Can anyone recommend a good scope for the AR-15. It should be mounted to the top handle. I have looked at some inexpensive scopes on opticstore.com. Specifically, the SECAQ342R, SEERAQ430R, and SEECRAQ342R. Price ranges from $79.99 to $119.99.
I'm not sure about the quality of the optics.
I would appreciate any feedback on these scopes and/or recommendations.
J R
Sure hope they don't delete your thread because I posted on it...
They don't like it when you disagree with two or three guys around here...
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Anyway,
APPLICATION, APPLICATION, APPLICATION...
What is the 'Scope' for?
(actually, it's a 'Telescopic Sight')
Do you intend to hunt?
If so, you want something with a reasonably large objective lenses that will collect a lot of light when it's overcast or close to dark...
Hunting 'Scopes' should be broken into two classifications,
Stalking hunting, where you don't have much time to mess with knobs and adjustments,
And,
Ambush hunting, like Prairie Dog hunting where you sit for a long time around a colony of known range and you have time to fine tune you optics for the next shot.
Anyway, Stalking hunting should be an optic with LOW and COVERED adjustments to protect the zero from getting moved.
It should probably be a single power, or if it's 'Zoom' not more than about 6 power tops so you can see at reasonable ranges without messing with adjusters.
If you are target shooting, as in just 'Plinking', an adjustable 'Zoom' (magnification) and adjustable paralax wouldn't be a bad thing.
You still don't need the big target or 'Tactical' knobs since you aren't going to be swinging on the zero for plinking.
If you are doing some SERIOUS target shooting, then target knobs might be in order, since serious target shooters don't change distances of the targets very often...
Stay away from things like 'Tactical' or 'Mildot'...
That is code for 'We are looking for idiots to pay WAY Too much for this thing!'
If you are looking for integrated optics and mounts to mount on the handle...
Your options are VERY limited. Usually 4X or less and horrible light collection, most of them are made in 'China' and the optics and workmanship are HORRIBLE!
I have to agree with the guys saying 'Simmons'...
I have a 4x16 on a .223 gopher gun that really gets the job done!
I won it at a outdoor club meeting, I would have never purchased it otherwise, but now that I've tried it, I like it!
Retail on it was like $119 when I got it, so it's very reasonably priced.
One of the BEST things you can do for optics is use a spirit level when you shoot. It will teach you how to hold the rifle to keep the optics directly over the bore.
Speaking of plumb with the bore, make sure your optics are EXACTLY Plumb with the bore before you mount them solid!
A canted 'Scope' is an infuriating missing machine!