Budget scope recommendations

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  • MRH

    Never sell your sword
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 5, 2020
    1,716
    Chesapeake Bay
    While I can keep my ar-10 on 12x18 paper at 100 yards with iron sights, I need to think about a budget scope to help me see better and to reach out to about 200 yards or so. Is there anything that won't break the bank and has reasonable glass on the market? I have done some research and I think I need a 1-4 or 1-6 times to help my old eyes get there. You folks know more, and know about more that's out there, what would you recommend? Thanks everybody for any help you can give me.
     

    MRH

    Never sell your sword
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 5, 2020
    1,716
    Chesapeake Bay
    Thanks balttigger, I like the Vortex Strike Eagle and it is in my price range. I was hoping OpticsPlanet had them in stock because I noticed they give a mount with it, but it's not. Next best option for me looks like B&H Photo at the same price point but no mount so there's another $100 I need to spend to get it on my rifle.
     

    balttigger

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 15, 2008
    3,051
    Middle River, MD
    Thanks balttigger, I like the Vortex Strike Eagle and it is in my price range. I was hoping OpticsPlanet had them in stock because I noticed they give a mount with it, but it's not. Next best option for me looks like B&H Photo at the same price point but no mount so there's another $100 I need to spend to get it on my rifle.

    https://battlehawkarmory.com/product/se-1624-2 has the 1-6 in stock for less than 300 (email them for price) and the 1-8 for a hundred bucks more. Same with Locked Loaded (they are probably the same store using different names, but I have bought from them before without incident).

    I am showing the 1-8 in stock at OP with the added mount. Spend the extra hundred - trust me - it's worth it.

    https://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex...edium=affiliate&utm_campaign=affiliate-483222
     

    Seagrave1963

    Still learnin'
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 6, 2011
    10,011
    Eastern Shore
    I just picked up one of these: https://www.swfa.com/us-optics-ts-s...-hunting-reticle-mhr-ts-12x-mhr.html?___SID=U and have been very pleased with it. Has a great reticle and the scope body is compact and has more than the 1-6 you're looking for though. I don't know what you mean by budget, but this was a bit more than I wanted to spend - cry once motto was implemented when I bought it. You may be able to find it a bit cheaper - Good luck.

    EDIT: Here's a link from US Optics with more info: https://www.usoptics.com/product/ts-12x/
     

    MRH

    Never sell your sword
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 5, 2020
    1,716
    Chesapeake Bay
    Thanks Seagrave1963, I appreciate the info. I was pretty amazed to see the price diff between USO and SWFA for that scope, and of course by "budget" I pretty much meant I was gonna cry no mater what since good glass is never cheap. I ended up going with the Strike Eagle 1-8 with the free mount from OP and it will be plenty good for anything I hope to ever need it for. I really could have saved myself some extra money by not getting the Magpul flip up sights for the PSA AR-10 and put it all into a scope from day one, but it is what it is and I won't worry about it now.

    I have a couple of questions while I have you guys helping me, when I first started looking I was thinking of a RMR and being able to 1/3 co-witness with the flip ups for a backup in case of failure, but now that I have bought this scope there is no need or use for keeping the Magpul's on and they need to come off the rifle, does that sound right?

    Last but not least, probably a dumb question but... cleaning. When you guys clean your rifles with scopes how do you go about it without dinging the scope or getting solvent in/on it while you clean? Do you maybe wrap it in an old sock or maybe remove it?

    Thanks again balttigger and Seagrave1963 for all your help!
     

    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,750
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies
    I’ve scored some smokin’ deals from EuroOptics of late - check out their demo deals ...

    https://www.eurooptic.com/vortex-used-demo-blemish-scopes.aspx

    This Vortex Crossfire is the one I picked up earlier this week (ordered it Sunday had it in hand Wed!): https://www.eurooptic.com/Vortex-Crossfire-II-1-4x24-V-Brite-Like-New-Demo-Riflescope-CF2-31037.aspx


    (“Crossfire,” haha, can’t wait til the first time I do errantly crossfire on the target of an adjacent shooter in one of our local matches; I’m just gonna point to the model name on the scope and smile ...!)
     

    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,750
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies
    https://battlehawkarmory.com/product/se-1624-2 has the 1-6 in stock for less than 300 (email them for price) and the 1-8 for a hundred bucks more. Same with Locked Loaded (they are probably the same store using different names, but I have bought from them before without incident).

    I’ve scored some smokin’ deals from EuroOptics of late - check out their demo deals ...

    https://www.eurooptic.com/vortex-used-demo-blemish-scopes.aspx

    This Vortex Crossfire is the one I picked up earlier this week (ordered it Sunday had it in hand Wed!): https://www.eurooptic.com/Vortex-Crossfire-II-1-4x24-V-Brite-Like-New-Demo-Riflescope-CF2-31037.aspx


    (“Crossfire,” haha, can’t wait til the first time I do errantly crossfire on the target of an adjacent shooter in one of our local matches; I’m just gonna point to the model name on the scope and smile ...!)


    ETA: There ARE a lot of online storefronts that are obviously associated with each other but no way BattleHawkArmory.com is associated with locked and loaded (I believe L&L is a mirror of Tombstone, though.)

    I’ve blown over $35k online in just the last 4 weeks alone and I can honestly say this:

    BattleHawkArmory.com positively rocks in EVERY way;:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: prices, availability, checkout, shipping, commos, etc. ; and,

    Locked and Loaded positively SVCKS beyond belief or reality! (Their checkout system was so dysfunctional I wound up on the phone with a chimp who tried to explain $78 in s&h on a dozen or so mags by blabbering about their having to draw from “nine different warehouses.” :sad20: GMAFB. Didn’t matter as their checkout system is broken. Anyhoo, Thumbs up to any who’ve had success with them but, based on my experience just last week, I would AVOID Locked and Loaded!
     

    MRH

    Never sell your sword
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 5, 2020
    1,716
    Chesapeake Bay
    I did end up ordering the VSE 1-8x24 with the 30mm cantilever mount for 399 from OpticsPlanet, I hope it will work well on this ar-10 since it seems to be tweaked for 556 instead of 308 if I am reading the specs right.

    Thank slsc98!
     

    Seagrave1963

    Still learnin'
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 6, 2011
    10,011
    Eastern Shore
    I did end up ordering the VSE 1-8x24 with the 30mm cantilever mount for 399 from OpticsPlanet, I hope it will work well on this ar-10 since it seems to be tweaked for 556 instead of 308 if I am reading the specs right.

    Thank slsc98!

    Sounds like a solid pick - looking forward to your thoughts on it after getting it out on the range.
     

    MRH

    Never sell your sword
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 5, 2020
    1,716
    Chesapeake Bay
    Sounds like a solid pick - looking forward to your thoughts on it after getting it out on the range.

    Thanks Seagrave1963! Did you see my questions about the magpul flip up sights and how to protect scope when cleaning rifle? I would really appreciate some direction here.
     
    While I can keep my ar-10 on 12x18 paper at 100 yards with iron sights, I need to think about a budget scope to help me see better and to reach out to about 200 yards or so. Is there anything that won't break the bank and has reasonable glass on the market? I have done some research and I think I need a 1-4 or 1-6 times to help my old eyes get there. You folks know more, and know about more that's out there, what would you recommend? Thanks everybody for any help you can give me.

    IMHO, this is a no brainer for you...
    https://www.eurooptic.com/Vortex-Di...-BDC-Riflescope-DBK-04-BDC-Showroom-Demo.aspx
     

    454shooter

    LARGE Caliber
    Jun 20, 2020
    71
    Harford County
    I have a Swampfox Arrowhead LPVO 1-10 Green BDC on a 308 AR. I really like it for the money. Have not had a chance to put enough rounds through it for a long term review....but so far I really like the reticle.

    If the Arrowhead series is out of budget...my buddy has the Tomahawk LPVO Series and he is happy as well.

    swampfox has an awesome leo/military discount program, if you qualify for that.

    https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/arrowhead-lpvo-series
     

    MRH

    Never sell your sword
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 5, 2020
    1,716
    Chesapeake Bay
    I have a Swampfox Arrowhead LPVO 1-10 Green BDC on a 308 AR. I really like it for the money. Have not had a chance to put enough rounds through it for a long term review....but so far I really like the reticle.

    If the Arrowhead series is out of budget...my buddy has the Tomahawk LPVO Series and he is happy as well.

    swampfox has an awesome leo/military discount program, if you qualify for that.

    https://www.swampfoxoptics.com/arrowhead-lpvo-series

    Thanks 454shooter!
     

    MRH

    Never sell your sword
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 5, 2020
    1,716
    Chesapeake Bay
    Today I learned about the veterans discount on some products at Optics Planet, even though I ordered a week ago it still had not shipped yet. So I chatted with customer support and they applied the 10% discount and refunded me the difference of 42.29 so I picked up the Strike Eagle with the free 2 inch cantilever mount for only 380.65 all in. Great deal, now if it would just ship! Excited to get it out to the field and get it sighted in at 200 on the ar-a10.
     

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