200 yard scope

[TheBigC1234]

I'm looking into getting a relatively cheap (+-$200) scope for target shooting from 100-200yds. I'll be using my AR-15 16" bbl. Targets I would like to use would be clay pigeons or smaller.

Any help links ideas or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[moe smith]

I'm looking into getting a relatively cheap (+-$200) scope for target shooting from 100-200yds. I'll be using my AR-15 16" bbl. Targets I would like to use would be clay pigeons or smaller.

Any help links ideas or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

There are and have been a few ongoing threads on just that topic in the M&P15 section............

Smith & Wesson M&P15 Rifles

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Asking "What scope should I put on my rifle?" is a lot like saying you live in Texas, it covers a lot of territory. I like to shoot small varmints with mine, so I have a 4.5-14 x 50 AO Leopold on mine. The old Colt AR scope was a fixed 3 power 30 mm tube with a bullet drop compensator to 600 yards. They can get pricey and most copies are junk. For your 105 mm (4") clay targets, a inexpensive 3x9 compact or a fixed 4 X compact will get you going pretty well. But I would recommend getting a better quality scope. It won't be hard on the eyes in clarity and maybe a little more power so it is good out to 400+ yards. I would think you could find a more than 200 yard shot in Texas. My son lives an hour SSE of San Antonio and finds places to shoot 600+ with his 308 bolt gun. Shop around and have fun. Ivan

 

[ordy]

I bought a new AR last month and put a Nikon p-223 scope on it. It was a nice scope but inadequate for my needs. I returned it and got a vortex crossfire 6-18x44 with adjustable objective. I also chose the available bdc reticle. Both scopes give clear and crisp images but the vortex with it's increased magnification lets me get right on top of a target at 100 yds. The Nikon was $149 and the vortex was $179 through amazon. You'll be able to hit clays at 200 yards with either but, for me, the vortex is the better choice. A fellow forum member told me to go over to rimfirecentral.com and read the sticky on scopes and such. Well worth the read.

 

[H Richard]

If you want to shoot a 4" target at 200 yards you need probably a 12X or higher magnification. How old are you and how good are your eye's? For 100 yard Small Bore Prone competition where I shoot at a 1" X ring with a 22 RF I use a 20X Unertle. The quality of the glass is as important as the quality of your rifle.

 

[coltle6920]

OpticsPlanet also has a good section where you can research scopes based on your particular needs.If you don't know anything about scopes it's a good place to start.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

If you are shooting from a bipod or bags, get as much magnification as you like. If you are a fair weather range shooter you don't need a high quality optic. A friend of mine has used for years a cheapo Simmons Whitetail Classic 6.5-20x on his AR ($110 at Midway) for 200/300yd shooting like you are talking about. Works just fine. Another guy uses a BSA Platinum series with even higher magnification for 500yd matches and regularly does better than others with high end optics. I'm not recommending either of these dime store optics, just saying that matching the optic to the intended use is all that's required.

If you want to shoot offhand you can't use much magnification. 4x max. I use a 1x red dot zeroed at 50 yards. I'm about an inch high around 100yds and back to zero around 200yds. I can't hold the rifle better than that.

Now if you plan to use the optic for hunting during inclement weather and low light conditions then spend the money for a quality optic. And you don't need to spend $2k. I have a Bushnell 6500 Elite 2.5 -16x. I don't use it on an AR but with that wide of a magnification range it might be ideal for an AR that someone wanted high magnification but still be able to have fast target acquisition. They're only about $700/800.

 

[Jessie]

Bushnell makes very good and inexpensive scopes. You can get at least a 3x9 in that price range which would suit well for those size targets at those ranges.

 

[TheBigC1234]

What are if any negatives of getting a higher magnification than the 3-9x

 

[gm272gs]

My suggestion is something capable of 24 power or better.
I have 6-24x glass on my AR-15, and I love it zoomed in to 24x at 100 yards. Even at 24x, it's hard for me to see those tiny holes at 200 yards (unless I use those expensive turn-color sticker targets).

 

[gregintenn]

I put a 3x9 Leupold Compact on this one I built. It suits me fine.

The negatives for a higher magnification scope are: Reduced field of view, more perceived wobble, less forgiving eye relief, and increased cost. I'm sure there are others, but those are what comes to mind. You simply cannot shoot something up close with a high magnification scope. It also makes offhand shots slower and more difficult.

 

[Engineer1911]

For your AR-15, for the amount of money, the Simmons 6.5 x 20X mil dot reticle is a great deal. I own 3 of these scopes (plus 3 high dollar Burris variables and 3 higher dollar Luepolds) and they give great service on low recoil rifles.

 

[kamloops67]

id vote for a red dot if it were mine, i just tried a friends' bushmaster with a red dot very accurate offhand, quick target acquisition with both eyes open.
personally i would reserve the high magnification scopes for bench guns

 

[Rastoff]

What are if any negatives of getting a higher magnification than the 3-9x

This is the exact right answer to your question:

The negatives for a higher magnification scope are: Reduced field of view, more perceived wobble, less forgiving eye relief, and increased cost.

I'm actually surprised to hear all the recommendations for such high power scopes. As you increase magnification, the price skyrockets for a quality scope. Trying to stay under $200 and getting a scope with a 20x magnification almost ensures a mediocre to poor scope.

The best advice I've ever received on scopes was to save up and get the highest quality scope you can afford. Going cheap on a scope is not the right way. Go cheap on the rifle and spend the money on the scope. Just about any rifle can shoot better that you can, but a poor scope only adds frustration.

For the distances you're talking about a 3-9x is more than you'll need. In fact, based on the most common use of the AR style gun, a 1-4x is better suited to it. I have a 1-4x on my AR and I have no trouble shooting 2MOA groups at 200 yards. That's good enough for me. Honestly, if you want really tight groups at 200 yards you need a different rifle.

So, my recommendation is a little different that what has come before. I think the Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5x32 is more scope than you'll ever need. It can be had for about $180 with a BDC reticle from Optics Planet or Amazon. However, if you really want a good scope, and you should, I think the Vortex Viper PST 1-4x24 is a better choice. Of course it will cost about $300 more.

 

[Targeting_Chief]

I bought a new AR last month and put a Nikon p-223 scope on it. It was a nice scope but inadequate for my needs. I returned it and got a vortex crossfire 6-18x44 with adjustable objective. I also chose the available bdc reticle. Both scopes give clear and crisp images but the vortex with it's increased magnification lets me get right on top of a target at 100 yds. The Nikon was $149 and the vortex was $179 through amazon. You'll be able to hit clays at 200 yards with either but, for me, the vortex is the better choice. A fellow forum member told me to go over to rimfirecentral.com and read the sticky on scopes and such. Well worth the read.

What rings did you get and is that a 1" riser on the rail? Just trying to clarify b/c I've got that same scope on the way and I'm trying to figure the rings/mount setup I need.

 

[vonn]

My vote goes to getting the highest quality 3x9 your budget allows .This will allow you to shoot to the maximum capability of your rifle and good scopes are going to hold value better and you can always use them on hunting rifles if you change what you are doing with your AR.

 

[ordy]

What rings did you get and is that a 1" riser on the rail? Just trying to clarify b/c I've got that same scope on the way and I'm trying to figure the rings/mount setup I need.

It's a one inch riser coupled with one inch rings, if memory serves. I traded in another carbine that I had bought years ago to get the AR and transferred the whole assembly from that gun to the new one.

 

[ErnieDeBord]

Im a Leupold "snob".I have said this MANY MANY times.......I have owned lot of diff scopes.I am also a "working man' class. After all that said....ALL my scopes are Leupold, bar none! To me the 6.5x20 EFR is the caddy of all around scopes.Pricey? depends how you look at it.............Regards Ernie

 

[ky wonder]

I have a frankengun that I have just built, 20" heavy barrel free floated colt upper with1x9 rifling, mated to a Anderson lower with a mil spec parts group, a2 stock, and a timey trigger.

I just put this together last weekend, and mounted a $35.00 Simons 3x9x40 scope on it to see if the rifle would shoot.

at 100 yds with this setup, it was shooting .75 inch groups off a lead sled, using 55 grain white box, Winchester ammo, and while I did not shoot it at that 200 yd range I have no doubt that it is clay pigeon accurate at 200.

that was the original data just testing the gun , I am sure that with different bullet weights, I can tighten the group, and while the simmons is on the gun now it will not stay there, it is a replacement scope that I had in my safe, after having one go bad on a CZ 17hmr

I will be mounting a Leopold 3x9 VX1 as the standing scope for this gun, I have used a VX1 on my Remington 700 BDl 25-06 that has been on the rifle for over 40 years been on numerous hunts and shot a truckload of rounds, and is still dead on after 40+ years of winter and summer hunting experience, these good scopes can still be had in the 200 dollar range

I went through the us army sniper training course in the panama canal zone back in the mid 70s, and while it was not as intense as what the current snipers go thru at ft. Benning it was very informative at the time and lessons learned there are still valuable today as far as how to determine distance, and wind, and knowing your rifle, and its ammo

so I am one of these guys who don't want all the mil dots and fancy features of the newest scopes, I want to know the range to target the wind and my gun/ammo combination.

I am not a glass snob and I have long range target rifles that have scopes BSA, tasco world class, and bushnell banners,all are good scopes for rifles that are fair weather shooters,

find the glass you like and can afford, the vx1 is simple tough and dependable and in you target price range

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have around 18 Leopold 6.5x20 scopes. I buy them as a investment. Thursday night I was in a LGS that had a used 6.5x20, AO and Target knobs, it had already sold for $550. I thought it would retail at 400-450, but I see the times are a changin. Ivan