Which Leupold for my first AR?

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Alright guys, it's been a while since I've posted. Been lookin' though
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. NOPE, I didn't do a search. LOL

So I'm picking up my first AR this Saturday. So pumped! I got a Colt CAR-A3 HBAR Elite rifle. It has a 24" barrel with a 1 in 9 twist and it's in 5.56. I've been using a .270 bolt action for years now and I have a Leupold 3-9x50 on it. I want to stick with Leupold, but have no idea what I should throw on it. I hunt mostly mountain areas. They're somewhat open, but a lot of the time, I'm looking down into canyons. Couple areas I hunt are brushy. What should I put on top of my first AR? Help me out. Also, I work at an outdoor shop, so I can pretty much get whichever Leupold I want. What do I need?

Thanks guys

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Hiking a 24" hbar through the mountains sounds like a chore.

Not sure what your needs are but the vx3 1.75-6 is what I just put on top of my new AR. The 2.5-8 is also real nice, I'll probably put one in the 223 bolt gun I'm thinking of buying.
 
Originally Posted By: rpc55Set and forget or open turrets? Illuminated?

Haven't had a scope with open turrets, so would like to try that. Illuminated wouldn't hurt. A few guys have said Mark AR, so I'm looking at those. 1" scope rings for those right? Is the scope mount that comes with the rifle adequate? Picking up Saturday.
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Thanks everyone for the replies.
 
I have a 1.25 x 4 vxr patrol on my AR, nice scope! BUT crosshairs are a little heavy for long shots. Found out I was dragging the open turrets against my case while pulling the rifle out of the backseat of my truck. Also rolled them while walking into a set up location! Emailed Leupold to see if they were able to change these out for turrets that lock. After a few emails back and forth was asked to send a picture of my scope. Haven't heard back from them since! That was a month ago.
 
By being able to get any scope you want, I am not sure if you mean that price is not an object or that availability isn't.

For me, I would go with the Mark AR. It may be marketed towards the AR/223 crowd, however, unlike the M223 it can still be used with mil adjustments instead of just a preset range adjustment.

For me, exposed turrets are a must. So short of a Mark 4 and dropping a grand or more, Id go with a Mark AR. If you stay with the 3-9 you can get the illuminated firedot within the milldot reticle.

Id like more power range and a side parallax adjust, but I guess that is what the Mark 4 is for.

The Mark AR and the M223 seemed to get compared a lot. Price wise they run close to the same (prices that I have seen) and I keep getting from those who have used both more extensively than me that the Mark AR has better glass, and certainly a better turret system.

Jake
 
I buy scopes based on what I want to be able to see at what range I want to see it, not based on what gun I'm putting it upon (I buy/build guns based on what I want to be able to kill and what range I want to kill it too). Most of my shooting happens in low light, from 0-600yrds, and quite often at small targets. As such, my wife and I have found that the Leupold VX-3 LRT 4.5-14x50mm (30mm tube and Side Focus) with a custom shop mil-dot suits our hunting wants and needs. My wife is running one on her new AR.

My most recent AR would have the same scope on it, but I went with a 2.5-16x50mm Bushnell instead.
 
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I had a Nikon M-223 3-12x42 BDC on my RRA PP. Did not like the turning turret problem with the Nikon, I now have had my Leupold Mark AR 3-9x40 Mil-dot for a year and I recommend this scope to anyone. Nice clear glass. dials in every time, no problems. I have the Rock River scope mount on 2 of our Rock Rivers, and like this setup.
 
Originally Posted By: Smokin BarrelAnother vote for the Leupy Mark AR MOD 1.

Or....Cabelas is having a good deal on VX2 with the CDS if that fits a little better... Here.


What's the power on that one?

To all, how useful is the illuminated reticle? I've never owned a scope with one. I'm looking at the Mark AR in 3-9x40 which is offered in a illuminated reticle; and the 4-12x40 which isn't. I think I'd like the 4-12x40 more overall with mil dot. If it was offered in illuminated, it would be a no brainer.

Thanks guys. Ordering my scope this coming up week hopefully.
 
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