Scope for Swiss Arms

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Styrak

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Hey there, I'm the happy new owner of a Swiss Arms Black Special flat-top.

I'm going to try out the BUIS, but I may be looking for a scope to put on it.
Let me just say straight up I have pretty much ZERO experience with optics, other than the rimfire Bushnell 3-9x scope on my .22

Help/suggestions/what to look for? Don't just say "Get X" because that doesn't help me much.

Thanks!
 
for the flat top swiss arms id go with a type of short dot. Either a 1-4, 2,5-8 or 10. Lots of good options out there either by trijicon, nightforce or leupold. Depending on your budget.
 
By "short dot" do you mean a red dot sight? Or.....?

Also I'm not sure if I want a red dot sight or scope. I THINK I want a scope, but again suggestions are great :p
 
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I currently have a Nightforce 2.5-10x24 mounted. I had a 1-4x24 but like the additional magnification of the x10 for the full length model.
 
gorky said:
I currently have a Nightforce 2.5-10x24 mounted. I had a 1-4x24 but like the additional magnification of the x10 for the full length model.
Click to expand...

Pros, cons, or what I should be looking for? Like I said I need more than "Get X" or "I have Y".
And yeah I think I'd want 10x capability.
 
Until you said you'd like 10x, I was going to recommend the TR24G, like I have on mine.

SWEET scope.

SpecialGreen.jpg
 
Styrak said:
By "short dot" do you mean a red dot sight? Or.....?

Also I'm not sure if I want a red dot sight or scope. I THINK I want a scope, but again suggestions are great :p
Click to expand...

No - he means the Schmidt and Bender Short Dot scope, or you can get similar ones from other Tier 1 optics providers (or lower end models)
 
canucklehead said:
Until you said you'd like 10x, I was going to recommend the TR24G, like I have on mine.

SWEET scope.
Click to expand...

Well I don't necessarily have to have 10x, I'm just throwing ideas out there.
And you guys forgot an important point, PRICE!:p Let me know how much they are too!

Edit: Hoo boy, just looked up the short dot. I don't want to spend $2000 on an optic!
 
Styrak said:
Pros, cons, or what I should be looking for? Like I said I need more than "Get X" or "I have Y".
And yeah I think I'd want 10x capability.
Click to expand...

Nightforce 2.5-10x24

Pros:
Good magnification range (2.5x for short range, 10x for long range gophers and coyotes)
No objective bell = low mounting height
Illuminated reticle
Multiple reticle options
Very solid scope

Cons:
24mm model not made anymore (32mm replaced it)
Not cheap (new cost is $1600ish, used will be $900 and up)

DSC02370.jpg
 
Styrak said:
Well I don't necessarily have to have 10x, I'm just throwing ideas out there.
And you guys forgot an important point, PRICE!:p Let me know how much they are too!

Edit: Hoo boy, just looked up the short dot. I don't want to spend $2000 on an optic!
Click to expand...

In response to the "I don't want to spend $2k" comment:

You have a $3000 rifle capable of some very respectable shooting. Cheap optics can negate some of the benefits of owning such a fine rifle. If the S&B or NF is too much coin, maybe look at a Leupold 1.5-5x20 or 2.5-8x36. You lose the 30mm tube and the illuminated reticle but both scopes are not bad. I have a 1.5-5x20 on one of my M14s rifles and find it adequate (though I will replace it with another NF should I start using the gun more). Money spent on quality optics is rarely money wasted.
 
So what's so bad about a $200-$500 Bushnell/Nikon/etc? Such as a 3-9x40 or 2.5-10x40?

I'm thinking a 40mm lens or more would be good. Comments?
 
it really depends what you want to do with it.
for exclusive use under 100 meters a non magnifying red dot scope would be perfect, shoot with both eyes open, quick target acquisition and still accurate up to 100m, anything over and you will want magnification.
1-4 power scopes are great for work out to 300m, coyote hunting even gopher hunting and the one power still gives you close in capability, illuminated reticles like in the short dot S&B are excellent as they work darn near as well as dedicated red dot's like aimpoint or eotech.
for longer work you can use anything 3.5-15 ,2.5-10 etc. In my opinion the best optic for the rifle is the Nightforce 2.5-10x24, not 32 as you can mount it lower and it gives you all the magnification you need as well as 2.5 allows the close in capability. Its shorter also than the 32 and better balances the rifle. these scopes are so clear you can shoot with both eyes open easily up to about 4 power, hold their zero, crystal clear glass, rugged, just all around wonderful optics.

S&B short dot's are great but I don't think the Night force gives up anything to it. Burris makes a great 1-6 which would work in place of the nf for about 1/2 the price. Leupold's are good but the smaller objective optics are really like looking down a tube, I'd pass. Some guys are happy with millet at the low end and just for plinking they work. lots of options, comes down to price and purpose.
 
gorky said:
I currently have a Nightforce 2.5-10x24 mounted. I had a 1-4x24 but like the additional magnification of the x10 for the full length model.
Click to expand...

That's the one I wanted, but I had a spare Mark 4 3.5-10x lying around so it made more sense to go that route. Either way, I wanted the higher power for shooting gophers and coyotes. And brother, I know there's gophers and 'yotes in your neck of the woods!

Cheap scopes are just that - cheap. They may serve someone well on a hunting rifle that they shoot two or three times a year, but the tactical scopes that most guys are recommending are more rugged. You could also consider the lower-priced Leupold Mark AR scopes. They're not Mark 4s or NXS, but they'll probably make you happy. You went so far as to source the proper flat top model, you might as well put quality glass on it. Besides, quality glass will hold it's resale value should you decide to get rid of it.
 
canucklehead said:
Until you said you'd like 10x, I was going to recommend the TR24G, like I have on mine.

SWEET scope.

SpecialGreen.jpg
Click to expand...

I also have this optic on my Black Special Target. I have the German No. 4 reticle. The reticle is a bit small/dull for fast shooting but the size is great for precision. I really like the optic but I plan to upgrade to the NF 2.5-10x for the increased magnification. I will put the TR24G on a shorter range rifle (when I get one).

What distance do you plan to shoot at?
 
Styrak said:
Well I don't necessarily have to have 10x, I'm just throwing ideas out there.
And you guys forgot an important point, PRICE!:p Let me know how much they are too!

Edit: Hoo boy, just looked up the short dot. I don't want to spend $2000 on an optic!
Click to expand...

I (generally) like to follow the rule that you spend as much on your optics as you do on your rifle. Now, I know this isn't always practical (I only have a Zeiss Conquest on my 180b), but if you have a $3000+ gun, I would spend at least $1500 (before tax) on an optics rig (scope + rings, and don't cheap out on the rings). Why is this? To get the most out of your rifle. When you pay $3000 for a rifle, you get a quality machine, and only spending a few hundred dollars on optics won't allow you to get the best possible performance out of your rifle.
 
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