Rifle Scopes Scope for Mammoth Sniper Challenge Secondary Rifle (.223)

[bonesaw00001]

Hi Y'all,

I'm new to precision rifles but fairly proficient with pistol/carbine shooting. I'm hoping to tackle the Mammoth Sniper Challenge in 2021 with a buddy with similar experience. To that end, I'm looking to pick up a new scope for my AR chambered in .223 as the secondary rifle for our team. As such, what would most folks recommend?

For the suggested details:

• What is the platform for the scope? Semi-Auto, Rifle, AR
• What cartridge are you shooting? .223; may eventually swap this onto another rifle up to a .308
• What is your intended use for the scope? PRS competition with rucking
• What type of conditions will you typically shoot in? Daylight/lowlight
• What are the typical distances you intend to shoot? Up to 600 yards (as I understand the competition)
• Are there any specific specifications you would like? Mil-dots, decently light and durable
• What is the price range you can afford? <$1000, preferably <$500

Thank you!

 

[beetroot]

I really like the Vortex PST G2, the 3-15x44 would do well for your intended use.

 

[littlepod]

< $500, Athlon Ares BTR Gen 1 ($389-$414)

 

[TXBO]

This SWFA package is a good value.

https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-3-15x42-tactical-ffp-mil-rifle-scope-bobro-kit.html?___SID=U

 

[skatz11]

Bushnell LRHS or LRTS would be a good choice too. I have a 3-12 LRHS on SPR style AR.

 

[TACC]

< $500, Athlon Ares BTR Gen 1 ($389-$414)

What power on the Athlon suggestion?

 

[littlepod]

I have the 4.5-27, generally run it around 10-15x in competitions, but I do put it up to 27x when I'm shooting paper for groups @ 100/200.

 

[FireShooter]

Product Description

Product Description | Camera Land NY

cameralandny.com

In your price range and best buy in optics right now hands down. I have one of these and my hunting buddy has several too. They are reliable and made by LOW in Japan. It is a reliable and simple optic. Much fewer reported problems than a PST gen 2 scopes have had. Good reticle. Especially for an AR platform. They are a steal at current prices. Illuminated version is also available and $50 rebate is available too.

 

[spearknives]

I have been on the same search as you for a month now (approx. $500 scope). I was dead set on the vortex hs-t 4x16 until I read a few threads on a different forum that were pretty negative on vortex in general. The vortex as a lot of features for the money and basically everything I want. I really just wonder how it would compare optically side by side a leupold vx2 or vx3 in low light conditions. It seems like the only thing I can find online is opinions from people that own one or the other so they are obviously biased. I had the opportunity to look through a vortex pst and was very impressed and I think that I would be satisfied with it.

 

[Blair993]

Have a 5 25 pst2 and really like it.got rid of my 4 16 hst as didn't like the fussy eye box. Replaced it with a athlon midas tac 4 16. It is much nicer glass and turrets and has capped windage which good if rucking.

 

[beetroot]

I have been on the same search as you for a month now (approx. $500 scope). I was dead set on the vortex hs-t 4x16 until I read a few threads on a different forum that were pretty negative on vortex in general. The vortex as a lot of features for the money and basically everything I want. I really just wonder how it would compare optically side by side a leupold vx2 or vx3 in low light conditions. It seems like the only thing I can find online is opinions from people that own one or the other so they are obviously biased. I had the opportunity to look through a vortex pst and was very impressed and I think that I would be satisfied with it.

I owned a 4-16x44 HST and a 4.5-14x40 Mark 4 at the same time. I really liked the Leupold, ore than the Vortex but actually kept the Vortex as the Mark 4 had a very small FOV at 4.5x and the scope was going to be used for hunting.
I used the HST for a few years and it worked well, but the glass was pretty average and the eyebox was just way too tight.
The scope tracked well and was reliable, a friend has a 4-26x50 PST and 6-24x50 PST and they've given him no problems.

I know have a PST Gen 2 5-25 and it is leaps and bounds better than the HST every was, it's just not even comparable.
I recently had a chance to compare it too a Athlon Ares BTR 2.5-15x50, I liked the Vortex far more than the Ares, I'd compared the same Ares to my VX5hd a previous range session and again thought the VX5 was a far nicer scope.

 

[MK20]

Second vote for the Bushy LRTSi from cameraland

 

[Colorado S14]

I have a 4-16 HST that I'll let go for $300.

 

[DarrinW]

Hi Y'all,

I'm new to precision rifles but fairly proficient with pistol/carbine shooting. I'm hoping to tackle the Mammoth Sniper Challenge in 2021 with a buddy with similar experience. To that end, I'm looking to pick up a new scope for my AR chambered in .223 as the secondary rifle for our team. As such, what would most folks recommend?

For the suggested details:

• What is the platform for the scope? Semi-Auto, Rifle, AR
• What cartridge are you shooting? .223; may eventually swap this onto another rifle up to a .308
• What is your intended use for the scope? PRS competition with rucking
• What type of conditions will you typically shoot in? Daylight/lowlight
• What are the typical distances you intend to shoot? Up to 600 yards (as I understand the competition)
• Are there any specific specifications you would like? Mil-dots, decently light and durable
• What is the price range you can afford? <$1000, preferably <$500

Thank you!

I have had a Vortex PST and an Athlon Argos BTR, both 6-24. Sold the Vortex and getting ready to sell the athlon. The PST was "OK". There was nothing really wrong with it other than what i had was MOA. But it didn't stand out for anything either. The Athlon has the worst zero stop,It has to be shimmed for a hard stop. But I like the reticle better. The magnification ring was also super stiff.
So controls and glass- Vortex PST reticle - Athlon

My 308 now has a nightforce shv 4-14, which i really like. Yes its more money but worth it in my opinion. I also just bought a Leupold Mark 5 but thats way out of the price range.

 

[Konarex]

For what it's worth two Viper PST Gen 2 scopes broke in my squad at the 2019 GAP Grind. Neither scope would hold its zero. The elevation would shift as much as .8mil after a 8-10 rounds. Personally I would look for a scope that is more durable if you plan to ruck/race with it for two days. Mammoth and SAC are tough on gear from what I hear.

 

[Eoddave27]

As others have said do yourself a favor and get the most durable scope you can afford. It would really suck to be half way through a match that you have sunk all that time and money into and have your optic go down because you were trying to save a few hundred dollars. If you buy a good quality optic you will get many years of good service out of it. I would give Doug at Cameraland a call. He knows what they sell the most of and what scopes have the most issues. I have one of the bushnell DMRii scopes they have on sale right now and it seems like a real tank. Based on what I have read they are pretty tough. Doug will be able to give you a lot more feedback on optics failures than most of us here will though since that is his business.

FWIW I think I would steer clear of the lower tier Vortex optics. I’ve just heard way too many horror stories about optics failing in matches and have seen it happen a few times myself.

 

[FireShooter]

As I stated earlier the Bushnell LRTS/LRHS is an excellent scope. At the price they are going for I think its a no brainer. All scopes from different brands break, and have problems, even scopes that say Nightforce on them. But I hear far less reports of an LRTS failure than an PST failure. I personally wouldn't own a vortex scope that didn't say Razor on it for the same reasons Eoddave mentioned. I have an AMG and it has been problem free for almost 2 years now. The LRTS is an excellent scope for an SPR type role. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Good luck.