1-4, 1-6 or 1-8 for my AR? (selection made, zeroed!)

[Dave951]

Lots of opinions and options here. My take, first ask yourself (and be brutally realistic), just what are you planning on doing with the gun? Second, factor in cost v value (features, cust serv, etc). Third, what features are essential to the first question.

I really like the new PA 1x8, but with other needs higher up on my list, it's still in the later category. I don't like a simple red dot for about any optic on a rifle, so I'm looking at the reticle as a integral part of that scope and the task I'm setting for it. If all I'm doing is runNgun at cardboard short range, then a 1x4 is perfect. If I'm thinking of double duty shooting doing some hunting, it's 1x8 with a good reticle all day. The problem with any red dot (and any other reticle for that matter) is the amount of the target it subtends at distance. For me, a 4moa dot is a non starter.

 

[Jayne]

Decision made. Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 with the AR-BDC reticle. I actually got it at the gun show today, 3 different tables had it and eventually I got it to the on-line equivilant price so it made sense to grab it. It's the 'pro' mount instead of the regular, I paid extra for that but I figured a good mount will always be a good mount even if I have to upgrade the glass at some point in the future.

I went this way over the primary arms because I have other vortex optics (2 larger scopes, the big red dot, the magnifier and a nice set of binoculars) and they've all served well so far. That counts for something.

Eye relief is set, it's leveled and torqued in place, ready to test tomorrow.

Also, since the mount is rigid, I put on a cheapy set of 45 degree offset flip-ups. If I find I can use them well I'll upgrade to the magpul set if these don't handle the use.

 

[Jayne]

Got it to the range today. Zeroed at 50 yards, then out to 100 on paper. I was sharing the only target stand I had with someone who was doing 100 yard load testing so I couldn't shoot paper at 200 or 250. I'll put a 200 yard zero on it next time.

I was using the 'good' ammo, Brown Bear 55gr steel case. It seems better in this rifle than wolf 55gr and some S&B 55gr I have. I'll actually get some real 556 ammo here and test it next time.

The good news is I can see the targets so much easier than with the 4 MOA dog + 3x magnifier setup I had before. The bad news is that although I now hit more than I miss, I can see stuff I can't hit. Frustrating but I don't have a whole lot of time behind an AR so I shouldn't complain. I was able to hit the 4" swinger at 200 and the 6" at 250 with more regularity than I could with the old dot. The BDC isn't setup for a 100 yard zero so I was kinda making it up as I went.

Off hand at 100 yards against a large swinger (10" or maybe 12") I found it easier to hit at lower power. At 8x I was trying to snap the shot as the reticle crossed the target. That's not how you do it. At lower magnification I just put the dot there and squeezed as you should. Less drama, more hits.

The 200 yard swingers were painted white, against a backdrop of snow. Trying to line up black crosshairs on a white target on a white background with black streaks on it was tricky, and then I remembered to turn on the illumination. Hit percentage went WAY up.

The 45 degree off-set irons are zeroed at 50 yards, and are awkward to me. I've never used them before, suspect with practice they won't feel so half-gangsta'.

In addition to the 200 yard zero, I'll try some 25-50 yard stuff at 1x with the illumination on and see how I do vs. the old dot setup.

Full disclosure, the target. Upper left was the 50 yard zero under the pasters, then a bunch of shots at 100 yards. Upper right was dialing down, center was I have no idea what happened after I dialed back up. I shot steel, dorked around testing some 9mm loads, and zeroed the irons at 50 (on another target), rested my eyes a bit, then came back and shot the group in the lower left and that's where I left it and went back to 200 and 250 yard steel.

 

[11B CIB]

What type of 5.56 ammo are you thinking about trying out

 

[Jayne]

What type of 5.56 ammo are you thinking about trying out

Some IMI M193 and some unknown M855 are the only actual 556 I've got in my stash so far. It's unfortunate I've got a 1:7 twist or I could break open the 77gr Sierras and Lapua brass I've got for sale in the BST and actually load some stuff up.

 

[Combat Diver]

Concur that you should try some heavier/longer bearing bullets for that faster twist. 55gr FMJs are good plinking bullets.

CD

 

[BlackGun]

Concur that you should try some heavier/longer bearing bullets for that faster twist. 55gr FMJs are good plinking bullets.

CD

I agree with this. My 1:9 Daniel defense is by far more accurate unless I go to go to 62gr or up. The cheap PSA with a 1:7 is fine until I get out past 140 yards and they like to lean out at further distances. M855 in the PSA brings the rounds back more toward center. Let there be wind and the tight twist gets waaay more pronounced than the 1:9. Rarely do most people use a round for hunting shots and 77gr is far too expensive to shoot for fun (assuming they shoot 150 or more rounds at a time like me).

 

[BlackGun]

Decision made. Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 with the AR-BDC reticle. I actually got it at the gun show today, 3 different tables had it and eventually I got it to the on-line equivilant price so it made sense to grab it. It's the 'pro' mount instead of the regular, I paid extra for that but I figured a good mount will always be a good mount even if I have to upgrade the glass at some point in the future.

I went this way over the primary arms because I have other vortex optics (2 larger scopes, the big red dot, the magnifier and a nice set of binoculars) and they've all served well so far. That counts for something.

Eye relief is set, it's leveled and torqued in place, ready to test tomorrow.

Also, since the mount is rigid, I put on a cheapy set of 45 degree offset flip-ups. If I find I can use them well I'll upgrade to the magpul set if these don't handle the use.

View attachment 36869

Good decision. I have purchased many Vortex Optic products with great pleasure afterwards. Currently I have an Aimpoint M4 with a Vortex 3x magnifier behind it. Out to 175 is good but it’s iffy hitting the 4” plates beyond that. My eyes are horrible. Everyone loves the reticles in the AR scopes by Vortex but I like the simplicity of nothing but a dot.

 

[11B CIB]

I shot 55gr American Eagle FMJs out to 400yds at Ramseur.

I got better results (smaller patterns) with 69gr SMKs but the experience made me confident with the ammo. However, there is probably a difference in how a quality ammo like Federal/American Eagle AR 223 and Russian ammo performs

 

[NKD]

Some IMI M193 and some unknown M855 are the only actual 556 I've got in my stash so far. It's unfortunate I've got a 1:7 twist or I could break open the 77gr Sierras and Lapua brass I've got for sale in the BST and actually load some stuff up.

But the 1/7 twist is perfect for the heavy bullets, no? Or are you saying it is not 1/7?

 

[11B CIB]

But the 1/7 twist is perfect for the heavy bullets, no? Or are you saying it is not 1/7?

I read it as he thought his 1:7 twist might not be good for the 55s.

I think the 1:7 would be fine for them as well as the longer/heavier 77s

 

[Jayne]

But the 1/7 twist is perfect for the heavy bullets, no? Or are you saying it is not 1/7?

Apparently I'm a moron, or at least can't read. The 77gr bullets I have in BST explicitly say to use 7" or 8" twist. For some reason I thought it was 8" and 9".

 

[NKD]

Apparently I'm a moron, or at least can't read. The 77gr bullets I have in BST explicitly say to use 7" or 8" twist. For some reason I thought it was 8" and 9".

Should keep them, then load a bunch and let me try some, lol.

 

[Combat Diver]

I've got two Green Mountain bbls with faster 1:5 and 1:6 twists. Gotta stretch those .224 77-100 grs legs!


CD