I am looking for a good quility scope for my new ar15. I am looking at a leupold Mark AR Mod 1 4-12x40 would this be a good fit for target shooting and when the hits the fan here in the USA???? This is my first AR and first exspensive scope.. But i want one that last...

The scope you are looking at is a good scope and would be fine at the range, especially for long range shooting.

For home defense, SHTF, it's too much magnification. Unless you plan on only being a dedicated sniper for a team. A better match for both uses would be a scope capable of 1 power (no magnification) or close to it like a 1.25 or 1.5. The high power is going to depend somewhat on what you want to spend. There are scopes that go from 1-4X, 1-5X, 1-6X, and 1-8X. Price will depend on brand and glass quality but I have seen 1-4X scopes selling for quite a bit, say $1,500 or so.

If you want to throw iron sights in the mix, then the scope can go higher or you can mount a reflex or red dot on the top or side of the scope. The advantage with irons being mounted on a 45 degree offset is that there is no change in cheek weld. Just rotate the rifle to the left a bit and keep running. And there is no batteries to wear out.

Any recommendations on a brand make and model.. I am scope stupid and if at all possible would like to stay under 450 bucks... And would like to buy american made..

Leupold VXR in 1.25 to 4.
30mm tube.
Illuminated red dot in center of reticle. On low magnification you can use it like a red dot with both eyes open. Crank it up to 4 and you can use it for more precise shots at distance.

Real world street price is right under $500.
Leupold Optics VX•R 1.25-4x20mm - | Leupold Optics

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

Would i have to remove the front iron sight with this scope? Does it have the adjustabe windage and what nit without removing covers??

Not sure what kind of shooting you have in mind, but it sounds like you are thinking about sniper rifle tactics, and the AR is not a sniper rifle. For 3 gun, Dusty has pointed you toward a great scope, and the rifle/ammo combo will probably fall closer to 2 MOA than to 1.
Once you get the zero set for no wind, you're less likely to be cranking windage than to hold off and shoot. The fun of an AR is rapid shooting at targets at various distances.
You can get a bolt action rifle for half the price that is more accurate, and more suited to shooting little groups at long distance.
A big sniperscope with external turrets on an AR is clumsy and frankly, not in keeping with the rifle's capabilities and strengths.

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Science plus Art

Front sight can stay, you won't see it in the scope. You should get a one piece riser mount for a 30mm tube scope to get the cheek weld right, various people make good ones. You can take off the whole mount and as long as you reattach to the same set of notches on the upper receiver your zero will pretty much be back on (won't say exact but should be so close you can't really tell - a click or so either way).

This one is pretty good and can be found for about $80.

AR-P.E.P.R. Scope Mount | Burris Optics

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

For the SHTF scenario, I think you should look at the Aimpoint Comp M4 or better yet, the Micro T1 or T2.

The recommendations made above are good ones. Leupold, Higher end Bushnell, Vortex, Burris, Sightron, Trijjicon, Weaver, and Nikon. It really depends on how much money you have to spend and what features you want.

I'll try separate them a bit for you. Now these are generalities and the name brand range of product can go from ****** to top notch.

Nikon, Vortex, and Weaver tend to be middle of the road to fairly high end depending what you are looking at.

Leupold runs from upper middle of the road to pretty darn top notch if not top notch.

Burris, Sightron, and Trjjicon are typically top end brands.

Bushnell is their own animal. They make **** all the way to some pretty darn good stuff that competes with Leupold and lower end top notch products. The Mod4 you mentioned would be one of their top end items.

Keep in mind, this is all generalities and some will probably disagree with some of this.

In my opinion, I would focus around the $300-$400 for the average AR-15. $500 would be ok I guess but pushing the limit.

Some follow the school of thought that if you spent, say $700 on the rifle, $700 should be spent on the glass.

In the end, it's your money and how you spend it is your business. We try to steer you in the direction that will best meet your expressed desires. Much of it based on personal opinions and biases.

I keep forgetting this is not a long range rifle.. I have my eye on a nikon 1-4x20 m223 it is $299 here at a local box store.. I have very few options here in a small town. Is there something out there that you would use?? If so what is it? I just want a good scope that would have multi use that will last a lifetime for my AR that want close the bank.. I dont know what would be good for a AR. I would like to do the 3 gun stuff some day down the road.. And still have some medium range shots.. Any suggestions??

If you have good eyes the iron sights are very good up close and out to what many would consider long range. Start out learning to use them before you decide on what you want and you can make a better decision on where to spend your money. Not as sexy but they never let you down.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

I love useing scopes.. This is my first AR and i want to put a good quility scope on it.. For the time being i will have to use the iron sights and dont mind doing so.. It just makes it hard to check your target at the gun range when other people are shooting..

I am also looking at a Firefield 1-6x 24. Has anybody used one of these??

My wife has Leupold Mark AR scope and we are very happy w/ it.

If it's under $200 in a variable, it's likely not very good.

Most everything from China is junk. Some companies hold a higher standard for quality control than others, but I wouldn't use a Chinese optic on anything serious. The Philippines are putting out some decent mid grade optics. Most of the nicer stuff is coming from the U.S., Japan, and Germany.

4-12x is a lot of magnification.

After using various optics through the years I settled on a 1-4x Leupold with a couple custom shop touches.



For stuff currently out there I like the Weaver Classic V-3 1-3x. It's a basic scope but great quality and affordable. Most of these guns shoot pretty flat out to three hundred yards or so, so most of the fancy "tactical" features are unnecessary.

That's what spotting scopes are for...

It sounds like this will be an all purpose gun. If you are shooting a couple hundred yards and in, 1-6 magnification will do what you want. Especially if you want to do three gun down the road. If you have an A2 front sight post, co-witness the reticle with it. I would recommend middle of the road. Nikon and Vortex are good choices. I also recommend a QD mount with back up sights. I do not care for the 45 degree offset sights. They are unnecessary with flip ups and tend to snag on stuff.

I am looking at a Nikon P-223 3X scope for my Sport II.. 3X is all the power you need, unless you are shooting small targets at long range.. My Sport II is a home defense weapon or short range weapon, so I will happy with 3X power.. Bass Pro shops have these on sale until the end of the month for $119 and free shipping.. Hard to beat that...

JMHO

Dave

Nikon is a good mid grade as is Vortex. I would not go any lower in quality. 1-4X is a good match for the rifle.

Don't forget that most scopes don't come with rings, so save money for that. If you go the quick disconnect route, figure about $120, give or take, for a good one. Cantilever, where the rings are pushed forward, is usually best for an AR so that the charging handle is cleared some and to get good eye relief. You don't want to mount it like you would on a bolt rifle.


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What model leupold are you useing?? Does it have the windage elevation adj without unscrewing the covers??

For what the OP seems to be planning the best choice would be one of the low power (1-4 or 1-6) variables. Illuminated reticles may be a good idea bearing the following in mind.

1. You don't need externally adjustable knobs. Once a good quality scope is on zero, you can put on the caps and ignore the adjustments. Unprotected adjustment knobs can be moved by contact with clothing and other gear.

2. You don't need bullet drop compensation either in the reticle or on turret adjustments. The 5.56mm is about a 200 yard (or less) cartridge. A fifty yard zero will put you on again at about 215 yards and close enough at 250 yards. Figure 6 or so inches low at 300.

3. You need quick detachable mounts and a good rear iron sight, zero'd the same as your scope. Good see through lens caps too. In the real world, there's a whole lot of stuff flying through the air besides bullets that can make your optical sights useless. You need to be able to get them out of the way quickly, without tools.

4. The scope mount pictured above isn't a good idea, but the poster doesn't have a removable carry handle. He doesn't have much choice.

5. It's really tough nowdays to find a low power variable without the fancy do-dads I noted you don't need. Nikon makes a version for under $300. Leupold may make something similar, but will be more expensive. The internet is your friend in optics shopping. Check out bearbasin.com.

Yes if you know what you are looking for it is.. But if you dont know nothing about what you are looking at it can be your worst nighmare... I am looking at several different makes and models..
I have it narrowed down to eather one of these two. Leupold Mark AR mod 1.5-4x20 or the VX.R patrol 1.25-4x20. have to be carefull because i get one shot at this and i want it to count wife dont understand cost = quality.. Now if there is something better for the money i am all ears... Would like to stay with Amercian made if possible...

It's rough with ARs. There is so much out there for them and so many different ways you can gear them up. It can be intimidating and very easy to get the wrong stuff, not to mention too much stuff.

Keep it simple and you'll be alright.


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I have the Bushnell 1-4x 24mm scope. I paid $145 for it off of B&H photo. Seems very well made, great reticle, and has held zero for a few thousand rounds now.

Price is up a little, but here is the B&H link. They don't charge sales tax either - I use them all the time for photography gear:

Bushnell 1-4x24 AR Optics Riflescope (Drop Zone-223 BDC) AR91424

That is a nice scope.. But i am leaning toward the Leupold vxr patrol...1.25-4x20

Yes. If you are going to use the AR-15 for a defensive, SHTF rifle, forget the scope. If you want a sniper rifle, just buy one. You can get a good, used bolt-action rifle with a scope for pretty cheap (e.g., $275.00 for a .270 or .308).


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Boonie, looking at the Leupold catalog both the scopes you mention have exposed turrent adjustments. I can't in good conscience recommend either. I've seen too many sights (iron too) with exposed adjustment dials get moved accidentally. I didn't see anything in the Leupold line under $600 that is close to what you seem to be looking for.

On the other hand, Leupold does do custom orders on their website. You might fidget around it and see if you can get either scope with standard, capped adjustment dials. I'd stick with plain old crosshairs myself.

Don't neglect the Nikon line, they do good scopes.

It's just a VX-1 with the CDS external elevation knob and #1 reticle added by their custom shop. The windage adjustment isn't necessary for my uses.

My idea was just using some old school principles in a simple, relatively inexpensive optic.