Ok, I got a little "jiggy" with it this black Friday and wound up picking up a stag model 10 .308 18", which is also my first AR-10. I have been reading for a while trying to establish a good list of mid-range scopes I could utilize for this rifle, but all I keep coming up with are the common base like the Nikon M308 and UTG scopes, some Leupold, but the one's recommended seem to be unavailable (these reviews must have come out early in 2017).
I am completely out of the loop when it comes to optics, and am reading every day to educate myself further. I'd like to get some real world actual human advice from individuals that aren't just trying to push a product.
I do have a bit of a dilemma because I actually have 2 weapons that need a "quality" piece of glass.
One is a rig I have been working on for a few years but never really shot to any extent, that's a Remington 700 sps heavy barrel which I mated up with a Bell and Carlson Medalist stock with adjustable cheek weld. Currently it's outfitted with a Bushnell Elite tactical fixed 10 power mil-dot scope. I bought that on a whim a year or two ago when money was tight and I wanted something to just get me on paper at the range. It is currently running a DBM, but I have considered putting it in a much nicer chassis and focusing more on it to be my long range shooter. That B&C stock is just too heavy, and it's a beast to pack around.
The 2nd of course is the Stag Model 10 18" .308.
To me, I would imagine that the Rem 700 is going to pull off better accuracy overall then the AR-10 ever would, so my first instinct is to put really good glass on the Remington, and go for something more rough handling and versatile for the AR-10.
That being said, Here's the breakdown.
Rifle 1: Remington 700 sps .308 set up for range only
.Primary usage will be in good weather with good lighting, unlikely to be used in lower light or rough weather.
Frequency of shooting, probably about 3-4 times a year if I'm lucky.
Needs to be great at 100-300 yards on view, good at 500 yards, and fair/acceptable at 1000. Will rarely shoot out past 500 but I'd like to have the advantage.
FFP is a big interest to me, especially with long range work, price goes up here, I know. Reticle with adjustment info would be nice, vs the old mil-dot.
At least a 30mm tube would be key, more light = more sight.
Turret controls are preferred as well, although I am no expert, I'd like to figure out how to dial in and back to zero when needed, and without unscrewing caps.
Budget is 1k-1500 if at all possible. Can probably go up to 2k, but it would really have be worth it.
Rifle 2: Stag Model 10 18" AR-10 in .308, flat top rail.
Primary use, range days, with occasional deer hunting trips.
Frequency of use, probably 10-12 times a year if lucky.
Needs to be great at 100 yards, good at 300 yards, fair at 500, maybe on paper at least at 1000?
Any FP is ok here, but again FFP would be of interest.
30mm tube preferred.
Turret controls here also, quick dial-ins would be nice.
Budget, 500-1000 maybe, up to 1500 if need be.
Scope would need to be a little rugged, able to be tossed around more than an average range gun, after all an AR-10 is a battle rifle first. Good warranty and replacement would be a perk.
I will likely use back-up offset battle sights here for close range stuff.
Things I've looked at so far:
Nikon M308, which keeps coming up on search after search. Seems to do well in good conditions but fogs some in bad. Saw some relatively negative reviews.
NightForce SHV series. FFP and pretty sharp, but large objective. Seems better suited for the Remmy than the AR.
Bushnell Elite Tactical G2DMR FFP 6x24x50. Yeah I know it's a Bushnell, but it's got some decent reviews.
Burris XTR II, gets some good feedback from my local range guys, seems to be out of stock everywhere though.
I greatly appreciate any suggestions and or advice. I am a noob, let that be known. I typically fiddle with cheap 3x9 scopes on cheap rifles like your entry level hunting rifles. All of my AR-15's are equipped with reflex sights, so optics are alien to me in many ways.
I have some good teachers that can get me where I need to be, but I gotta show up prepared with half-way good equipment or I'm not gonna get anywhere.
Shooting is something I do mainly for fun, as most of us do. That's really all I want to get out of it. Having the right equipment from day 1 makes the fun factor go way up. The buy once cry once factor is at play here. I'd rather not have to replace and replace things because I thought I knew it all from some online articles and reviews. I trust others that are in the same boat with me!
Pick me apart, I'm ready for it
I am completely out of the loop when it comes to optics, and am reading every day to educate myself further. I'd like to get some real world actual human advice from individuals that aren't just trying to push a product.
I do have a bit of a dilemma because I actually have 2 weapons that need a "quality" piece of glass.
One is a rig I have been working on for a few years but never really shot to any extent, that's a Remington 700 sps heavy barrel which I mated up with a Bell and Carlson Medalist stock with adjustable cheek weld. Currently it's outfitted with a Bushnell Elite tactical fixed 10 power mil-dot scope. I bought that on a whim a year or two ago when money was tight and I wanted something to just get me on paper at the range. It is currently running a DBM, but I have considered putting it in a much nicer chassis and focusing more on it to be my long range shooter. That B&C stock is just too heavy, and it's a beast to pack around.
The 2nd of course is the Stag Model 10 18" .308.
To me, I would imagine that the Rem 700 is going to pull off better accuracy overall then the AR-10 ever would, so my first instinct is to put really good glass on the Remington, and go for something more rough handling and versatile for the AR-10.
That being said, Here's the breakdown.
Rifle 1: Remington 700 sps .308 set up for range only
.Primary usage will be in good weather with good lighting, unlikely to be used in lower light or rough weather.
Frequency of shooting, probably about 3-4 times a year if I'm lucky.
Needs to be great at 100-300 yards on view, good at 500 yards, and fair/acceptable at 1000. Will rarely shoot out past 500 but I'd like to have the advantage.
FFP is a big interest to me, especially with long range work, price goes up here, I know. Reticle with adjustment info would be nice, vs the old mil-dot.
At least a 30mm tube would be key, more light = more sight.
Turret controls are preferred as well, although I am no expert, I'd like to figure out how to dial in and back to zero when needed, and without unscrewing caps.
Budget is 1k-1500 if at all possible. Can probably go up to 2k, but it would really have be worth it.
Rifle 2: Stag Model 10 18" AR-10 in .308, flat top rail.
Primary use, range days, with occasional deer hunting trips.
Frequency of use, probably 10-12 times a year if lucky.
Needs to be great at 100 yards, good at 300 yards, fair at 500, maybe on paper at least at 1000?
Any FP is ok here, but again FFP would be of interest.
30mm tube preferred.
Turret controls here also, quick dial-ins would be nice.
Budget, 500-1000 maybe, up to 1500 if need be.
Scope would need to be a little rugged, able to be tossed around more than an average range gun, after all an AR-10 is a battle rifle first. Good warranty and replacement would be a perk.
I will likely use back-up offset battle sights here for close range stuff.
Things I've looked at so far:
Nikon M308, which keeps coming up on search after search. Seems to do well in good conditions but fogs some in bad. Saw some relatively negative reviews.
NightForce SHV series. FFP and pretty sharp, but large objective. Seems better suited for the Remmy than the AR.
Bushnell Elite Tactical G2DMR FFP 6x24x50. Yeah I know it's a Bushnell, but it's got some decent reviews.
Burris XTR II, gets some good feedback from my local range guys, seems to be out of stock everywhere though.
I greatly appreciate any suggestions and or advice. I am a noob, let that be known. I typically fiddle with cheap 3x9 scopes on cheap rifles like your entry level hunting rifles. All of my AR-15's are equipped with reflex sights, so optics are alien to me in many ways.
I have some good teachers that can get me where I need to be, but I gotta show up prepared with half-way good equipment or I'm not gonna get anywhere.
Shooting is something I do mainly for fun, as most of us do. That's really all I want to get out of it. Having the right equipment from day 1 makes the fun factor go way up. The buy once cry once factor is at play here. I'd rather not have to replace and replace things because I thought I knew it all from some online articles and reviews. I trust others that are in the same boat with me!
Pick me apart, I'm ready for it
