Been looking for a secondary optic for my SCAR 16 SBR, which wears an Aimpoint Pro in ADM QD mount, sometimes in conjunction with a weapon mounted NVD for night hunting - love the Pro but wanted a day option, low power variable to put on it when the situation warrants.
As it will be a second optic for the weapon, wanted to keep overall costs down, and as its an SBR, want to keep it light weight as possible. A low end of 1.5x wasn't a problem as I have two other scopes like that and my eyes / brain can work that out.
After researching it I went with the Leupold Mark AR Mod 1 1.5-4x20mm Firedot-G SPR in an AD-Recon-S, both purchased from James at Otto Firearms. Very similar to the VX-R Patrol 1.25-4x scopes mentioned above, but smaller, lighter, cheaper, and possessing most of the same attributes, with some loss of low end magnification (1.5 vice 1.25) and illumination levels (6 vice 8). It also has a 1 inch tube vice 30MM of the VX-R model.
I don't really like the illumination controls (the single Leupold gold button on the left side) which goes up one level per press of the button, then flashes, followed by going down one level of brightness per press. But I dont hate it either, its just different. It does have Leupolds new MST - Motion Sensor Technology, which turns the illumination off after 5 minutes - I timed my example and @4+50 the Firedot flashes then turns off at 5 minutes - then the slightest motions turns it back on, which is nice. It appears to be daylight visible at the highest setting, but it isn't as big as an Aimpoint dot as it is only 0.3 mils. (Note that the dot looks bigger than pictured).
The elevation turrent is marked for Mils and yards for .223 / 55gr / 3100 FPS and custom turrets are available from Leupold, I'll probably do for 5.56 / 62gr / SBR velocities. People who have used it says it works well for them on various Internet reviews.
Anyway, I haven't been able to shoot it yet but after mounting it I believe it'll fit the bill of being able to help me reach out accurately to 300-400m, as well as see what I'm shooting at.
(like most scopes, it could benefit from a Switchview lever for faster - easier magnification changes)
(dot appears bigger and brighter in reality)

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