Rifle Scopes how to compare the low-mag scopes: 1-6 / 1-8, etc.

[longshot2000]

I have in my hands three scopes, or relatively similar magnification:

Burris XTR-ii 1-8x24 -34mm
Accupower 1-8x28 -34mm
Mark 6 1-6x20 - 34mm

As I look through each, with various MIL and BDC reticles, they all seem quite good. I am looking for experiences with each. The Trjicon Accupower is nice with a 28mm lens, but the Mark 6 seems brighter and captures more and has the smallest lens. The Mark 6 is the most expensive, but there are some deals out there now, some of which put it at or below the Trijicon. The Burris is also very comfortable, and a few hundred $$ less. Interesting that each scope maker above chose the 34mm tube. So, money aside, which do you pick?

I know there are other options, like Kahles and Sig Tango 6 and S&B and the like. I am ruling them out of my evaluation for two different reasons: 1st, I personally reserve the $$ on much higher magnification. I cannot justify spending such funds on a 6x or 8x, but I will for 18-30x. That leaves out Kahles and S&B. For Sig Tango 6, I really like their Gen2 in the mid-range, like the 3-18x, but their lower mag scope just looks odd (to me).

 

[Darklefthand]

You can find some really good deals on the gen 1 sig tango6 1-6x's right about now.

 

[Kopfjager1]

I have both the Leupold Mk6 1-6 and Trijicon Accupower 1-8, and Im selling both. I may have liked the Leupy Mk6 1-6 with the 556 reticle but could not stand the turrets. It just depends what youre looking for. The Vortex 1-6 is a great optic, supposedly Nightforce is coming out with a 1-8x soon, not sure when, but it was talked about in here a few months ago. If I had to choose between your 3 options, it would be a Leupy Mk6 1-6 with the 556 or 762 reticle. Just not a fan of Burris.

Leupold Mk6 Pros:
Lightweight
Reticle on 1x, near perfect red dot
Daylight bright
Low profile turrets
Great glass with clear edges
Locking focus
Zero lock

Mk6 Cons:
Mushy turrets (worst turrets Ive dealt with)
Very busy center reticle on 6x (TMR-D)
No locking turrets
Not toolless zero
Relatively expensive

Trijicon Accupower 1-8 Pros:
Reticle on 1x, resembles and functions similar to an Eotech reticle
Locking turrets
Distinguishable clicks
Toolless zero
Decent glass
Good price point

Cons:
Heavy
Sensitive eyebox (have to have perfect sight alignment to see picture)
Nonlocking focus
Clarity around edges is sub-par
Fisheye lens effect around outside of center
Not daylight bright
Thick center reticle (not useful for midrange or small targets)

 

[Blasst]

I'm looking seriously at the Burris 1-8. I've heard so many competition shooters say they were using the 1.5-8 and then changed to the 1-8. The XTR's are built like tanks IMO.
I remember Mark Larue shooting an Elk with a Burris 1-4 at 465 yards a couple yrs ago using a Grendel. The 1-4 he was using was not an XTR......but still ya know what I mean.
I had a 1.5-6 a couple of years a go and it was rock solid .....wish I had kept it. So now I'm looking at the 1-8.
Then there is always the Leupy mark8 ) Saw Travis Hailey hit steel shooting offhand at 1400 yds using one on a 14" barreled 556 made by Radian weapons. But he could do it with a Burris or anything else I imagine.
One things though is I wouldn't get the Burris with the BDC.....I'd get the Ballistic Dot.....but that's just my opinion and experience. I'd look at Vortex and some others too. $2100 for a 1-6 Leupy? Ugg......not me.
I was watching Lowlights review of the Vortex 4-24 the other day and he mentioned that he thought the 1-6 razor was the best scope Vortex made until they came out with the 6-24. But if you want FFP then I'd look elsewhere. With the cost of the Leupy for just a bit more you can get some longer focal length expensive glass. 5-25 S&B's are going for around $2500-2600 now. I'm grabbing one and 4-16 F1 nightforce today.
Good luck..it's always a pain deciding......

 

[koshkin]

I am planning to do a full test on the XTR II, but from the little that I saw, it is a nice scope. Generally, XTR IIs have been very well built in my experience.
The Mark 6 is a decent scope, but not for what it costs. It does have bright illumination.
With Trijicon, I am not huge on the reticle. To me, segmented circle reticles do not work quite as well, as full circle or horseshoe designs at lower magnifications. That was one of the things I disliked about PST 1-4x24.

ILya