what scope on your AR for long range?

adamsmith007

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Dec 3, 2011
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Hey guys. What scopes are you using on your AR's for long range shooting (600-800 yds). Been doing some research and been told to stick with a scope with minimum elevation adjustment of 80 MOA. Curious what you guys are using on your AR's.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

What's your budget, rifle/caliber? That much available travel isn't a bad thing, but not absolutely necessary either if you're running a canted base with a flatter shooting round.

I have a SWFA SS 3-9x42, SWFA SS 5-20x50, Leupold CQBSS and a S&B 3-12x50 inbound. Each one has a different application and are for three different rifles and calibers.

After application budget dictates a lot on scope selection, so help us help you. Need more info....
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

I run either a Weaver 3-15x FFP or SS 5-20x FFP on my AR10's/15's for precision work. For less precision I run a dot or 1-4x optic. A good 10x fixed scope will work very well if you are shooting min/man. For precision magnification is your friend... to an extent (20-22x max usually best around 15x with mirage).
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

I think a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x FFP would be your best choice. A PST 6-24x would be a good choice as well, but I think 4-16x would be plenty of power.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's your budget, rifle/caliber? That much available travel isn't a bad thing, but not absolutely necessary either if you're running a canted base with a flatter shooting round.

I have a SWFA SS 3-9x42, SWFA SS 5-20x50, Leupold CQBSS and a S&B 3-12x50 inbound. Each one has a different application and are for three different rifles and calibers.

After application budget dictates a lot on scope selection, so help us help you. Need more info....</div></div>

Well I am just getting into long range shooting, so i don't want to break the bank my first go around. My budget is around $400. I think i am leaning towards the Vortex Viper. I will also be using my set up for coyotes. I see a lot of guys sticking with a max magnification of around 14x for their AR's. For whatever reason, i have in my head bigger is better and want around 20x.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam Smith</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's your budget, rifle/caliber? That much available travel isn't a bad thing, but not absolutely necessary either if you're running a canted base with a flatter shooting round.

I have a SWFA SS 3-9x42, SWFA SS 5-20x50, Leupold CQBSS and a S&B 3-12x50 inbound. Each one has a different application and are for three different rifles and calibers.

After application budget dictates a lot on scope selection, so help us help you. Need more info....</div></div>

Well I am just getting into long range shooting, so i don't want to break the bank my first go around. My budget is around $400. I think i am leaning towards the Vortex Viper. I will also be using my set up for coyotes. I see a lot of guys sticking with a max magnification of around 14x for their AR's. For whatever reason, i have in my head bigger is better and want around 20x. </div></div>

IMHO, 20x is unnecessary. If you're wanting to keep it cheap, the Falcon Menace might be a good choice. It's offered in FFP. Once I tried FFP over SFP; it's hard for me to go back...
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

I think this thread might be in the wrong area, but what canted base do you guys recommend to still allow me to zero at 100 yards, and then be able to dial the elevation to get me to around 800 yards? I understand it depends on what bullet i'm using and so on, but just give me an idea.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Proud Noob</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam Smith</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's your budget, rifle/caliber? That much available travel isn't a bad thing, but not absolutely necessary either if you're running a canted base with a flatter shooting round.

I have a SWFA SS 3-9x42, SWFA SS 5-20x50, Leupold CQBSS and a S&B 3-12x50 inbound. Each one has a different application and are for three different rifles and calibers.

After application budget dictates a lot on scope selection, so help us help you. Need more info....</div></div>

Well I am just getting into long range shooting, so i don't want to break the bank my first go around. My budget is around $400. I think i am leaning towards the Vortex Viper. I will also be using my set up for coyotes. I see a lot of guys sticking with a max magnification of around 14x for their AR's. For whatever reason, i have in my head bigger is better and want around 20x. </div></div>

IMHO, 20x is unnecessary. If you're wanting to keep it cheap, the Falcon Menace might be a good choice. It's offered in FFP. Once I tried FFP over SFP; it's hard for me to go back...</div></div>

I looked into the Falcon Menace, but read mixed reviews on it. Have you had any experience with the Menace? I think im leaning towards a Viper Vortex.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam Smith</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think this thread might be in the wrong area, but what canted base do you guys recommend to still allow me to zero at 100 yards, and then be able to dial the elevation to get me to around 800 yards? I understand it depends on what bullet i'm using and so on, but just give me an idea. </div></div>

Maybe 20 MOA? Which is probably the most common cant, for canted bases, risers, and unimounts, anyway.

 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

For me falcon are good scopes for the trainer(22lr) I've one on my cz, but not for other caliber.
I've heard of many issue on havyer calibers.....
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam Smith</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I looked into the Falcon Menace, but read mixed reviews on it. Have you had any experience with the Menace? I think im leaning towards a Viper Vortex. </div></div>

No personal experience with the Falcon. I just know I prefer FFP, and the Falcon is the cheapest scope that offers this. I've heard mixed reviews as well. I do know from first hand experience that Vortex makes a good scope. However, I only have experience with their Viper PST line.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

USO 1.8-10 on mine. Used to wear a 3.2-17 that I moved to a bolt gun. I prefer the 10x on this style rifle and it does well out to how far I shoot it...around 800 yds. 20 moa riser on mine and there is more elevation than I will ever use.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Adam Smith</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What's your budget, rifle/caliber? That much available travel isn't a bad thing, but not absolutely necessary either if you're running a canted base with a flatter shooting round.

I have a SWFA SS 3-9x42, SWFA SS 5-20x50, Leupold CQBSS and a S&B 3-12x50 inbound. Each one has a different application and are for three different rifles and calibers.

After application budget dictates a lot on scope selection, so help us help you. Need more info....</div></div>

Well I am just getting into long range shooting, so i don't want to break the bank my first go around. My budget is around $400. I think i am leaning towards the Vortex Viper. I will also be using my set up for coyotes. I see a lot of guys sticking with a max magnification of around 14x for their AR's. For whatever reason, i have in my head bigger is better and want around 20x. </div></div>

I have some sub 300 dollar scopes that have 20x power and all of them suck past about 12-15 power. They either won't focus well or they're too dark or the glass sucks.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

If you shooting coyotes and your max range is 800 yards you need an adjustable power scope. I doubt most of your shots will be at max range.....mostbwillmbe between 150-400. Just get a decent piece of glass that is first focal plane and make sure it's either mil/mil or moa/moa and you can't go wrong. Hell, even a BSA adjustable scope would work fine unless you plan on shooting sub moa.

Killing animals with an ar doesn't require a whole lot of scope at your range.....I assume your shooting .223. Get a decent scope and spend the rest on some quality ammo for your barrels twist rate.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

Badger makes the base and all the good optics companies make decent scopes in your price range---you will want a better optical quality if u insist on higher magnification---3x12X works for me in the mid-priced stuff---as does a fixed 10X
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

+1 on Vortex. I have Leupold, USO, and Vortex, and I can fairly say that Vortex provides the best value if your looking for "brass tacks." If they expand their reticle options, I would be hard pressed to ever shop another scope when price is a consideration.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KillShot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For a price point of $400, there's still one brand that hasn't been mentioned that should be given consideration; Sightron. </div></div>

+1 Sightron makes a good scope for their price. I have a 6-24x that works very well. They have a lot of different scopes too. Good luck.
 
Re: what scope on your AR for long range?

Lots of variety out there! I think i have figured out what i want and have been looking through the classifieds. I have to wait till i have 100 posts though until i can post in the classifieds and do a "WTB."