Rifle Scopes Scope Reticles?

[BLJ]

Is there an affordable scope ($450<) with a simple ranging reticle? A couple hash marks for elevation/windage instead of 32 MOA/10 mils worth of mess? Looking for something for NRL22/PRS style matches.
I'll admit to being new to this but this seems overly complicated to me. If it's something I need to study more to understand I'm all ears. Thanks.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

If you can push the budget a little we just put the Athlon Ares BTR GEN2 2.5-15x50 - APLR3 FFP IR MIL HD on sale for $549.99, reduced from $799.99

FEATURES

• HD Glass: HD Glass gives you better light transmission, brighter, and sharper image.
• Illuminated Reticle: The illuminated reticle provides greater visibility during dusk and dawn and other low ambient light environment.
• First Focal Plane Reticle: First focal plane reticle stays valid at all power settings allowing you to fully utilize the specially designed reticle that shrinks or grows along with your target as you zoom in or out. The reticle offers quick target engagement at low power while offering precise holdover positions with finer details.
• Etched Glass Reticle: Reticle etched on the glass that provides excellent backing support for complex reticle design and offers great durability and much higher shock resistance to recoil
• Advanced Fully Multicoated: Fully Multicoated optics effectively reduces reflected light and increases the transmission of light giving you a brighter image than normal single coated lenses
• XPL Coating: XPL Coating gives you an extra protection on the exterior lenses from dirt, oil and scratches or anything else mother nature can throw at you.
• Precision Zero Stop System: The system allows you to lock down your zero position and dial back to it with a sharp and precise stop right at your zero mark even you are turning it in pitch-dark or blinded folded.
• High Precision Erector System: The high precision erector system processed by high precision CNC machine with +/- 0.0001mm tolerance level to provide you the most accurate power settings and smoothest magnification change
• 6061 T6 Aluminum: The 6061T6 aircraft grade aluminum tube that has exceptional strength and superior mechanical integrity will protect these world class optics no matter what punishment you throw at it.
• Exposed Tactical Direct Dial: Exposed Direct Dial Turrets for elevation and windage allow you to quickly make adjustment as you needed and engage your target within a blink of your eyes
• One Piece Tube Construction: Heat treated one piece tube gives the scope extra strength over multi-piece tubes. A one piece tube also is better at keeping moisture out thus keeping your scope fog proof for the life of the product
• Waterproof: Waterproof to protect the scope in the harshest weather conditions or if accidently submerged underwater
• Fog proof: Fog proof to allow you to immediately engage your target when you take your rifle to cold ambient temperature from warm inside
• Shockproof: Robust mechanical system with special designs on both control and erector system that give you the ultimate recoil resistance to withstand 1000G recoil for 1000 times.
• Argon Purged: Argon Purging uses the inertia gas with bigger size molecules to purge any moisture out of the tube giving you better waterproofing and thermal stability .

Magnification	2.5-15
Objective Lens Diameter	50 mm
Reticle	APLR3 FFP IR MIL, Glass Etched illuminated
Surface Finish	Matte
Lens Coating	Wide Band Fully Multicoated
Extra Coating	Xtra Protective Coating
Tube Material	6061 Aluminium
Tube Diameter	30 mm
Exit Pupil	11.1-3.3 mm
Eye Relief	3.9"
Field of View @100 yards	41.8-6.8 ft
Click Value	0.1 mil
Adjustment range per rotation	10 mil
Total Elevation Adjustment	29 mil
Total Windage Adjustment	29 mil
Turret Style	Exposed Direct Dial
Parallax Adjustment	Side Focus – 10 yards to infinity
Purging Material	Argon
Length	13.8 "
Weight	27.3 oz
User Instruction Manual	Download
Reticle Manual	Download

 

[King_beardsly]

The Ares are hard to beat for the price, I’ve got one waiting to go on a .22lr build I’ve got in the works.

 

[J-Ham]

Yep, probably not going to find a better deal than what Doug is offering up there... And by the way, you won't find better people to work with than the boys at Camera Land NY.

As far as your actual question goes, I wouldn't get too worked up over something like the Christmas tree reticle in that Ares scope, you can use as much or as little of it as you want. I'll always have a couple of Gen 2 mildot scopes around for showing people the basics, but in my opinion, you'll outgrow that pretty fast... If you can use a ruler, you can use a modern reticle, haha!

 

[BLJ]

I thought about that today. Was it a matter of not liking the reticle options or a matter of not being familiar with them? Probably the latter. I've looked through a duplex for 25 years. Old dogs I guess.

 

[J-Ham]

I hear ya, man. When it comes to precision rifles (for me) though, it's hard for me to spend money today on already out of date technology.

For instance, I've asked @pmclaine about a million questions about scopes for an M70ish build... Basically the short answer is that there's really no good options out there. So what do I do, spend several hundred dollars on a scope that sorta looks the part but is pretty antiquated by today's standards or just kind of give up on that fantasy & move on... Well I opted for the latter.

Or take the Mk12 Mod 0 rifle for example. I've always thought they were cool looking rifles & a guy on my team had a SAMR rifle that was similar that he was just surgical with, so when it came time for me to build an SPR, that was an obvious starting point. However, the more I looked into it, the more I realized I didn't like the scope, mount, rail, handguard & didn't need that muzzle device or barrel profile. Well that's like the whole damned rifle, haha! So I ended up just building what I wanted using what I'd learned over the last 15 years.

I suppose there's a point in there somewhere... I'm not sure I even know what it is anymore though.

 

[longshot2000]

I hear ya, man. When it comes to precision rifles (for me) though, it's hard for me to spend money today on already out of date technology.

For instance, I've asked @pmclaine about a million questions about scopes for an M70ish build... Basically the short answer is that there's really no good options out there. So what do I do, spend several hundred dollars on a scope that sorta looks the part but is pretty antiquated by today's standards or just kind of give up on that fantasy & move on... Well I opted for the latter.

Or take the Mk12 Mod 0 rifle for example. I've always thought they were cool looking rifles & a guy on my team had a SAMR rifle that was similar that he was just surgical with, so when it came time for me to build an SPR, that was an obvious starting point. However, the more I looked into it, the more I realized I didn't like the scope, mount, rail, handguard & didn't need that muzzle device or barrel profile. Well that's like the whole damned rifle, haha! So I ended up just building what I wanted using what I'd learned over the last 15 years.

I suppose there's a point in there somewhere... I'm not sure I even know what it is anymore though.

It has got to come together for you. You mention the Mk12, I am in love with the Mk12, and we are getting ready to release full deployment packates of the MOD 0. for sure, scope technology has moved, but like the '69 Camaro, it just is what it is.

 

[pmclaine]

I hear ya, man. When it comes to precision rifles (for me) though, it's hard for me to spend money today on already out of date technology.

For instance, I've asked @pmclaine about a million questions about scopes for an M70ish build... Basically the short answer is that there's really no good options out there. So what do I do, spend several hundred dollars on a scope that sorta looks the part but is pretty antiquated by today's standards or just kind of give up on that fantasy & move on... Well I opted for the latter.

Or take the Mk12 Mod 0 rifle for example. I've always thought they were cool looking rifles & a guy on my team had a SAMR rifle that was similar that he was just surgical with, so when it came time for me to build an SPR, that was an obvious starting point. However, the more I looked into it, the more I realized I didn't like the scope, mount, rail, handguard & didn't need that muzzle device or barrel profile. Well that's like the whole damned rifle, haha! So I ended up just building what I wanted using what I'd learned over the last 15 years.

I suppose there's a point in there somewhere... I'm not sure I even know what it is anymore though.

You make good points.

The thing about "clone" rifles is you go "back" to a historical time. Technology has passed that shit by. You are limited to what was in use than. You end up with something that we have moved on from for good reason and you paid big money for it.

My best shooting favorite rifle is not a clone. It has features from historical rifles but it's not a specific list of parts.

I get more performance from the rifle built on what I wanted rather than the strict clones.

None of my rifles is a true clone. Since I changed the period Redfield on my M40 to a mildot reticle Leupold scope I've found the rifle really useful and great fun to shoot. That plain cross reticle Redfield with no reference was limited.

I've learned at what magnification my reticle value doubles and by zeroing with a hold under when I mag down I get enough milling for 1000 yards.

Not the answer for the OP as he is not interested in "clones".

 

[J-Ham]

@pmclaine

You've certainly figured out how to get the most out of those rifles! Haha

 

[thehun]

It has got to come together for you. You mention the Mk12, I am in love with the Mk12, and we are getting ready to release full deployment packates of the MOD 0. for sure, scope technology has moved, but like the '69 Camaro, it just is what it is.

I LOOOOOVE the MK12 platform...I love mine (while not 100% correct)...if you were to tell me I have one 5.56 platform to keep forever...it would be my Mk12...hands down...all day every day...

 

[J-Ham]

And I feel the exact same way about the SPR that I ended up building... The idea of a light & capable rifle from 0 to 600 or so is pretty solid in my opinion.

 

[thehun]

To the OP...you can Doug's suggestion is a solid one...you can also get some used Bushnell Elites that will work...also...sometimes the older Weaver Tactical scopes come on EE that have a good track record...

On my Mk12...I run a Bushnell Nitro 3-12 with Deploy Mil...they don't make it anymore...but that is a very solid little optic as well.

 

[pmclaine]

@pmclaine

You've certainly figured out how to get the most out of those rifles! Haha

I try.

Waiting for my M70 to come back from rebarrel.

Plain cross reticle is limiting but at least the external adjust allows me to dial.

I might just be 1/4 MOA plus or minus at 1000 yards with the current blocks. I think I had to count like 200 "clicks" to get there.

I have parts at LRI now that will blend old and new to my liking.

Post about it in the Gunsmithing area.

Lots of experimentation for me......hope it works.

 

[308pirate]

I thought about that today. Was it a matter of not liking the reticle options or a matter of not being familiar with them? Probably the latter. I've looked through a duplex for 25 years. Old dogs I guess.

You are not going to be successful in this game with any reticle that you're familiar with today.

Buy what you need and learn to use it. At a minimum you need .5 mil elevation divisions and .2 mil for windage.

 

[BLJ]

You are not going to be successful in this game with any reticle that you're familiar with today.

Buy what you need and learn to use it. At a minimum you need .5 mil elevation divisions and .2 mil for windage.

I'm realizing this. Probably new it from the get go but sometimes you go searching for someone who will tell you what you want to hear. Time to start learning. Thanks.