, and have the others to do the rest.
 
#12
I have to agree with Ranger1183. I have a Vortex 1-4 PST that I shoot tactical carbine out to 350 yards with and it is perfect for that; however, if I were to want to extend that out to 600 I would have gotten the 2.5 x 10 for that purpose. It gives you lots of versatility and you can get a SFP for 599. You don't need a FFP for what you are doing. If you needed that capability you probability would use it on 10 power anyways so that negates the need for a FFP.
 
#13
That is a lot of good information. Thanks. I believe I will go the 2.5-10 route. Just need to make the final decision of sfp vs ffp. It seems like the consensious is that it is not "needed". My question is, is it "wanted"? I would prefer to only spend the money once for my optic.

Thanks again for the information!
 
#14
The only time I don't like FFP on a <10x scope is when the heavy bars on the reticle cover too much of the target when at low magnification. This is something I did not like about the mildot SWFA 3-9x, and why I sold it. The Vortex has 20 mils side to side, so that is a non-issue but still provides a good aiming point as well.

I'll add that the more I think about it, the more I want that Vortex myself...
 
Last edited:
#15
Thanks again for all the great information. I pulled the trigger on the PST 2.5-10x32 ffp. Of course it is on back order, but I was told it should be a short 2 month wait.

One more question for you guys....
I have been looking at the LaRue LT-104 type mounts for it. What are your thoughts on a qd unimount vs just torquing down a good set of rings? I see the advantage of dropping the scope closer to the bore with the rings and I won't be taking the scope on and off very often if at all since I have plans for a future RMR mounted on a 45° mount.

Thanks
 
#16
You will need some sort of canteliever mount or your eye relief will likely be shit on a AR15 receiver. To keep it low, I recommend you get the Nightforce Unimount in 1.125" height. Do not try and bridge the receiver and forward rail with standard rings. The 20moa can't will come in handy down range too.
 
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