Hunting Optic Suggestions??

[cknight8]

I’m on the hunt for a good hunting scope to go on my 300 blackout AR pistol. It’s an 8.5” barrel, and will be used with my suppressor. I initially planned on just popping a Holosun 403 red dot that I already have on it but I am now thinking I would like some magnification. I love Vortex scopes, and have been considering a couple of their models like the strike eagle 1-8x. I also looked at a Burris 332 prism the other day and really liked it. I don’t know if I would like some of the tactical style reticles for hunting situations though....but I honestly have zero experience with those types of reticles.

Just for clarification, this AR pistol isn’t braced but I have a Thordsens cheek rest on the buffer tube. Any advice??

[Shorty]

Sounds like you will be doing close up hunting, inside 100yds?  Are you planning on hunting deer, pigs, coyotes, etc?  If it's deer a low power scope would be ok, maybe even for coyotes.  For pigs I would consider a red dot for follow up shots or multiple pigs.  How much are you willing to spend?

[cknight8]

Ranges to 150 yards, mostly deer and coyotes but I will be doing a pig hunt in 2021. Price range is $500. I'm not an optics snob but I like good quality glass.

I was thinking the Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10X44mm. I can't find an LPVO from anyone that has a standard hunting or BDC type reticle in it, unless you get down in the super cheap sub $100 range. Everything has a tactical cqb type reticle in it and i just don't know how i would like that for hunting. 

[FrankD]

have you looked at the primary arms 1-6 options?

https://www.primaryarms.com/pa-1-6x24mm-ffp-illuminated-rifle-scope-with-acss-raptor-762-reticle-black

[Shorty]

Since my hunting rifle is also my range rifle, it has more of a "tactical" reticle.  I didn't get a super busy reticle though so it's not annoying at all....to me.  That said, EuroOptic is running closeout sales on Nikons.  They have a 1-4 with a pretty simple reticle. 

https://www.eurooptic.com/Nikon-M-TACTICAL-Riflescope-1-4X24-Matte-MK1-MOA-16521.aspx

Or a 1-6 with an illuminated center dot

https://www.eurooptic.com/Nikon-BLACK-FORCE100-1-6x24-M-IL-FORCE-MOA-Riflescope-16660.aspx

Or plain duplex reticle on a Leupild VX3

https://www.eurooptic.com/170683-Leupold-VX-3i-35-10x40mm-CDS-Matte-Duplex-170683.aspx

Edited May 7, 2020 by Shorty

[deerslayer]

I would lean toward a 1-3 or 1-4 with a basic reticle.  Maybe something like one if these:  

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019637344

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102210195?pid=246030

[MacGyver]

6 hours ago, Shorty said:

Since my hunting rifle is also my range rifle, it has more of a "tactical" reticle.  I didn't get a super busy reticle though so it's not annoying at all....to me.  That said, EuroOptic is running closeout sales on Nikons.  They have a 1-4 with a pretty simple reticle. 

https://www.eurooptic.com/Nikon-M-TACTICAL-Riflescope-1-4X24-Matte-MK1-MOA-16521.aspx

Or a 1-6 with an illuminated center dot

https://www.eurooptic.com/Nikon-BLACK-FORCE100-1-6x24-M-IL-FORCE-MOA-Riflescope-16660.aspx

Or plain duplex reticle on a Leupild VX3

https://www.eurooptic.com/170683-Leupold-VX-3i-35-10x40mm-CDS-Matte-Duplex-170683.aspx

You can get a good deal on a Nikon scope right now - but the buyer needs to be aware going in.

Nikon is known for their glass and has made some great optics - but they’ve announced that they’re exiting the scope business altogether.

Getting scopes repaired under warranty claims may be an issue. 

[cknight8]

13 hours ago, FrankD said:

have you looked at the primary arms 1-6 options?

https://www.primaryarms.com/pa-1-6x24mm-ffp-illuminated-rifle-scope-with-acss-raptor-762-reticle-black

I just don’t think I will enjoy hunting with that type of reticle myself...

I have some Nikons that I like but due to the mentioned possible warranty issues I’ll probably shy away from them.

11 hours ago, deerslayer said:

I would lean toward a 1-3 or 1-4 with a basic reticle.  Maybe something like one if these:  

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019637344

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102210195?pid=246030

I do really like both of these. They are now on my short list to compare and think about. Looks like for a standard type reticles it’s gonna be rough to find a 1x to “greater than 4x” on the top end. While that’s probably plenty, I just wish someone made a standard type reticle in a 1-8x range myself. Maybe I’m just old fashioned lol

Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions!

[FrankD]

Looked into the Swamp Fox Tomahawk line?

https://swampfoxoptics.com/tomahawk-series

They are pretty well regarded on the AR15.com message boards as the owner is very active over there.

Edited May 8, 2020 by FrankD

[cknight8]

30 minutes ago, FrankD said:

Looked into the Swamp Fox Tomahawk line?

https://swampfoxoptics.com/tomahawk-series

They are pretty well regarded on the AR15.com message boards as the owner is very active over there.

Now that is a good looking scope. That’s spear dot in the 1-8x is about what I’ve been looking for! Thanks!

[Prod951]

Vortex Viper 1-6 almost as good as a razor HD the field of view is good for CQB.

[deerslayer]

14 hours ago, cknight98 said:

I just don’t think I will enjoy hunting with that type of reticle myself...

I have some Nikons that I like but due to the mentioned possible warranty issues I’ll probably shy away from them.

I do really like both of these. They are now on my short list to compare and think about. Looks like for a standard type reticles it’s gonna be rough to find a 1x to “greater than 4x” on the top end. While that’s probably plenty, I just wish someone made a standard type reticle in a 1-8x range myself. Maybe I’m just old fashioned lol

Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions!

4x is plenty to hunt big game out to 150 yards.  I used to shoot 3-gun with a 1-3 and could smack 12” plates at 300 yards pretty quickly.  Also, that is a fairly small gun you will use.  You may want try to keep the scope proportionate to the gun size wise. 

[Shorty]

https://www.eurooptic.com/Zeiss-CONQUEST-V4-1-4x24-ZQAR-Illum-Reticle-62-Ext-Elevation-Turret-Locking-Sing.aspx?homepage_link

[MacGyver]

I’ve used both the Leupold VX-2 and VX-R in 1.5-4x with their Pig Plex reticle, and have been quite pleased.

Neither were terribly expensive, and they’ve performed well and held up great.

The VX-R is on a Ruger No.1 in 45-70, and is the combination makes for what is probably my favorite field gun.

[leroy]

Like Mac said, it's hard ta beat a low power, long eye relief scope of any flavor.  I like the illuminated reticle idea and no more than 2 power... Got an old Burris 1 3/4 on my 458 #1... The word has got around; ain't seen no rampaging elephants in the last 40 or so years.. HEHEHE...

Bawana leroy...

[PoofNoEyeBrows]

Put a pick your flavor 3 moa reflex sight on that thing and call it a day. Its an ar pistol. Personally I run a 18" 6.8spc bcm with a eotech plus 3x magnifier for my hog gun. I just dont see the sense in scoping something that small. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of that specific delivery system.