LWRC M6A1 5.56 16" scope suggestions?

[chalwie]

My friend (ret. Marines 1991) has a LWRC M6A1 16" 5.56 rifle. Like a good student, he shot it for 3 months with BUIS and is very comfortable with it. Now, he is ready to shop for a nice scope and/or red dot. We use the local range - and usually shoot 100 yds, occasionally 200, and will eventually try the 500 just for fun. We target shoot, but like many - want a durable and reliable set-up just in case of SHTF. My suggestions:
1) Trijicon 3x, 3.5x, or 4x with angled red dot (I love this set-up on my own LWRC)
2) Aimpoint with 3x FTS mag
3) Eotech with 3x FTS mag
4) Short dot

Please share your knowledge and suggestions, with pros/cons and experience to back-up.
Thanks.

(After posting, I realized that I should have posted in Optics section - sorry)

 

[Belmont31R]

Re: LWRC M6A1 5.56 16" scope suggestions?

I would suggest the Aimpoint T1 for a general purpose carbine optic. I have several of them, and they are good for torso shots out to 300M. Past that you want to be using a magnified optic.


Im not really sold on the magnifiers because all they do is magnify the image you get out of the optic. Its still not good for accurate shots.


If you are really going to be shooting out to 500 with an AR you want something with some accuracy, and a magnified optic. The thing with the 223/556 is the bullets are so light the wind really pushes them around. You really want a dedicated setup, and its hard with an AR to get something that works for close in as well as longer ranges. The closest Ive come is my LaRue Stealth with a Short Dot. The thing is its heavy and slow for close in work by my MK12 clone build is better for 500 yard work. At 250 I can bang Larue targets like crazy, and the setup works well for that distance.


If the majority of your guys shooting is under 300 Id really opt for the T1. It works out to 250 pretty well in my experience. If you get something like a Short-Dot you want an upper that can be accurate enough to go along with the optic. Ive owned several ACOGS, and ended up selling them all. Its a very tough scope but not very versatile. Under 100 yards its like looking through a tube, and IMO you lose a lot of situational awareness. 200-500+ they would be a decent choice but they suck too much "much" closer than that.

I would also look at the Trijicon TR24 series if you want Short-Dot like capability without the cost. Im on my 2nd Short-Dot, and they are an awesome optic but pricey.


FWIW a T1 with a 50 yard zero will be zero'd again at around 220/230 yards (depends on your load, barrel, ect), and you don't really need a hold over until close to 300. For instance at 300 you could hold on the head, and your rounds would drop in the top half of a torso. The 556 loses a lot of steam past 250.

 

[Rovieairto]

Re: LWRC M6A1 5.56 16" scope suggestions?

A 4x32 ACOG will pair up nicely.

Leupold MK4 1.5 - 5 would work well.
http://www.leupold.com/tactical/products...-illum-reticle/

Nightforce 1-4 x 24 NXS
http://nightforceoptics.com/nightforcesc...t1-4x24nxs.html

These are nice:
http://www.usoptics.com/product.php?partnumber=SN4-150
http://www.usoptics.com/product.php?partnumber=SN4-400

If you want to ever shoot at distance, these optics will help you do it well.
The AR, with proper ammunition, can do some surprising things out past 300 yards.