Optic Waffling 5.56 16”

General Discussion
1

I keep going back and forth and would love some insight from others, because I can’t seem to make a decision. Once I make a decision, I change my mind a few days later :expressionless:

I’m going back and forth between a 1-6X24 LPVO, and a 3-12x44 SFP BDC scope

I understand the benefits of both, and the drawbacks of each. But I don’t know what I want…

I have a 5.56 rifle and a 300 Blackout pistol, both with Romeo 7s. I also have a Juliet 3 magnifier that I swap back and forth between the two.

Going forward, I think I’m going to move the red dot on my 300 Blackout, and use that without the magnifier permanently. because I can not realistically see a situation needing a magnifier on that gun to stretch out to 2,3,400 yards. That’s a 100 yard in pistol all day long

So that leaves me the red dot and magnifier on my other 16” 5.56. I will set up that up permanently on that rifle

So that leaves the new rifle. If you had the above two guns, what would YOU put on this rifle?

On one hand, the LPVO makes sense. True 1x without distortion, and I can stretch out my distance. That said, illumination is nice, but not necessary. On the other hand, the
3-12x44 allows me to reach out further, but how much further vs my other red dot and magnifier combo? Am I just duplicating what I already have? It kind of feels like I am…

Don’t worry about brands, models, or budget. I’ll do that legwork. I want some opinions, generalities, and recommendations

I want my guns to have a job, so I buy them and set them up that way to the best of my ability. I’m just having a hard time defining a job for this rifle, and thus the optic needed

2

I would go with the 3-12. Here’s my logic: You have the close-quarters covered with the 300 and the dot and magnifier fill a niche very much like the LPVO. I have a 1-8x LPVO and when shooting 8x13" plates out to 4-500 yards, even 8x isn’t as good as a “real” scope. The optic is more limiting for me than the caliber. The ability to crank it up to 12x is a game changer, at least with my limited skill set. I am actually thinking about moving the LPVO to an AK platform and looking for a good 3-12 (or even 4-16) for the rifle length AR. Just my $.02… there’s no real wrong answer here.

3

I may have missed it, but the rifle that needs an optic what will its main “role” be?

4

It will be a rifle, IE, not home security. I’m covered there.

Good catch, but that still may be too general?

5

Not really, I have a couple “just rifles” lol. For that reason I would stick with the 1-6x24, so that you do still retain that up close and personal option should the need ever arise.

6

My “just rifle” is the one I will take with me if I can take just one (5.56 AR-15). I’d really like to have gotten one of those high-end 1-10x24 beauties that cost $1200+, but the budget got me a 1-6x24 that I actually like a lot. Having a 3-18x50 on a .308, I’d say going out past 200 yards on a small target could benefit a lot more with higher magnification like 25x (JMHO). Also, clarity of glass can make a startling difference.

There’s a lot to be said for 3-12x44, or 1-10 premium lenses, and 1-6x24 – I’m sure we’d all like to hear what you decide on and why!

7

Here’s my two cents, and its debatable whether its even worth that;

LPVO, between the two options specifically cited.

Only because lack of context to me means cover every base at least a little bit. Specialized role (in the context of recreational use) warrants specialized components. Otherwise, go generalist.

I would say, though, with the industry being where it is, you can usually upgrade from the 1-6x to 1-8x in same product family for a couple hundred or less and not sacrifice any features or utility.

If i can write-in on this ballot, PA SLx MD-25 with ACSS CQB in front of a 3x or better, 5x magnifier on a flip mount. Recently fell in love.

8

This I essentially have with my other rifle

Romeo 7 (30mm) paired with a Juliet 3 side flip…

9

1-6 or even a 1-8 if you plan to shoot a little farther.

10

Screenshot_20220223-070854
Screenshot_20220223-070854720×1280 248 KB

Screenshot_20220223-071029
Screenshot_20220223-071029720×1280 247 KB

Screenshot_20220223-070907
Screenshot_20220223-070907720×1280 92.1 KB

Ain’t never let me down.

11

Under the circumstances I would probably go with a bit more magnification - like 10x - on a LPVO type scope. The 16" gives you more range and the higher magnification allows you to actually use it! When I was doing the ammo accuracy testing on my 16" I put a 4 x 16 on it (it now has a 1 - 8) and my stainless upper with 20" target barrel wears a Leupold 4 x 16. Of course, being older than dirt with rapidly fading eyesite doesn’t help me at all and I have either glass or red dots on nearly e everything these days!
Cheers,
crkckr