I want to stretch the legs on my AR15 out to 500 yards. It is a decent quality rifle with a 16 inch barrel, 1:7 twist. I have a cheap scope on it now but want to add a Leupold or Vortex for $1000 or less. Any thoughts on appropriate magnification and objective lens size? I have a vortex pst gen II on my RPR 6.5 Creedmoor and feel like that Scope may be overkill for an AR15 given unknown accuracy potential at 500 yards.
Recommendations for AR15 Scope
- Thread starter Zurdo
- Start date
Take a look at the Shepard Rugged scope
https://shepherdscopes.com/product/rugged-1-8x24/
It's what I put on my IWI Tavor in 5.56
https://shepherdscopes.com/product/rugged-1-8x24/
It's what I put on my IWI Tavor in 5.56
Ta-31 acog is really nice. Not super precise for target work but it’s a lot of fun on steel out to 800 or so with its holdovers
How many Vortex have you owned,and which ones ? How many did you have to use the "good warranty on ? I read comments like yours about all brands...just wondering what exactly you had problems with.Thanks
I've been down this road with ARs at longer ranges, furthest out I've gone is 650 yards. But...at that distance, I've had my best results with a purposefully built AR for accuracy: White Oak Armory 24" barrel, Geissele match trigger, match grade ammo (77gr SMK - Federal and/or Hornady), and a fairly powerful scope x20 magnification. I was able consistently to put rounds on a 12" plate and get it swinging back and forth with shots fired fairly rapidly.
With a regular M4 style AR, with regular factory 16" barrel, 16" etc. etc. You might find shooting at 500 yards with it a bit frustrating, since most AR's are going to not do much better than 2 MOA with regular mil spec ammo, so your spread at 500 will be 10" or more, plus factor in the challenge of a mil-spec trigger, etc. etc. etc
But with that in mind, you might want to consider a Primary Arms scope for your AR, they have received great reviews, I've owned a couple and they are just fine. They would give you the ability to reach out to 500 yards without breaking your bank.
Just some thoughts.
With a regular M4 style AR, with regular factory 16" barrel, 16" etc. etc. You might find shooting at 500 yards with it a bit frustrating, since most AR's are going to not do much better than 2 MOA with regular mil spec ammo, so your spread at 500 will be 10" or more, plus factor in the challenge of a mil-spec trigger, etc. etc. etc
But with that in mind, you might want to consider a Primary Arms scope for your AR, they have received great reviews, I've owned a couple and they are just fine. They would give you the ability to reach out to 500 yards without breaking your bank.
Just some thoughts.
I dont have to own them. Thats irrelevant. Ive shot vipers PST's, looked through and compared glass with others that are 800 to 1200 dollar scopes. Ive shot the AMG I think it is... the upper end one... quite a bit at day and night. Compared the glass to others, yada yada. Ive done enough testing myself to know Ill never buy one.
Again, I said the warrenty is good, Im not arguing that. But, yes the people that I know that have them and that I shot theirs have used the warrenty.
I dont have to buy a Ford to know I dont want one. Ive driven them plenty.
Just what i figured ,your bad mouthing has no merit.
Thanks Centuriator. Your comments speak to just what I am concerned about. I paid a fair penny for this AR ($1800) but I’m concerned it would never do better than 2 moa at 500. That seems like a waste of money to buy nice glass with that spread using match grade ammo.
Hi Zurdo, may I ask what AR you purchased? For $1800 you might have an AR that has a better than typical barrel, etc. What kind of barrel does it have? Perhaps it has a better trigger than a mil spec trigger which can be pretty heavy.
And re. the 2 MOA, that would be with the usual mil spec stuff, but with match grade you could get better results, also much has to do with your skills as a shooter as well.
Here's another thought. You can kind of take this slow. You can buy some match grade ammo for it and try it out, just a box of 20 rounds, of several kinds, and get a feel for what it is capable of, with you doing your part, from a sturdy bench rest, well supported.
As for entry optics, you can always get a lower cost optic and if you are pleased with results, upgrade as you wish. People are forever upgrading/swapping/buying/selling their optics for the "next best thing" so good deals are to be found. You might want to check the PX forum at Snipers Hide for deals on optics.
And re. the 2 MOA, that would be with the usual mil spec stuff, but with match grade you could get better results, also much has to do with your skills as a shooter as well.
Here's another thought. You can kind of take this slow. You can buy some match grade ammo for it and try it out, just a box of 20 rounds, of several kinds, and get a feel for what it is capable of, with you doing your part, from a sturdy bench rest, well supported.
As for entry optics, you can always get a lower cost optic and if you are pleased with results, upgrade as you wish. People are forever upgrading/swapping/buying/selling their optics for the "next best thing" so good deals are to be found. You might want to check the PX forum at Snipers Hide for deals on optics.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
My AR was built by John Holliger at White Oak. He installed a Leupold Custom Shop VX R in 1.25X4 in a 30MM tube. I worried about it as a 3X9 on my rimfire was a challenge at 50yd. Our club has an extensive AR class and the last thing we did was shoot. It was at 200yds. I didn't have a zero, but shot 3 rounds at 50yds. Went to the 200yd line and guess what? Scope has a reticle with a ring. I could bracket the rings on the target and was well pleased that I could see to shoot. It shot very well.
John put the scope on because it is a legal Service rifle scope.
John put the scope on because it is a legal Service rifle scope.
wkdickinson
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a 4-16x44 Nikon M223 on an older Colt AR (the "CAR" version w/24" 1:9 barrel). I am pleased with the scope for a non-competitor rifle. I also have a Nightforce 5.5-22x50 NXS, a Vortex GE and a Sightron Slll 8-32x56 on various competition rifles and while Nikon doesn't come close to any of them glass-wise, for the money and purpose, I'm happy. It all comes down to what your needs are.
Good advice.
OK, you will have no issues at 500+ yards. You have an awesome AR rifle.
200 yards is *nothing* frankly with your rifle with a White Oak barrel, assuming you know how to shoot.
If you want more accuracy: better scope, better trigger, betters, shooter.
Even at 100 yards with a 20x magnification, you will see your heart rate making a difference.
Fundamentals. It's all about fundamentals.
If you want to advance to ELR like a lot of guys on this forum, you are in all a whole other realm.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
I am not an AR competition shooter, so I'm fine with my package.
I do have a "collapsible" stock, but I really prefer the cheapo.
The trigger is an Elftmann.
It is just a tincan shooter for me.
Exactly
Zurdo, let me know how I can be of further assistance.
Ignore the people who feel a need to indulge in a Johnson measuring contest on *your* thread.
Ignore the people who feel a need to indulge in a Johnson measuring contest on *your* thread.
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