Choice of optics for M14/M305 and its harsh recoil

multicam333

multicam333

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Hey there,

I plan on building an M305 soon and I'm at the point where I'm gathering info on aftermarket parts to buy, and now the time has come to think about optics.

I'm kind of a "okay-informed newbie" so please bear with me!

I took a look around and read quite a few reviews on some scopes from Leupold, Vortex, Millett, and (even though I had dismissed the brand at first) Nikon.

I do have to mention that I will be shooting the thing mainly at a 50yrd indoor range, perhaps with the odd 2-3 trips at outdoor ranges throughout the year. At first I was looking at some 6.5-20X50ish scopes, but realized that this was kind of an overkill for such short distances (and lowest magnification is a bit high).

Then, I stumbled upon this:

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/Nikon-Products/Riflescopes/M-308-4-16x42-BDC-800.html

I just thought: that's it, that's what I would need. Low enough magnification, 16X is neat for longer ranges, 42mm is a good lens diameter without being over the top.

What do you people think??
 
for everything point blank to 100M , I use a leupold tactical prismatic on an arms 18. but that's what works for me ;)

entry level scopes for an m14/m1a? start at anything equivalent to a bushnell 3200 and up from there. mounting it solidly is the primary concern.
 
I'll chime in. I don't think the m14 is a heavy recoil rifle. For one, it's a fairly heavy rifle, which reduces recoil. Any decent scope will have no problems with recoil. A scope with a larger lens diameter will be able to gather more light. It will have a brighter image in a darker environment. I think for your needs, a 4-16x magnification scope would be a great choice. As for the specific scope model, I suggest looking for a review. Good luck!
 
A lot of people like the fixed 10x and the old Bushnell Elite 3200 is the best buy (value) if you can find one. For a while I ran my LRB out to some distance and at that time mounted a Leupold Mk4 8.5-25x50 which I thought was a nicely sized scope for this rifle ( NF NXS 8-32x56 simply looked too big and imposing ). Now I'm back to the idea that the M14 platform is best at making hits out to 400 ( the length of the small hayfield I usually use ) rather than trying to compete with my bolt guns I'm back to running a fixed 10X - in my case a Burris XTR with 30mm tube.
 
Gobc said:
I'll chime in. I don't think the m14 is a heavy recoil rifle. For one, it's a fairly heavy rifle, which reduces recoil. Any decent scope will have no problems with recoil. A scope with a larger lens diameter will be able to gather more light. It will have a brighter image in a darker environment. I think for your needs, a 4-16x magnification scope would be a great choice. As for the specific scope model, I suggest looking for a review. Good luck!
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What I've read is that the strenght of the recoil is not so hard, what makes the recoil harsh is that "it hits in two different directions" (from memory...this reminds me of some airguns)?

As for that Nikon M-308, I've read a few reviews. They're mostly really good, but it seems that people say that the mount that comes with it is cr*p.

And what about red dots like the Vortex Strikefire II? Since it's designed for the AR-15 platform, do you guys think it will get destroyed by the M14 action?
 
TRS-25 reddot on mine. and it has stood up awesome!! it even worked after being on my back when I fell out of a moving truck lol...... that's a different story tho lol
 
Tomochan said:
A lot of people like the fixed 10x and the old Bushnell Elite 3200 is the best buy (value) if you can find one. For a while I ran my LRB out to some distance and at that time mounted a Leupold Mk4 8.5-25x50 which I thought was a nicely sized scope for this rifle ( NF NXS 8-32x56 simply looked too big and imposing ). Now I'm back to the idea that the M14 platform is best at making hits out to 400 ( the length of the small hayfield I usually use ) rather than trying to compete with my bolt guns I'm back to running a fixed 10X - in my case a Burris XTR with 30mm tube.
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Have to agree with the 10X the Socom i prepared was fit with a 10X Elite 3200, perfect tool for that rifle... JP.
 
ive been running a millett 4-16x on my m14 for 800 rounds now. still holding zero even after the rifle hit pavement after i had a sling fail. bonus on it is you can get mils to mils and it has adjustable parallax from 25 yards on wards all for 300$
 
I'm running a 1-6 Vortex HD on my EBR. The scope was designed for the 3-gun AR15, but Vortex assured me that the M14
would not hurt it. I have not sent a lot of rounds down range with the scope installed yet, but I can report so fare-so good.

10310701_856349954382194_7440143176912931301_n.jpg
 
I was running a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 40mm. Love that scope but found most my shooting with the rifle was around 100 yards. So now I'm currently running a Hensoldt RSA (solar panel and sale price was what sold me) and so far I've been happy with it.

As far as optics with BDC (Bullet Drop Compensators) cross hairs, and someone correct me if I'm wrong. If your planning on reaching out to the +400 yards range, would a reticle like that start cluttering your image and cover up most of your targets? Or is it dependent on the magnification of a scope in ratio to the distance of your target?
 
BTW, I do want to mention that I'm setting myself a 500$ maximum for a scope. Ideally, I would want to buy a scope, plus a red dot (30mm tube); And I do have a separate budget for the red dot...currently reading about the Vortex Strikefire II.
 
H2O MAN said:
I'm running a 1-6 Vortex HD on my EBR. The scope was designed for the 3-gun AR15, but Vortex assured me that the M14
would not hurt it. I have not sent a lot of rounds down range with the scope installed yet, but I can report so fare-so good.

10310701_856349954382194_7440143176912931301_n.jpg
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This if you have the money!

If your on a regular guy budget here is my suggestion:

The m14 is already relatively heavy so a light scope should be in mind, you are planing mainly on 50 yard range so hight magnification is almost useless ( to me).

I would go with a m14.ca casm gen2 (aluminum) for a mount and a burris e1 2-7x35. It's inexpensive, it has a life time warranty and its tuff. The 2x makes quick work of anything from 10 yard to 100 and the 7x brings you easily to 300 yard and 500 if your douing your part.

Yes it's not as tacticool ( popular) has a 1-4 or a 8.5-25 but its a good compromise and its 210$
 
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