Short Bolt Action .223 Optic?

[Harman117]

Wanting some feedback on the following optic selection for a suppressed 16" .223 bolt gun. 50-400 yards max intended range.

Feedback or recommendations on other options is what I'm after.

Requirements:
- Milliradians
- Adjustable Parallax
- Not to exceed 50mm Objective size

Wants/Would be nice:
- FFP > SFP (+ MIL reticle)
- Compact and Lightweight preferred

Current Short List:
- NightForce NXS 2.5-10x42
- Trijicon Credo 2.5-15x42
- Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15x42
- Steiner H6xi 2-12x42

Honorable Mentions:
- Leupold Mark 4HD 2.5-10x42
- LPVOs 1-8/1-10s (not being optimal at top magnification causing hesitation)
- ZCO 2-10 (not out yet and big $$$)
- Schmidt 3-18x42 Meta
- Leica Amplus 6

Being that it's 2025; any other better options out there that I may have missed? Would like to stay under $2K, preferred around $1k.

 

[Jojo417]

Honestly, coming from someone who’s owned Steiners, NF, leupold and Zeiss, for this application I’d do an Arken 4-16 sh4. A strike eagle 3-18 or venom 3-15 would be worth looking at. I personally like the Arken better though.

The reticle is good, and glass is plenty good inside of 400yards. Ive used mine on my 16” gas gun in some terrible conditions next to my Zeiss s3 and the Arken did surprisingly well.

 

[koshkin]

I'd probably be looking at some sort of a 3-18x or 3-15x design. If you are good with 10x on the top end, Leupold Mark 4HD 2.5-10x42 is nice and lightweight. I have the FFP one here and like it a lot.
The new Telson 3-18x50 is looking pretty good, but I just got it, so we'll see. Here is what the reticle looks like: These aren't available until March some time though.
Burris XTR3i 3.3-18x50 would probably be my pick in terms of bang for the buck.

ILya

 

[M_R_Woodard]

I have the mk4hd 2.5-10x42 on my 20 inch 223 and my main hunting rifle. I shoot them both out to 500 yards regularly and not having adjustable parallax isn't an issue. I really like these scopes.

 

[ggmanning]

Used March 3-24. 12.3" 22.5oz.

 

[Franko]

If you can deal with the low end magnification being 4.5, the Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22 is worth looking at as it is light and well within your budget.

 

[Harman117]

Thanks everyone for the feedback thus far. Will look into the additional options listed.

@koshkin Do you have anytime with the Gen2 SWFA SS 3-15x42? Would you still take the XTRIIIi over it with the price difference?

 

[Chickentoast]

Used / demo / refurb option: S&B 3-20 ultra short

 

[FuhQ]

Wanting some feedback on the following optic selection for a suppressed 16" .223 bolt gun. 50-400 yards max intended range.

Feedback or recommendations on other options is what I'm after.

Requirements:
- Milliradians
- Adjustable Parallax
- Not to exceed 50mm Objective size

Wants/Would be nice:
- FFP > SFP (+ MIL reticle)
- Compact and Lightweight preferred

Current Short List:
- NightForce NXS 2.5-10x42
- Trijicon Credo 2.5-15x42
- Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15x42
- Steiner H6xi 2-12x42

Honorable Mentions:
- Leupold Mark 4HD 2.5-10x42
- LPVOs 1-8/1-10s (not being optimal at top magnification causing hesitation)
- ZCO 2-10 (not out yet and big $$$)
- Schmidt 3-18x42 Meta
- Leica Amplus 6

Being that it's 2025; any other better options out there that I may have missed? Would like to stay under $2K, preferred around $1k.

Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 MIL-XT, or a Burris XTR-3i 3.3-18x50 SCR2 MIL would be a nice light and compact scope for that.

 

[FuhQ]

If you don’t mind spending the money, the Kahles K318i 3.5-18x50 SKMR3 would be another compact option. I run one on my main hunting rifle. Glass is phenomenal.

 

[koshkin]

Thanks everyone for the feedback thus far. Will look into the additional options listed.

@koshkin Do you have anytime with the Gen2 SWFA SS 3-15x42? Would you still take the XTRIIIi over it with the price difference?

I have not looked at Gen2 3-15x yet

 

[TonyAngel]

What are you going to be using it for? Shooting at really small stuff that is sub MOA? If that is the case, then an expensive scope with magnification in the high double digital range might be right.

400 yards is not a long distance and a scope with decent glass will get the job done on a general purpise rig. What I'm specifically referring to is the Arken EPL4 4-16. I actually like this scope. At distances out to 400, it does just fine.

Usually, I like to keep things as small and compact as possible on rigs that I'm going to be carrying around and, usually, the higher the magnification, the bigger and heavier the scope.

Looking at your list, I really feel that the Leupold Mark4 should be upgraded to the short list. I feel that it competes well with the Mark5 at half the price. I've been running one for a few months and have had no problem getting beyond 700 on steel with it. The lack of parallax adjustment at those distances has been a non issue. The Mark4 has good depth of field and the glass is very good. The downside is that you only get one rev on the elevation, but again, at the distances I've shot, it's been a non issue.

The Mark4 is relatively short and light as well. I've found it to be a nice all around scope where a 1x is not needed.

I'd avoid anything LPVO unless you need to have a 1x or size and weight trump usability.

I have 2 main rigs. A 16" with the Mark4 and a 13.9 with a 1-8x NX8. If Im going to be carrying more than shooting it, I grab the 13.9. If I'm going to be doing more shooting that carrying, I grab the 16. The Leupold is just more of a joy to get behind.

 

[Harman117]

What are you going to be using it for? Shooting at really small stuff that is sub MOA? If that is the case, then an expensive scope with magnification in the high double digital range might be right.

400 yards is not a long distance and a scope with decent glass will get the job done on a general purpise rig. What I'm specifically referring to is the Arken EPL4 4-16. I actually like this scope. At distances out to 400, it does just fine.

Usually, I like to keep things as small and compact as possible on rigs that I'm going to be carrying around and, usually, the higher the magnification, the bigger and heavier the scope.

Looking at your list, I really feel that the Leupold Mark4 should be upgraded to the short list. I feel that it competes well with the Mark5 at half the price. I've been running one for a few months and have had no problem getting beyond 700 on steel with it. The lack of parallax adjustment at those distances has been a non issue. The Mark4 has good depth of field and the glass is very good. The downside is that you only get one rev on the elevation, but again, at the distances I've shot, it's been a non issue.

The Mark4 is relatively short and light as well. I've found it to be a nice all around scope where a 1x is not needed.

I'd avoid anything LPVO unless you need to have a 1x or size and weight trump usability.

I have 2 main rigs. A 16" with the Mark4 and a 13.9 with a 1-8x NX8. If Im going to be carrying more than shooting it, I grab the 13.9. If I'm going to be doing more shooting that carrying, I grab the 16. The Leupold is just more of a joy to get behind.

Pest/vermin control like rabbit/ ground hog sized targets. I have other rifles that are 4x the weight which I use for going farther. Wanted to keep this rifle light, compact, and handy

 

[carbonbased]

Pest/vermin control like rabbit/ ground hog sized targets. I have other rifles that are 4x the weight which I use for going farther. Wanted to keep this rifle light, compact, and handy

Jeez, that describes my use for some of my guns.

For me, it’s basically impossible to beat the Razor 4.5-22 for that (light, compact, handy), especially in your price range. I like some magnification for small rodents/pests, and like tree reticles.

 

[TonyAngel]

Pest/vermin control like rabbit/ ground hog sized targets. I have other rifles that are 4x the weight which I use for going farther. Wanted to keep this rifle light, compact, and handy

I hear ya. Man, given your use, some magnification is in order. I'll tell ya, I'd just write off the idea of an LPVO. I run a 1-8x NX8 on my "very general purpose" rig. It's a good scope. Kind of narrow field of view, but good glass. Depending on my surroundings and the general atmospheric conditions, making a 400 yard shot on something the size of a groundhog is very doable, but in less than ideal conditions, I find myself wishing I had grabbed the rig with the Leupold on it.

Honestly, I think that if you got a 2-10x, you're gonna be wishing you got more. I'd go with something with a 3x bottom end. With at least a 12x or better yet 15x top end. You'll just plain have to work less to see what you're doing. There isn't much of a size/weight penalty going up a step from a 10x and it'll be a much more enjoyable experience.

Man, we're in the 21st century. What is up with all of these compromises? You'd think they would have come up with a way to defy physics so that we can have our 9" long, 17oz light, 1-80x optic so that we don't need to make decisions like this.

 

[carbonbased]

@koshkin has a nice and recent vid on some of these scopes.

 

[Rob01]

Pest/vermin control like rabbit/ ground hog sized targets. I have other rifles that are 4x the weight which I use for going farther. Wanted to keep this rifle light, compact, and handy

No way I would spend $2k for that use. I would get one of these and mount it up. Will do everything you need and spend the rest on ammo.

Vortex Strike Eagle 3-18x44mm FFP EBR-7C MRAD Riflescope SE-31802

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[Chickentoast]

Jeez, that describes my use for some of my guns.

For me, it’s basically impossible to beat the Razor 4.5-22 for that (light, compact, handy), especially in your price range. I like some magnification for small rodents/pests, and like tree reticles.

I have one of those on my light carbon hunter. I don't think anything else has come out yet to beat it - assuming weight comes first. Glasshole said the NX8 2.5-20 Gen 2 is much better than the terrible Gen1, but more money than the LHT 4.5-22 and I haven't looked through one yet.