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Rifle Scopes Which optic for MK12 Mod 1?

tlsmith22

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Nov 9, 2008
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I’m not building an exact clone but really close. I cant decide on which optic. I am leaning towards a NF 2.5-10x42 or 3.5-15x50. Which reticle suits that rifle best? Also, I’m an MOA guy.
 
You have a Mod 1, but not limiting yourself to clone correct. Why? Get the NF 2.5-10x24 and enjoy it, and be clone correct. The other clone-correct option is not one you will want to consider, as it is great for period scopes, but you can do better.

I do think the NF 3.5-15x or the ATACR 4-16x are great choices if not concerned with period / clone correct. This is a 600m rifle, so go with a basic reticle. If you are an MOA guy, then the MOAR or similar NF reticle is a classic that will never go out of fashion. Clean, easy to read. Just pick F1 or 2nd FP.
 
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I built an SPR about a year ago and went with the Leupold Mark 4 3.5-10x40 with a TMR reticle. M1turrets. The TMR reticle is in Mils but the turrets are in MOA. Not a big deal because I always used hoods.

Pros were the glass was good and it’s a great scope. The 5 Mils of holdover got me out to 600 yards just fine. I also figured out that if i dialed 13.75 MOA on the turret, then that put the crosshairs at about 4 Mils and I could hold all the way out past 800.

The cons with a max 10x scope (for me) are that I can’t see the 1/2 mil hash marks very well, even at max power. This could just be that reticle or my eyes or both. So be sure you can effectively use the reticle if you’re only going with a 10x maximum power scope. The other issue was target identification. I’m not sure what you’ll be using this for but I was the spotter in a 2 man match. We had a stage where you had to find and shoot a number 6 that was among several rows of the letter “G”. I couldn’t even find my paper with my team number, let alone the lone 6.

Out of your two choices, go with the 3-15x. You won’t regret that bit of extra magnification. I second the comment above about the MOAR reticle. I can see it wonderfully at about 12 power.
 
I have been down this road and the NF 3.5-15 is the way to go. Anything past 400-500 yards with the 2.5-10x24 will be difficult due to the tight eyebox and lack of parallax control on the x24. I actually ran a MK6 3-18 and loved it while I searched for the F1 3.5-15. I would suggest you go over to AR15’s MK12 thread as there is a plethora of information about what was actually used on these rifles and considered clone correct. The first 3 pics are of my old setup and mil returned Pelican case. The second to last picture is of the Nightforce F1 3.5-15 and the last is of the Premier 3-15 being used in service.

But yes the MK4 2.5-8 and NF 2.5-10x24 are the most clone correct.

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I have been down this road and the NF 3.5-15 is the way to go. Anything past 400-500 yards with the 2.5-10x24 will be difficult due to the tight eyebox and lack of parallax control on the x24.

Probably about right. I get to 600 m without an issue, but it is a tight sweet spot, and a really cool optic.

I actually ran a MK6 3-18 and loved it while I searched for the F1 3.5-15.

I think both are good. The F1 NF is a hard find, though.

I would suggest you go over to AR15’s MK12 thread

eeeek. That is a wild group. Take what those guys say with a grain of salt. They all think they are the sole expert.[/QUOTE]

But yes the MK4 2.5-8 and NF 2.5-10x24 are the most clone correct.

Buy, OP said he was not looking to be fully clone correct.
 
I went and tried both scopes on an SPR today and decided on the 2.5-10x42. The extra weight was kinda the deciding factor. I love the 3.5-15 too but felt it was slight overkill for a 223. I appreciate the help guys nd it was a really close race between those 2. The 2.5-10x 24 NF never was really in the race for reasons stated by y’all, short eyebox and lack of FOV and also it was a darker scope to me.