Scope for AR15 @ 100 - 600 yards. .223

[Phil3]

I have checked around, but thought I would check here for opinions on optimal magnification range for an AR15 used strictly at the bench (maybe prone once and a while), used at 100, 200, and rarely out to 600 yards. Caliber is .223. I know excellent glass is preferred over high magnification, but not sure what is really needed to shoot small groups out to 600 yards. The AR15 I am building uses top quality parts (Krieger heavy barrel, quality trigger, etc.), and it should shoot well, with handloaded .223 ammo. I want the right optics to permit me to shoot to the best that I and the rifle are able. Paper targets only.

I had been looking at the Leupold VX-3 and Bushnell 4200 (or 6500 series). The 4200 has 50 MOA adjustment, so if centered, 25 MOA, which I don't think is going to be enough at 600 yards. Hoped to spend no more than $750, but if it really makes sense and will help me shoot better, to have a better scope, I will consider it. Most shooting will be at 100 and 200 yards however. I have to drive two hours to get to the 600 yard range.

Appreciate any recommendations and guidance.

- Phil

 

[gt40]

I have a Bushnell Elite 4200 8-32x40mm with Mil-dot reticule on my Ruger Mod 77 S/S Target gray in .220 Swift. The dots fit inside a .22 caliber hole in the target @ 32 power at 200 yards. Under $400 including shipping. Had it in 4 days from when I ordered it. Since it did not come with Mil-dots I sent it back to Bushnell to have them put in. Had it back 10 days after Bushnell received it.

Got it from The Optic Zone. Really good people to do business with and less expensive than any other place I looked.

http://www.theopticzone.com/home.htm

For 600 yards you could put a 20 degree rail on top of your AR.

"Aim small miss small",

gt40

 

[Phil3]

Wow, the OpticZone really does offer good prices. I have narrowed my choice of scope down to Bushnell 4200, Leupold VX-3 and maybe the Burris Balack Diamond series and Signtron. Still unsure on magnication requirements. Seems to me that 16x - 24 x should be plenty, if glass is good, even at 600 yards. I would need to be able to aim at a 3" diameter "X" circle at that distance.

- Phil

 

[Geo.OR]

AR-15 is not an optimal platform for 600 yds. .223 Rem. is not best suited to those distances either. It will reach out that far, but there are better ways to get there.

If I were going to put that sort of $$$ in to a "bench gun" for 200 - 600 yds, I'd opt for a bolt action, and a caliber with more zip.

I'm doing pretty much what you're doing -- off a rest and down range as far as I can see. Mine's not a "benchrest gun" in the tech sense being used in this forum, but it's nice off the bench and keeps me happy.

Rem. 700 P (Police), .308 Rem. 26" bbl., Leupold Mark 4, 6.5 - 20x 50mm, Alumina hood, Jewell trigger, bipod. So far it's run me about $3 K, and will work for F Class "factory stock" -- as I understand it. (Not shooting competition.)

If you're wanting to shoot from a bench, a bolt gun is up to the task. AR-15 is "tactical" in the sense of rapid, covering fire.

Rem. 700 P is what's used by police snipers, Army M24, Marine M40.

And BTW -- once you opt for a Jewell trigger, you'll never look back.

 

[ForneyRider]

I am researching the same myself.

Here is what I have narrowed it down to:
Burris Black Diamond 8-32x($700), Signature Select 8-32x($550), Weaver T series 36x($400), Pentax Lightseeker(similar to Burris, slightly cheaper) 8-32x, Nightforce 12-42x BR ($1300), Zeiss 5.5-20x ($900). Leupold has some fixed scopes $800-1000, but their Mk IV Tactical is $1400.

The Zeiss is very nice but limited with magnification. My brother has this on a 8mm Mauser, and it is fantastic. It is a 1in tube with nice turrets and awesome glass. He is considering getting the Nightforce, so the Zeiss would be available to my greedy hands.

Nightforce has 2 models, the NXS and BR, the NXS has side focus but 1/4 MOA adjustment, the BR is 1/8MOA adjustment but you twist the front like the Burris. There is a 3rd line coming out, but not sure what it is about.

The Burris Black Diamond has 27in of adjustment, not much, so a MOA mount may be in order. Burris Tactical scopes are 1/4MOA and 1MOA adjustments. 1/8MOA adjustment is a minimum requirement for me, as is fine plex reticle.
Burris, for hunting, is great bang for buck.

The Weaver is an affordable, quality solution for fixed power.

For the dual-purpose rifle, I think the side focus is very handy for quick adjustment.

Talked to some 600 yard shooters on you tube and whatnot, they use 10x, 14x, and 16x max. While others will crank up a "boosted" Leupold fixed at 45-60x. One guy was really popping the 600yard target with a Leupold Mk IV 14x and his Remington PSS in 308 off of a bipod and rear bag.

All that aside, I pulled the Burris 4.5-14x off my 7mm Mag and put on my DPMS AR with Burris QR rings. It's a lot of fun to be able to go back and forth from iron sights to scope.