Sirs,
The latest 4th of July sales showed an SWFA 1-4x with a mount running for ~$340. That seems a steal.
It got me thinking about the various price points for optics on the AR platform, and thus the various magnification thresholds for same.
Currently, I am thinking that there are a few basic tiers to this problem:
1) 4x-only, ACOG.
Great durability, clarity, eye relief, usable reticle, etc. Also, $1000.
2) 1-4x variable.
Vortext 1-4 and SWFA 1-4 weigh in at ~$350 (or less with sales) to $500, and offer some decent reticles for the money. There's also names Steiner and NightForce at the higher end when you start talking ACOG money.
3) 1-6x variable.
Primary Arms and Leupold Patrol look like the best cost::quality ratio on this, with things like the Primary Arms Platinum, SWFA/Vortex HD lines,
and Trijicog VCOG coming in at the top end. I like that 6x seems to be the real deal for shooting out to 300-500m, and I've definitely experienced better/faster hits at those ranges with greater than 4x mag.
4) 1-8x variable.
The range here is a lot broader and a lot spendier. 8x feels like the absolute outside of non-SPR optics magnification for the AR platform.
The goal here is to extend my current rifle(s) beyond the capacities of 0-300m which the red dot manages with such aplomb. For those of you with boxes / drawers / shelves full of scopes, what do you still have mounted on your rifles and why? What is the price point, and what lessons have you learned when purchasing optics? I am inclined to grab an SWFA 1-4x unless there is a credible gain to be had in moving up into the $1000+ category beyond a few intangibles.
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