What to put on a short 308 bolt gun

[yocan]

By short I mean 14.5 pinned to 16" with a suppressor mount. (silencerco if that matters)
So got a weber custom rem 700 in trade ostensibly it should shoot well. So IMO for walking I'd want at maximium the bottom end to be 3x. and ideally 15 at the top end. does a 2.5-15 exist? Obviously this is going to be suppressed. Honest expectation is both subs and supersonics.

In the 800$ range the 1200 and the 1500 range what would you default to? If theres something closer to 2 grand youd have to sell me on it but might happen. Never really needed an intermediate scope before.

 

[charnicus]

Under a grand maybe a Bushnell or something. $1200-$1500 would be a Mk5HD. 3.6-18. (Close enough to 3 on the bottom). A little over you’re in the 4-16 ATACR, NX8 2.5-20, non illuminated Mk6 3-18 territory. Personally I’d be looking in the $1300-$1800ish range. No need to spend $2k or more unless you really really want to.

 

[Charger442]

Eotech 5-25. Have one on a 16.5" surgeon 308. It's a good length

 

[yocan]

The NX8 was my high end choice before posting. Smidge more money, smidge more weight and more magnification at the top than I need. But its really the only thing I'm seeing checking my boxes

 

[charnicus]

It’s competitive I think for what you get. Leupold is going to have your lightest offerings but I may not be 100% correct on that. The NX8s have mixed reviews but as always your mileage may vary haha.

 

[DJL2]

I asked a similar question, albeit more weight constrained, if you wanna check out some of the suggestion in my thread. That said, I've got an Athlon Ares BTR 2.5-15x50 on a Tikka T3x. Weighed it today with its new stock, 8.25 lbs before sling/ammo. No issues with that at all, even a little on the light side for still wearing its factory 7mm RM barrel. Looking at the "bottom" of your price range, that's where I put my own money.

The Mk5 HD popped up in my thread too, and at 26 ounces it's a solid choice that gives you more capability for the same weight as the Athlon...always nice when it's easy to see where the money weight. ;-)

If you can handle MOA and don't mind rolling the dice, there's always a Maven RS1. I don't know a damn thing about them, have seen zero reviews, but it IS a 24 ounce 3-15 optic that might just be a nice heir to the old Bushnell LRTS/LRHS. That's between the MK5 HD and Athlon in price.

 

[Jlknights61]

@yocan

I’m in the same situation as you, having just finished a 16.25” .308 build, and I keep coming back to the NX8.

I have a vortex 2.5-10x32 as a place holder on it now but definitely want more mag.

Looked at the bushnell offerings but nothing that checks every box. The lrts is very difficult to find with illumination now a days. The xrs is heavy.

I looked at the Leupold mk5 but it seems overpriced to get illumination (pushing over $2k), and an odd ring size.

The NX8 has a great mag range, illumination (green and red of that matters), relatively light at 28oz, good reticle selection, proven NF reliability, 30mm tube, for under $2k.
But... this is on paper and their seems to be as many people around here that don’t like it as do.

TLDR: I think you’re right on track looking at the NX8, I keep ending up there as well, just gotta pull the trigger and order one.

honorable mention: the trijicon ten mile 3-18 looks very interesting at 24 oz, but not a lot of info out on them yet.

 

[nutation]

Leupold is going to have your lightest offerings but I may not be 100% correct on that.

Leupolds tend to be light. The Mark 5HD 3.5-18x44 is 26 ounces, but the NX8 2.5-20x50 is pretty close at 28.3 ounces.

 

[TheNatural21]

I have an Athlon Ares BTR 2.5-15x50 on my short 308. I've been very happy with it. No locking turrets is the only thing I sometimes don't like, depending on how it's being used. Should be near the bottom end of your price range and it's 27oz.

I bought an Athlon Helos BTR gen2 2-12x42 for the same purpose. It's backordered so no idea how it'll be, but reviews on this forum are a big part of why I ordered it. Locking turrets were the main selling point for me, 25oz and compact package are a bonus.

 

[muggs13]

definitely check the Trijicon line Credo

 

[7WSMShooter]

Did the same thing with an 18in shorty 308 and went all over the place
With the scopes. Really.
Bushy LRTSI 3-12 if you can find it. Minox 3-15 if you’re gonna be above 2K in the 2-2400 range. Mark 5 3.6-18 illuminated if you can find one around 1700-1800.
4-16 NF in the 1700-2K range maybe. Wouldn’t get the NX8 over any of the others.
I did the same thing and went through all of them till I ended up with a Minox
3-15 and a TT 3-15M. I wanted great glass and light gathering for hunting low light.
Will prob keep the Minox 3-15 and deal with the extra weight and sell the TT.
I even tried a Gen III Razor 1-10, but wanted more mag on the top end and a bit more light gathering. If 10x is enough a Trijicon Credo 2-10 is a much less expensive nice option. I tried the 3-12, but still wanted a bit more on top end and Kept the Bushy 3-12 for my 300BO bolt.
Sold the NF 2.5-10x42 cause it didn’t match up in any category to any of them crept for light weight. NF 4-16 was great except I can stand the ocular turning every time I change the power. Optics wise, the NF 4-16 slayed the NX8, with the Minox beating it.
I like the size and power range of the Mark 5, but unless you can find a steal on the illuminated model, Leupold is insane with what they want to charge for illumination
Over a non-illuminated model. In that price range, it puts you into the range of nicer
Picks. In the 2400-2700 range you’ve got the Kahles 3-18i with it’s only real drawback being a tighter FOV. Above that ZCO 4-20 and TT 3-15M and P.
308 subsonic though, I stopped playing with 308 subs after I stuck a round in my Bros barrel And we had to shorten it and it never shot as good after the fact.
Just use the BO for that.

 

[yocan]

Yeah I never quite understood 308 subs. What do you gain over 300 BO?

 

[7WSMShooter]

Yeah I never quite understood 308 subs. What do you gain over 300 BO?

Only the ability to shoot subs out of your 308. But to optimize your 308 for subs you need at least 1/8 twist to shoot he heavier 220s and then you still have the extra case capacity to deal with. Even using trailboss, hard to come up with a load to shoot
The same 220 as accurately as a 300 Whisper or Blackout. Best I’ve got out of a 1/10 twist 308 that was decent was 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 MOA with 208 AMAX and trail boss.

 

[B_w.]

I like the g2 razor 3x18 on my 16 inch. A tt 3x15 would be awesome.

 

[7WSMShooter]

Yep, forgot to add the Razor 3-18, had one. Loved it, but at 46oz it ruled its self out for a hunting application.

 

[st1650]

I have a 16” Desert tech 308. 1:8 twist
subsonic 308w is superior to subsonic 300blk past 200 yards, I just get tighter ES/SD with 308w Lapua brass + Trailboss + Lapua 200FMJBT than with my Defiance anTI 300blk with Bartlein barrel and N105/110/120. Inside of 200 yards I use the defiance since the higher ES doesn’t matter as much and it’s much lighter.

I’m using a 4.5-29 Cronus, they’re 29oz, fairly compact which is perfect for a DTA Cover length and I got mine new for less than 1000$ couple of years ago. Had no problem shooting FGMM 175 smk and hand loaded TMKs to 1000 yards.

 

[yocan]

Got offered this in trade thoughts?

Swarovski Optik Z5 3.5-18X44 P​

 

[deersniper]

Under a grand maybe a Bushnell or something. $1200-$1500 would be a Mk5HD. 3.6-18. (Close enough to 3 on the bottom). A little over you’re in the 4-16 ATACR, NX8 2.5-20, non illuminated Mk6 3-18 territory. Personally I’d be looking in the $1300-$1800ish range. No need to spend $2k or more unless you really really want to.

All this.

Add a SWFA 3-15 f1 or NF 4-14 f1 if on a budget

 

[A.Huggy]

I chose a Leupold Mk5 3.6-18 for my 18" .308. I love it.

IMO the image looks better than my Razor 3-18. Some people say the opposite though so YMMV.
There's definitely more CA on the Leupold, but for some reason I get less eye strain and can resolve more detail with the Leupold.

 

[deersniper]

Yeah I never quite understood 308 subs. What do you gain over 300 BO?

SuperSonic 308 capabilities. And can still be sneaky.

If mostly super get a 308. If very much subsonics get 300bo

 

[RobbinsHGray]

I understand 308 I understand short I understand bolt I don’t understand short bolt 308. Please enlighten me.

 

[deersniper]

I understand 308 I understand short I understand bolt I don’t understand short bolt 308. Please enlighten me.

Light simple easier to shoot well? Shorter than semi also.

Also cycles subs

 

[SkyScrapin]

Yeah I never quite understood 308 subs. What do you gain over 300 BO?

Velocity. Subsonic is subsonic. But getting a 300blk out to compete with a 308w out of the same barrel length aint a fair fight.

The NF 2.5-20 is a great optic, surprisingly so. It's half the cost of a S&B 5-20 which is also a great shorty optic. Lots of options these days.

I humble pimp this 11" 308 once more:

 

[charnicus]

All this.

Add a SWFA 3-15 f1 or NF 4-14 f1 if on a budget

The 4-14 SHV was my first scope purchase. I dunno why I forget about it all the time. Pretty damn good for what it is.