Need advice on 5.56 rifle scopes

Mike OTDP · Jan 6, 2016

I'm trying to pick an optic for my Larue OBR. Around here, most of the shooting will be 300 yards or less, so I don't need a long-range scope, but do need a good general-purpose scope.

What I'm considering are:

Nightforce NXS 1-4x
U.S. Optics SR-6C 1.5-6x
Vortex Razor HD 1-6x
Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x (I can get a really good deal on this)
Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5x

Opinions?

rtse4me · Jan 6, 2016

I have looked through 3 on your list: NXS, Razor and Viper PST
I would pick the Vortex Razor...nice glass and a bit more magnification.
NXS is nice and compact but it is expensive for 1x4 scope. A friend has one and he wants more magnification.

I have Viper PST 2.5-10x44 on a bolt gun. No complaints for the money.

Euro optic currently has a good deal on Steiner Military 1x4. A bit heavy but a great value
http://www.eurooptic.com/steiner1x-4x-24mm-3tr-rifle-scope.aspx

Vortex might be coming out with a new 1x8 this year if you can wait.

Bolts Rock · Jan 6, 2016

For the money go with an NSX compact.

http://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetLocation=%2F_%2FN-4294967182%2B16202%3FNp%3D2%26Nr%3DAND%2528p_visible%253A1%252Ccustomertypeid%253A1%2529%26Nrpp%3D24%26Ns%3Dp_metric_sales_velocity%257C1%26Ntpc%3D1%26Ntpr%3D1

Silverlode · Jan 6, 2016

Have you looked at the Leupold AR series? I have had one for a couple years. Haven't used it a lot but no complaints thus far.

Racer Doug14 · Jan 6, 2016

I have the viper PST 1-4 scope. I would go with the 2.5-10 if you can score it for a good price. Also the strike eagle is 1-6 and usually less than $350

davsco · Jan 6, 2016

vortex razor hd 1-6 above is pretty prevalent at 3 gun competitions, I have one and love it although a little heavy. don't think you'll find nicer glass than the nf nxs, but only going to 4x is a limiting factor.

Racer Doug14 · Jan 6, 2016

The razor hd is really pricey. For a 1-6 crazy money. Actually all of them are pricey, but the PST unless it a ffp.

OrbitalEllipses · Jan 6, 2016

rtse4me said:
NXS is nice and compact but it is expensive for 1x4 scope. A friend has one and he wants more magnification.

I like the NXS Compact 2.5-10x (in 42mm flavor). The 1-4x is expensive for what it is - a civilian special run military contract item. I have also anecdotally heard the 24mm objective lens scopes are much less forgiving with regards to eyebox and such. Considering the price of the 1-4x is the same as the 2.5-10x I'd go with the 2.5-10x.

If you do not need performance inside the 100m/yd mark then there isn't a reason to use a scope with 1x, IMHO.

Racer Doug14 said:
The razor hd is really pricey. For a 1-6 crazy money. Actually all of them are pricey, but the PST unless it a ffp.

The Razor series competes with NightForce and the like. The Viper PST scopes are tremendous value, but they are not at the same level.

friendlyhippo · Jan 6, 2016

The PST (especially if you have access to their military program) is unbelievably hard to beat for price, features, and No-BS warranty. It's what I'm going with once the FFP is back in stock.

Pinecone · Jan 6, 2016

For shorter ranges, I prefer a scope that goes to 1x.

That way, it can used both eyes open like a red dot.

And 4x to 6x is fine for 300 yards.

I have shot my Mosin Sniper out to 763 yards with the stock 3.5x

And the 03 and Garand sniper scopes are 2.5x.

friendlyhippo · Jan 6, 2016

Pinecone said:
For shorter ranges, I prefer a scope that goes to 1x.

That way, it can used both eyes open like a red dot.

And 4x to 6x is fine for 300 yards.

I have shot my Mosin Sniper out to 763 yards with the stock 3.5x

And the 03 and Garand sniper scopes are 2.5x.

2.5x with two eyes open is not an issue.

Boom Boom · Jan 6, 2016

Went through the same exercise for an AR-15 a few months ago. Got a Leupold VX-2 2-7x. Had Leupold custom shop install the German #4 reticle. Really happy with it.

Boom Boom · Jan 6, 2016

friendlyhippo said:
2.5x with two eyes open is not an issue.

Same here. Both eyes open with my Leupold at 2-3x is no problem.

MKR03 · Jan 6, 2016

I got a Vortex Viper HS LR 2.5-10x32 FFP from Cabelas a few months ago for $399 (MSRP is around 900) and I love it. I have no doubt that the Razor, NF and US optics are in a different class, but they're in a much different price class too.

Pinecone · Jan 6, 2016

You guys have wonky eyes.

I have issues with a 1.5x and both eyes open.

INMY01TA · Jan 6, 2016

I'd check out the Burris XTRII 1.5-8 dual focal plane. Or the XTRII 1-5.

Wayne1one · Jan 6, 2016

Mike OTDP said:
I'm trying to pick an optic for my Larue OBR. Around here, most of the shooting will be 300 yards or less, so I don't need a long-range scope, but do need a good general-purpose scope.

What I'm considering are:

Nightforce NXS 1-4x
U.S. Optics SR-6C 1.5-6x
Vortex Razor HD 1-6x
Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x (I can get a really good deal on this)
Leupold Mark 4 1.5-5x

Opinions?

I really like the 2 Vortex optics you have listed. Price & performance are excellent. I would probably chose the Razor and add the new Geissele Super Precision scope mount.

Overboost44 · Jan 6, 2016

Check out the Mark AR. It is a whole lot less than the Mark 6. Then again, I would like 6x to go to 300yds. I agree keeping it to somewhere around 1.5 on the low end.
https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/mark-ar-riflescopes/mark-ar-mod-1-1-5-4x20mm/

Good luck.

OrbitalEllipses · Jan 7, 2016

Viper PST 2.5-10x44 SFP with MRAD reticle...$250 from Cabelas:https://www.slickguns.com/product/vortex-viper-pst-riflescope-25-10x44-ebr-1-matte-mrad-24999

Hard to say no at that price, only reason to choose something else would be if you want a first focal plane reticle as this is a second focal plane reticle. Interestingly enough it seems Vortex expanded their Razor lineup with a 'LH' line. The 'Razor HD LH' line has good magnification ranges with varying SFP reticles; they seem to be lightweight and around the cost of FFP Vortex PST scopes.

amoebicmagician · Jan 8, 2016

if price is no option, the leupold.

If it is, go with the vortex razor. I am a big fan of 1-6x scopes, and vortex gets the job done well. Their glass is almost on par with acog glass, which is saying A LOT

Need advice on 5.56 rifle scopes

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