Optic for Group Size...Budget

[rca90gsx]

*Putting on my flame suit in advance* How much magnification should I look for, if I just want a cheap/budget scope to put on say an AR just to put a few groups downrange to see what it is roughly capable of etc... any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

[JFK]

*Putting on my flame suit in advance* How much magnification should I look for, if I just want a cheap/budget scope to put on say an AR just to put a few groups downrange to see what it is roughly capable of etc... any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

How much magnification will be dependent on your application. Do you want this to be a 0-100 yard application? More?

If good all around and perfectly capable of going some distance I would say 1-6x are perfect for just about everything. (for me at least) I can be fast up close and get to 400 yards with good practice. I use the Nightforce (not really budget)

If you need to do more in the 100 yard plus but still be under 100 at times a 4-12 ish is good. SWFA makes great budget glass that is solid and very underrated for the price.

[GJM]

I am aware of Nightforce 1 to 4 and 1 to 8 scopes, but is there a 1 to 6?

[JFK]

I am aware of Nightforce 1 to 4 and 1 to 8 scopes, but is there a 1 to 6?

No. I was not clear. I suggest the 1-6 range, but stating I use the Nightforce (NXS 1-4) Two thought ran together. Only one cup of coffee this morning.

[rca90gsx]

Thanks for all of the replies, i should've clarified a little more that this optic will only be used once in a great while, as I have a dot primarily, this would be for if I ever just wanted to go to the range and do casual group accuracy test at 100 yards.

[rcbusmc24]

Use your dot.... Scopes help you see better, not shoot better.

[JFK]

This guy with a La Rue QD mount would fit the bill.

https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-2-5-10x32-ultralight-rifle-scope-1.html?___SID=U
(https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-2-5-10x32-ultralight-rifle-scope-1.html?___SID=U)

[rca90gsx]

Awesome, thanks I appreciate it!



This guy with a La Rue QD mount would fit the bill.

https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-2-5-10x32-ultralight-rifle-scope-1.html?___SID=U
(https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-2-5-10x32-ultralight-rifle-scope-1.html?___SID=U)

[5pins]

If all you need it for is group testing then a fixed 10 power or higher preferably with a fine reticle and parallax adjustment.

I've had one of these Bushnell 10X40 and they are pretty good scopes. No parallax but otherwise it should work for what you need.

https://www.swfa.com/bushnell-10x40-tac-optics-rifle-scope.html?___SID=U

[David S.]

Inexpensive magnifier for existing RDS? Is that a thing?

[JSGlock34]

Inexpensive magnifier for existing RDS? Is that a thing?

Both EOTech and Aimpoint have introduced less expensive magnifiers, and other brands are also available. Mounts can range from inexpensive (fixed) to very expensive (flip to side variants).

I recently noticed that EOTech (https://www.eotechinc.com/holographic-sights/eotech-magnifiers) now has a range of magnifiers, and now offers a 5X version.

[Wake27]

Use your dot.... Scopes help you see better, not shoot better.

When does seeing better not equate to shooting better?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Casual Friday]

Inexpensive magnifier for existing RDS? Is that a thing?

I have the latest gen Primary Arms 3X magnifier that I bought as a proof of concept kinda thing before dumping EoTech/Aimpoint money at a magnifier I may not like. It works well enough that I haven't felt a need to upgrade to the EoTech or Aimpoint magnifier, but I am not telling you that it is just as good as the other two. I have mine in an American Defense swing away mount.

[David S.]

I don’t know if 3-5x is enough magnification. If group shooting is something the OP intends to do frequently, it’s be nice not to have to re-zero the RDS when you re mount it. Or so I’d think.

[MistWolf]

For testing precision, use a scope with as much magnification and optical clarity as you can afford. Molon did a lot of precision testing at 100 yards using a Leupold Vari-X III, with adjustable parallax, set at 25x

[Wise_A]

When does seeing better not equate to shooting better?

When it interferes with fundamentals. I once had a rube show up to one of my bullseye matches with a knock-off Chinesium ACOG on his pistol. There was much belly-aching, as magnification isn't allowed under the rules, but I just lol'd and told the whiners to watch the scoresheet. A mediocre 200-average shooter became a 160. The next match was a 150, and then a 130. And then we never saw him again.

I would put forward the following:

*I'll take some really good bags and a 'dot over a low-powered scope any day
*Learning to call shots is infinitely more useful, even a bagged scoped gun won't solve all problems
*Depending on your use, there may not be a ton of practical difference between a 2" gun and a 1" gun
*For ~$300, the SWFA fixed 10x is not bad. Midway has the Bushnell Nitro 3-12 and 4-16 for $250 and $260 respectively, or you can get their AR optics 1-8 for $350 with a free backpack off their manufacturer page.
*If you have a good 'dot, a cheap scope with a shitty eyebox may be even harder to use

[littlejerry]

If all you need it for is group testing then a fixed 10 power or higher preferably with a fine reticle and parallax adjustment.

I've had one of these Bushnell 10X40 and they are pretty good scopes. No parallax but otherwise it should work for what you need.

https://www.swfa.com/bushnell-10x40-tac-optics-rifle-scope.html?___SID=U

This is truth.

You don't need FFP, ranging reticle, illumination, or anything like that. You want a 10x or more mag scope with fine cross hairs, or a fine floating dot. Adjustable parallax is good just in case you find yourself shooting at some other distance.

I would watch samplelist for a deal or the Snipers hide forum

[Lost River]

At minimum I would want 10X if I was wanting to look at accuracy potential of a rifle. The SWFAs are great optics as others have mentioned. An SWFA 3-15 makes checking groups even easier and they are very useful on both ends of the power spectrum when used on an AR that is matched with good quality ammo, and a decent trigger.

[Wise_A]

Oh, side note--when doing this sort of thing, use an offset target. In other words, after zeroing, you would intentionally dial, say, 3 inches of windage, so that the shot grouping doesn't mangle your aiming point and distract you. One of these days I have to get off my ass and make one with black grouping areas, so that I can't see the groups while shooting. Maybe double-side print a grid on the back.

http://accurateshooter.net/Blog/offsettarget.pdf

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