Advice on a 100 yard, budget scope?

#1

Ok, I know this is a hot topic on every forum, but here’s sitchyation!, so hang on for this ride!

I have an AT3 Red Dot on my Sub2K, it’s fine but “seeing” how I have astigmatism, I can only have the brightest up to 3 clicks, after that it becomes fuzzy and oblong! So I purchased a Votatu P3X prism scope for my AR. I like this scope, but these old eyes can’t use it passed 25 yards! So I’m looking for a budget scope that has enough magnification to get me to 100 yards. When I say budget, I only paid $107 for the Votatu so I plan on returning it and stay around $100-$125ish

Now, I know some purest here are salivating about jumping all over me for not spending more on something better, but right now I just need a replacement. I only use my AR for plinking and conversation. I’m not a sharpshooter nor am I interested in being one! I just want to hit the target and have fun!

Having said the above, I know a little bit about scopes, but by far I’m not that knowledgeable!
I need to purchase it off Amazon because that will be my exchange Avenue. I have found this scope, listed below. It has 4-12 magnification and I’ve found someone on YouTube who actually did a pretty thorough review on it, putting it through a practical testing and benchmarks, and he was surprised at this price that it actually was not bad. The other reason I’m leaning towards it, is because it also come with a red dot on top for close shooting, it also comes with a green laser, which I plan on not using. My experience with cheap lasers is they only work in very low light/night time. I’m also inclined not to co-witness with my A2 front sight, I’m not interested in it at all, this scope comes with a riser. I also want to permanently mount it, no side or canted mounting of optics for me, so the red dot on top will come in handy.

As far as inexpensive products go, I feel it’s hard to pass judgment unless you have experience with it or you know someone that has. Any opinions or advice, based on my situation, will be very much appreciated.

Pinty Rifle Scope 4-12x50 with 4MOA Red Dot Sight & Green Laser for 20mm Picatinny or Weaver Rail Long Guns, RG Illuminated Rangefind… https://a.co/d/7HDwCbo

TT

6 Likes
#2

I’ve started running sig sauer 3x9x50 buckmasters scopes even on my 450 bushmaster. Good clear and priced right.

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#3

Hopefully not here. Either way, you do you. If it’s in your budget and gets the job done, i.e. you hit the s#!t you aim at with consistency, I’d say you got the right glass. There probably is a bottom limit for quality, mind you, but I suspect you won’t have trouble identifying it when you see it.

For $110? Understatement! I wasn’t even aware of these. :thinking:

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#4

I went with a Vortex crossfire 2-7x 32 duplex from amazon for $129 & have been very pleased with that scope. What I really like is, you can set all your turrets to zero after your sight it in. Good glass & eye relief.

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#5

Awesome advice! I’ll look into them all!

Are these all good for 100 yards?

With the bushmaster and the Vortex, will I be able to raise high enough to NOT co-witness?

I’m also inclined to have either a set of irons or red dot on top for close shooting and or as a back up, does either of these allow for that?

I’m also considering waiting a little and bumping up my budget and and spring for this?

TT

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#6

Looks like you flushed your budget down the toilet. :rofl:

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#7

Lol! Yea, I’m really trying not to. We had too many expenses lately but if I wait a bit, I can catch up and spend more! I hate credit card debt, rather, my wife does more than me!

The question is, do I want to wait?

TT

4 Likes
#8

For a hunting scope, less is more. Less magnification equals a larger field of view. Strictly target shooting and the larger magnification is a good thing. Cheek weld should be a factor, its typically best to be on the same plane as the factory irons. YMMV

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#9

Debt is dumb… Cash is king.

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#10

Get a Bushnell Banner 4-12 for $120 with the DOA reticle. You can buy it right from Thier website. When it comes to inexpensive scopes they out perform and it has a lifetime warranty.

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#11

Thanks, I’ll certainly consider it! I’m getting more and more confused on what to buy! And then there’s the issue of a mount! I don’t want to co-witness and I don’t want it in the way of the charging handle!

TT

3 Likes
#12

I think one issue with your particular situation is that you’ve gone with an AR that uses an FSB as opposed to railed with folding battle sights (I didn’t catch this in your OP).

I’m not suggesting you purchased the wrong gun, nor would I suggest for a second that there’s anything wrong with an A2 FSB or fixed irons on an AR in general. In fact, in a grab-and-go situation, I find an AR with basic irons to be far lighter and handier. But that fixed front is likely always going to be in frame and probably somewhat close to the aim point unless you can find a really high mount, but then you lose cheek weld.

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#13

I have a friend who uses that Pinty scope on a 300 Blackout rifle and he is very happy with it. He recommended it to me for my rifle. My build isn’t finished so I haven’t made it to optics yet. I know he bought it from Amazon too.

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#14

Woops, I didn’t realize you had the FSB sight. A traditional scope usually doesn’t work too well with that. If you need the scope due to vision problems you might want to remove it. If not, you’re going to have trouble finding a decent optic that gives the magnification you’re looking for in your budget. Let us know how you make out. I’m curious to see what solves your problem as a traditional scope should be mounted as close to the bore axis as possible.

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#15

Right now I’m using this Votatu 3X prism scope with my A2 FSB. It came with its own riser and I attached a QD mount to it. I do not have the FSB in my view whatsoever. (This one of the reasons I’m considering that Pinty, it has a 1” riser included with it) I really like the Votatu scope, but it’s just not powerful enough for my old eyes. I can see targets clearly with it at 25yards, no problem, but I struggle at 50 yards, 100 is impossible. (I’m due for new glasses, stronger Rx I’m sure, but it’s not that bad),

Maybe the answer is to go with a more powerful Prism on the same riser height? I’ll just have to wait a little bit and spend more if that’s the answer. For now, I’ll just return the Votatu before the return date ends on Amazon. As I stated above, earlier in this post, I did found this 5x50 prism scope, I wonder if the extra 2x gain will get me to see100 yards better?

For now I’m still searching, keep your advice and comments coming. I’ll remain open minded, no one knows enough to be a pessimist!

TT

1 Like
#16

4X may not be enough for your needs, but you can test that fairly cheaply with the scope below. Note it has a place to mount a small red dot and multiple reticles. I use it on a 10-22 and cannot vouch for how it would perform with more recoil. Of course, the recoil of an AR is pretty light.

Amazon.com : OZARK ARMAMENT Rhino Acog Scope, 4X Scope, Magnified Optics Acog Sight, Tactical Scope, Picatinny Scope Mount Included, Acog 4x32 Airsoft Scope, Acog Sights Rifle Scope : Sports & Outdoors

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#17

Thank you, recoil on my AR is minimal.

TT

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#18

$70 for a 3-9x FFP. Can’t get much better than that. Includes rings even

I’ve used their prism scope, several mounts, and now I’m running their 6-24x on my .22lr. it’s not a $600 Vortex but it’ll do the job well.

I run a 1-6x Vortex on my AR. It’ll hit a man sized target out way deep but on a range only barely enough for 200.

2 Likes
#19

Thanks Gbauer.

I’m seriously considering a 5x Prism scope. But I’m not discounting anything. The 3x I have now just isn’t strong enough for my eyes, but I’m willing to try anything. That’s the beauty of Amazon. I’ll just return it! My 2nd biggest consideration is clearing my A2 fixed front sight.

Keep’em coming guys.

TT

1 Like
#20

You won’t notice the tall front sight with a standard scope.

IMG_20221207_091250921_HDR
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(One in the middle)

You can see it on my AR. No problems.

I used to run a 3x prism on my AR. I much prefer a scope on it. If you want to go a little more expensive get a cheap 1-6x LVPO. That gives you fast acquisition on 1x and decent range on 6x.

I haven’t had good luck with Pinty on anything but a .22. any recoil at all seems to kill them. I have, however, had decent luck with Monstrum.

1 Like