Long-Eye Relief Optics

[Guest Linoge]

Ok, time to open the invariable rifle can of worms - scopes. (Hey, it is better than the pistol can of worms - 1911 vs. Glock...)

Anywise, I have a Springfield Armory M1A SOCOM II (yes, I am that tacticool), and have finally thought about putting something on it a little better than the $30 no-magnification red-dot monstrosity it has now.

Here is what I would like (whether or not it is possible is another matter entirely):

• 10x magnification is desired, but is also the maximum. Come on - with a .308 round and a 16.25 inch barrel, anything more would be overkill.
  
• Ideally less than $500, but that is negotiable should cause be given (Yes, I know, scopes are worth what you pay for them... but the gun already outshoots me, no need to make it worse.)
  
• And now the real kicker.... a minimum of about 10-12 inches of eye relief.
  

Yes, I said 12 inches. The quirky design of the SOCOM II precipitates this... I do not feel cantilevering a multi-hundred-dollar piece of glass out over dead air, nor do I feel happy putting it somewhere where spent brass will be repeatedly launched into it. So, from the back of the rail to where my eye would be is about 12 inches... Life is a bear, sometimes. (On a related note, I wish I had held out for an extended-rail version.)

If anyone out there is familiar with a cartridge clip guide scope mount base that would match up height with the SOCOM II's rails, that would certainly solve the eye-relief problem, but I have not been able to dig one up yet.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. And, yes, I know this particular model was not made for distance work... I am too cheap to buy another one that is .

[Guest Mugster]

I went down this path a little with a 7.62x39 ar. Eventually, I gave up. What your going to have to do is put either a handgun scope or a "scout scope" on it. You can get all kinds of expensive glass but I recommend going cheaper until you see if its what you want to do. I looked hard at this one here:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=474406

In a scout style mount your eye relief will vary a bit with the power you have dialed in. I haven't met too many guys running a scout setup that were perfectly happy with their vari-optic, but the fixed 2x or 4x seems to work better.

Good luck, please post back whatever you decide on. I still might do one of my ar's like this if i can find a mount cheaper than the optic.

[ShaunM]

I think you should look at handgun scopes. I don't think you are going to find a rifle scope with kind of or even close to 12 inch eye relief. I could be wrong though.

[Guest Linoge]

Mugster: In a similar vein, it appears as though something like this (http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-riflescope-monarch-ucc-2-8x28.html) might work, but I honestly have no idea. And, honestly, after spending that much money, I am hoping to get a little more magnification out of the glass than just 2x...

Hunting101: My primary concern with handgun scopes is whether or not they will stand up to the recoil of a .308. Any thoughts?

[Guest Mugster]

Mugster: In a similar vein, it appears as though something like this (http://www.opticsplanet.net/nikon-riflescope-monarch-ucc-2-8x28.html) might work, but I honestly have no idea. And, honestly, after spending that much money, I am hoping to get a little more magnification out of the glass than just 2x...

Hunting101: My primary concern with handgun scopes is whether or not they will stand up to the recoil of a .308. Any thoughts?

According to the specs it should, although your right on the edge eye relief wise at 8 power. About the only thing you can do is take the plunge into the dark abyss of shooting money down the optic hole and hope for the best

I don't think you'd have a problem with recoil with a decent scope brand. Dunno. My mini-14 is hard on optics because of the op rod clanging forward. I don't own a MIA, but you may have to tune down the gas port size a bit, or put in a buffer to protect your optics.

[Guest mark_justmark]

Linoge,

Which scope did you choose? I'm in the same predicament

[Smith]

The Millet DMS-1 gets great reviews. If you can find someone who has them in stock they are well worth the money. http://www.swfa.com/c-1395-millett-tactical-riflescopes.aspx

Burris makes and simliar one called the Xtreme Tactical XTR but is a lot more pricy.http://www.swfa.com/pc-12453-591-burris-1-4x24-xtreme-tactical-xtr-30mm-rifle-scope.aspx

There is another one called GRSC CRS that is pretty novel. http://www.grsc.com/combatriflescope.php

These are all lower power but should do the trick without breaking the bank.

[DaveTN]

I went down this path a little with a 7.62x39 ar. Eventually, I gave up. What your going to have to do is put either a handgun scope or a "scout scope" on it.

Yep.

My primary concern with handgun scopes is whether or not they will stand up to the recoil of a .308. Any thoughts?

Mine stands up to the recoil of a 30-06; so yes.

I did this as something to try. While its fun to target shoot with; you can forget about fast target acquisition.

x

[Guest mark_justmark]

DaveTN,

What scope did you get for your M1?

What did you do to the stock? I looks nice.

I just got a CMP M1 and want mine to look as sharp as your's.

Yep.

Mine stands up to the recoil of a 30-06; so yes.

I did this as something to try. While its fun to target shoot with; you can forget about fast target acquisition.

[DaveTN]

DaveTN,

What scope did you get for your M1?

The scope is a Simmons ProHunter Handgun scope 2-6x32. It is mounted on a CMP Scout Scope Mount (no permanent modifications required).

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=785343

http://estore.odcmp.com/Store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=product&ID=830&item=830&sfv=&cat=&desc=&udc=&mct=&vndr=&ba=&pmin=&pmax=&note1=&note2=&note3=&note4=&note5=&max=100

DaveTN,

What did you do to the stock?

I removed my original stock and replaced it with a new walnut stock from Wenig Custom Gunstocks. I finished the stock, stained it, and used clear gloss polyurethane as the final finish.

http://www.wenig.com/welcome.html

I just got a CMP M1 and want mine to look as sharp as your's.

Thanks.

[Guest Linoge]

mark_justmark: Thanks to the ascendency of the great Obamamessiah, and my resulting purchase of two AR-15 lowers (as well as my purchase of an 870 in response to the growing numbers of home-invasions here), I have not had a chance to pursue scopes any farther... Sorry .

nsnate02: Thanks, those three look great, but from their stats, their eye relief is still not up to quite the numbers I need.

DaveTN: That set-up definitely looks like it would work on the M1A, but it is still a little shy of the 10x magnification I was looking for (yes, I am asking for the world). This, however, looks like it might work... if cost a pretty penny.

Edited January 23, 2009 by Linoge

[Guest mark_justmark]

a few of the guys on the CMP website like this scope on their Garand scout set up.

Burris Scout 2.75x 20mm Heavy Plex Reticle

http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-2-75x-heavy-plex-mat-scout-scopes.html

[Guest mark_justmark]

Dave,

How has the Simmons held up for you?

The reviews say these scopes are either great or bad. I kind of wonder if some reviews are padded.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=785343

The scope is a Simmons ProHunter Handgun scope 2-6x32. It is mounted on a CMP Scout Scope Mount (no permanent modifications required).

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=785343

I'm thinking of just breaking down and getting this Burris 4x26 Handgun Scope.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-4x-plex-mat-handgun-scopes.html

Edited March 18, 2009 by mark_justmark

[DaveTN]

Dave,

How has the Simmons held up for you?

The reviews say these scopes are either great or bad. I kind of wonder if some reviews are padded.

I have fired maybe a couple of hundred rounds through this rifle and the scope has held up fine so far. But to be honest I just wanted something cheap. I had just purchased two other rifles and set them up with Leupold scopes and most of the range time was spent dialing those in. I just don’t care for open sights. I am happy with it, but I’m not saying it’s as good as a Leupold.

As I said, due to the long eye relief it’s a one shot deal; there isn’t going to be a follow-up shot.

[Guest mark_justmark]

Thank you Sir

[Ropin4gold]

I have seen the Millet (Scout) setup on an M1 and it is sharp. There is a big write up on it over on ar15.com

[Guest Packina45]

Linoge,

About 2 weeks ago, I bought a 460 S&W Magnum with a Leupold 2.5x8 EER on it. Frankly, I am not a handgun scope shooter, I guess. 3-4" groups at 100 yards with a lot of strain is not for me when pistol shooting. It's much more fun to relax, use open sights to get the same 4 inch group. However, I'm looking at the EOTech Holograph sights but they are BIG and I've not zeroed in on the right one for my 460. Here's a link to one of them...

http://www.eotech-inc.com/product.php?id=5&cat=4

Anyways, my point is this Leupold 2.5x8 EER pistol scope mounted on my 460 will soon be going up for sale. If you are interested and live near Chapel Hill, I will gladly take it off and we can mount it on your SOCOM to check the eye relief and see if you want it.

Here's the pic of it...

[Guest Linoge]

Thanks for the heads up!

Unfortunately, I am looking more for something that can give me somewhere in the neighborhood of 10X zoom, for nailing 4" targets at about 400 yards.

As it is, I probably would have something by now, if it were not for ammunition and AR-15 building...