Best all around scope for all around ar.

[PatrioticDisorder]

New SWFA has an introductory price of $299 of their new 1-4, unproven but based on SWFA's rep if I were on a tight budget I'd consider it....

I've been rethinking my take on "best" scope, I think the Leupold Mk6 & Mk8 are the best but for the right price, VCOG is tempting and in fact I may indeed go with that. I never shoot past 500 yards and often "long range" for me is 300 yards and it's usually 100 yards and in, so I keep asking myself the question, do I really "need" the mi based reticle. Also, while the VCOG's illumination may be lacking, the reticle seems perfectly usable for quick two eyes open shots on 1x based on reticle design (kinda like the SWFA SS HD 1-6, but a little more precise).

So for me it's either:

SWFA SS HD 1-6 at $1,100ish (hopefully $799 for the scope Black Friday sale, $209 for Bobro mount, $60 for cat tail)
VCOG at $1,600ish (seems to be the best price some are finding on occasion outside DSG arms Memorial Day sale)
Mk6 1-6 at $2,050-2,100ish ($1,750 for scope, $200ish for mount, & $110 for cat tail)

The only knock for me on the Mk6 is usability on 1x without illumination, which IMO is lacking compared to the other 2. Considering that battery life is short in LPVs and most of my use will be on 1x occasionally dialing the magnification up, makes me lean toward the other 2. I wish Leupold would make the outer lines of the CMR thicker drawing the eye into the center of the reticle making the 1x without illumination more usable.

[FourT6and2]

New SWFA has an introductory price of $299 of their new 1-4, unproven but based on SWFA's rep if I were on a tight budget I'd consider it....

I've been rethinking my take on "best" scope, I think the Leupold Mk6 & Mk8 are the best but for the right price, VCOG is tempting and in fact I may indeed go with that. I never shoot past 500 yards and often "long range" for me is 300 yards and it's usually 100 yards and in, so I keep asking myself the question, do I really "need" the mi based reticle. Also, while the VCOG's illumination may be lacking, the reticle seems perfectly usable for quick two eyes open shots on 1x based on reticle design (kinda like the SWFA SS HD 1-6, but a little more precise).

So for me it's either:

SWFA SS HD 1-6 at $1,100ish (hopefully $799 for the scope Black Friday sale, $209 for Bobro mount, $60 for cat tail)
VCOG at $1,600ish (seems to be the best price some are finding on occasion outside DSG arms Memorial Day sale)
Mk6 1-6 at $2,050-2,100ish ($1,750 for scope, $200ish for mount, & $110 for cat tail)

The only knock for me on the Mk6 is usability on 1x without illumination, which IMO is lacking compared to the other 2. Considering that battery life is short in LPVs and most of my use will be on 1x occasionally dialing the magnification up, makes me lean toward the other 2. I wish Leupold would make the outer lines of the CMR thicker drawing the eye into the center of the reticle making the 1x without illumination more usable.

Before I decided on Kahles, the Mark 6 and SWFA 1-6 were my top choices. Daylight illumination and reticle design were the deciding factors for me. But if you will shoot mostly at 1x, then maybe a 1-4x wold be better, like the SWFA 1-4x you mentioned.

[Don Robison]

Oh I am quite sure the 2500 dollar scope is fantastic. Like I am sure the 100 grand Porsche is also very fun to drive. If you have the cake for both...by all means spend it.

But should the most expensive scopes be in the "best all around" category?

Is there anything decent in the...say...400-600 dollar range?

Decent isn't best; it's decent and would change the question.

[cbx]

Failure2stop, I've got a question for you since you've probably used both. I have an opportunity to buy either a mk6 1-6 cmr 556 or an Sr8c 1-8. For the same price which one would you choose?

[PatrioticDisorder]

Before I decided on Kahles, the Mark 6 and SWFA 1-6 were my top choices. Daylight illumination and reticle design were the deciding factors for me. But if you will shoot mostly at 1x, then maybe a 1-4x wold be better, like the SWFA 1-4x you mentioned.

I haven't looked through the Khales, but definitely more than what I would want to spend although I'm sure the glass, field of view and illumination are nice, I'm not a huge fan of the reticle design. For $2500ish (plus mount & cat tail) I would demand excellent turrets like the Mk6 (or preferably CQBSS) have along with a much improved reticle. I think the Z6i would make more sense if you wanted to spend that kind of money, their BRT is mil based and has mil measurements for Windage as well (far from a perfect reticle but an improvement over Khales offerings IMO). I'd also be worried about the ruggedness of the Khales or Swaro vs. A Mk6 or VCOG...

[brickboy240]

Wow...the Leupold VX-R is exactly what I was looking for.

Sorry..I have mouths to feed and a kid to put through college...a 2000 dollar scope is out of the question. I would love the 2000 dollar scope...hell..i would have loved to have dropped 2500 on a LaRue rifle but this Colt 6940 seems to be doing the job.

I know the VX-R is not top shelf but it will get me by until I can get really good glass or if my shooting needs take me to distances that require it.

-brickboy240

[GH41]

I can afford any scope I wanted but settled for the VX-R. It won't compete with the high $$$ scope but it offers a lot of bang for the buck and my kids Whisky and Cigar won't have to suffer!

[brickboy240]

Thats what I was thinking.

I want to buy high quality...as I think I did with the Colt AR but I do have a ceiling! My other Colt AR wears an Aimpoint PRO and since I mostly shoot my ARs at well under 200yds...this Leupy ought to fill the bill.

Now if I was competing or a cop and this was my duty rifle...ok...I would suck it up and buy the 2000 dollar scope but the VX-R ought to do what I need. the reviews on it everywhere are pretty good.

..now...off to research a good mount/rings.

[ryantx23]

Thats what I was thinking.

I want to buy high quality...as I think I did with the Colt AR but I do have a ceiling! My other Colt AR wears an Aimpoint PRO and since I mostly shoot my ARs at well under 200yds...this Leupy ought to fill the bill.

Now if I was competing or a cop and this was my duty rifle...ok...I would suck it up and buy the 2000 dollar scope but the VX-R ought to do what I need. the reviews on it everywhere are pretty good.

..now...off to research a good mount/rings.

Brick,

I encourage you to not rule out the Burris MTAC. They are built like a tank and have pretty good glass for not a lot of money. The VX-R is pretty good, but I prefer my MK4 MR/T with the CMR-2 reticle. As far as mounts go, I am VERY happy with American Defense Recon and Recon X mounts. They are rock solid and return to zero. The Bobro mounts are nice too.

[FourT6and2]

I haven't looked through the Khales, but definitely more than what I would want to spend although I'm sure the glass, field of view and illumination are nice, I'm not a huge fan of the reticle design. For $2500ish (plus mount & cat tail) I would demand excellent turrets like the Mk6 (or preferably CQBSS) have along with a much improved reticle. I think the Z6i would make more sense if you wanted to spend that kind of money, their BRT is mil based and has mil measurements for Windage as well (far from a perfect reticle but an improvement over Khales offerings IMO). I'd also be worried about the ruggedness of the Khales or Swaro vs. A Mk6 or VCOG...

Is this $2500 price people keep mentioning MSRP or something? Because you can get it for closer to $2,000 if you go to the right retailer. But yeah, that's still a pretty high price for some. As for the Z6i comparison, the Kahles has a few different reticles to choose from, including one that is similar to the BRT. And it's mil as well. Ruggedness might be a concern though. I have no information pertaining to that. But I'm not a soldier. So I have no need for something I can drop out of a helicopter. The turrets are definitely a negative though, on the Kahles.

Oh and Kahles has a lifetime warranty. Hell, they still service (for free) scopes that are 100 years old. That's hard to beat.

In any event, like I said the SWFA or Leupold might be some good options.