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AR15 Scope Selection

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I'm looking for a scope for an AR15 National Match. I would like to stay with a 50mm scope and around $100-$200 range. I saw these but they are not "name" brands other than BSA and Winchester. Has anyone used any of these or can make a good recommendation?

Barska (4-12 X 50), Garde Gear (6.5-20 X 50), Sight X (6.5-20 X 56), Winchester (4-16 X 50), BSA (6-24 X 50), Alpen-Kodiak (6-24 X 50)
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6 comments

Date Votes
  • easygo6
    One recommendation I have heard, and it bears true in my limited experience, is that a 50mm Obj lens is not usually idea.

    Here it goes: 1) the shooter's objective is to get lots of light for better 'low-light' performance, and a larger 'sweet spot' (or edge to edge clarity) in lenses that might not be as perfectly ground as they could be.

    1a) smaller diameter objective lens scopes can be as or brighter than larger diameter objective lens scopes. Depends on internal design (light management) quality of lenses, diameter of internal lenses.

    1b) it is not common that a high-quality & reputable manufacturer will have discernable imperfections in the lens that will impact optical performance.

    2) A large diameter Objective lens necessitates a higher mount. That is, mounting so that the scope's line of sight is further from the centerline of the bore.

    2a) higher mounting can lead to poor or uncomfortable 'stock weld'. this leads to poor shooting without a custom stock or stock accessory (I use an athletic knee pad) that compensates.

    2b) higher mounting causes a greater 'divergence of angle' between line of sight and bullet trajectory at near and mid-range distances. no real impact at 350 meters and beyond.

    Save your money for another month or two and spend more on a higer quality scope or a used scope that has a lifetime, no BS, warranty. You'll be happier and if you ever sell the rifle...keep the scope.

    other lensesmarketingpoint is

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  • codenamepaul
    I agree with easygo. Save a little longer and buy a quality scope. You can get a used Leupold on GB for a bit more than you have budgeted. They will honor the warranty bought new or not, this is my experience anyway.


    Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my gun.
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  • muss
    I just asked this same question on ar15.com. You must have read my mind.[:D] It would seem that the rings are also an issue with a big scope. You and I will need to get ultra high rings or a mid base mount thingy. Just something else to check into.

    It is better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
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  • juddroy
    You need to go with a 30 mm tube if you expect to get more light from the bigger objective. If you don't want to spend more money on the fancier scopes, then at least look at the Leupold rifleman scopes. They will run you about $200.00 at wally world.

    Teach them young ! Teach them often !
    God bless America!
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  • JustC
    a 1" tube can make almost no use of a 50mm objective lense. A 44mm is about as big as can be utilized by the exit pupil in a 1" tube. One must jump to the 30mm tube to use the extra lense size,..and as an added benefit you will gain internal windage and elevation adjustment.

    the burris scopes in 40 and 44mm are great for 1" versions. Burris uses internal lenses that are the size of the lenses in most 30mm tubes, which transmits the max light the 1" tube is capable of. You will lose some internal adjustment due to the larger lenses, but the signature rings with inserts will make up for that.


    Remember, a great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • easygo6
    JustC must have been reading my mind.

    I personally like the brightness of the Burris Signature and Black Diamond scopes. For a 1" scope that will be as close to the bore and give a bright picture and low-light perfomance...the Burris Signatures can't be beat.... for the price. But a lot more than $200.

    You might find a used 4x-16x X 44 for $350. I did.

    The new Signatures use controls that are visible from behind the scope, as in the Blk. Dia. and Leupold LPS lines.



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