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Does anyone out there know of a good 1-4X (or similar) scope with an illuminated reticle under $500ish? I plan on putting it on my AR-15 pistol for the versitility. much thanks

Check out swfa.com they usually have a good selection and are in Texas.

7075-T7 wrote:Does anyone out there know of a good 1-4X (or similar) scope with an illuminated reticle under $500ish? I plan on putting it on my AR-15 pistol for the versitility. much thanks

Yup:

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Nice scope....for a very good price. Has everything you want.

flintknapper wrote:Yup:

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Nice scope....for a very good price. Has everything you want.

Does the 1.25X work well for close up shooting? within 10ft or so?

7075-T7 wrote:

flintknapper wrote:Yup:

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Nice scope....for a very good price. Has everything you want.

Does the 1.25X work well for close up shooting? within 10ft or so?

I have a less expensive Bushnell 1.5-4.5X on a .22 rifle and it works fine for close targets. With any close target, of course, you have to be aware of the difference between point of aim and point of impact (the bullet will still be an inch or more below line-of-sight at that range).

From my research, all the 1-4x scopes appear to be made by the same company in China :)

I'm going between the Millett DMS or Primary Arms. Both appear to be exactly the same but with slightly different reticles. Primary Arms version is $119 and they are TX based as well.

7075-T7 wrote:

flintknapper wrote:Yup:

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Nice scope....for a very good price. Has everything you want.

Does the 1.25X work well for close up shooting? within 10ft or so?

Shouldn't be any problem. My scope is 1.5X at the lower end and it has perfect focus to as little as 8' (front objective to target). The image becomes "softer" at closer distances 5'-6', but by that time...I've almost got the muzzle on the object.

As previously mentioned, at close quarters...point of impact (for an AR with standard height sights) will be about 2.5" lower than line of sight.

jeeperbryan wrote:From my research, all the 1-4x scopes appear to be made by the same company in China :)

I'm going between the Millett DMS or Primary Arms. Both appear to be exactly the same but with slightly different reticles. Primary Arms version is $119 and they are TX based as well.

Then you didn't do much research...(except for lower tier scopes, which are Chinese junk).

The Bushnell is made in Japan by the premier optics company there "LOW" (Light Optical Works), they make the glass for many of better scopes available today (that aren't German made). Almost all companies that offer lower tier scopes have parts (if not the entire scope that are made in CHINA). But the better scopes have good Japanese glass and some are manufactured entirely at that plant.

It would behoove everyone to do thorough research before purchasing....so that you'll get the most for your money.

Not to be an "Optics Snob"...but just stop and think about the cost to produce a scope....vs. the retail price. If you buy a $100.00 scope and then start whittling away the profit margins (retailer, wholesaler, importer, manufacturer) you end up with a $25.00-$30.00 scope (cost to produce). Now really.........how good could it be?

On a rimfire....that might be O.K., but if you need/want better performance, then stay away from lower tier (read Chinese) junk.

At the same time......don't assume that ALL scopes of a certain platform (1 X 4) are made in China, they are NOT. It is PRICE that seems to dictate country of manufacture and quality (or the lack of).

Flint.

A lot of people like the primaryarms.com import scopes. The are located in Pearland.

I do like the bushnell scope, good name indeed. (the 6500 looks real nice )

Has anyone heard anything about the Vortex Viper PST 1-4X? I have their strikefire red dot and I like it a lot, I think it's good for the price, but have no idea about the higher priced optics.

7075-T7 wrote:I do like the bushnell scope, good name indeed. (the 6500 looks real nice )

Has anyone heard anything about the Vortex Viper PST 1-4X? I have their strikefire red dot and I like it a lot, I think it's good for the price, but have no idea about the higher priced optics.

I'm on the same quest (for a 1-4x), and have been advised to wait a few weeks. Both the Vortex Viper PST 1-4x and the SWFA 1-4x SS are due to be released in December or January and look to be great options.

I think that a handgun scope would be required on an AR pistol.
Extended eye relief. EER

All the scopes mentioned above have about 3" eye relief.
Then again, maybe I'm wrong.

7075-T7 wrote:I do like the bushnell scope, good name indeed. (the 6500 looks real nice )

Has anyone heard anything about the Vortex Viper PST 1-4X? I have their strikefire red dot and I like it a lot, I think it's good for the price, but have no idea about the higher priced optics.

The "viper" series are good scopes (glass made in same L.O.W. facility Japan)....but don't buy their cheaper line of scopes.

And don't be put off by the Bushnell name on their top tier scopes, Bushnell simply lost the right to use the "Bausch & Lomb" label on those scopes. Unfortunately...for many years, "Bushnell" has been associated with the $39.99 scopes sold at WalMart. But their elite series scopes are top notch (for the price).

Some folks like Nikon scopes.....but wrongly "assume" they are made by Nikon, they are not. The better ones have Japanese glass and are assembled in the Philippines. Another top name "Nightforce", does NOT make their own glass (though from their ads you would think they are entirely produced in the U.S.A.) "LOW" makes the glass for the upper end scopes and then the "parts" are assembled here.

IF you can find a Weaver Classic Extreme (1.5 X 4.5 X 24mm) (discontinued) for sale, jump on it....you will be shocked by the quality, excellent! The Bushnell Elite series...give it a run for the money though.

Bottom line: If you pay (retail) less than $200.00 for a variable power (ill. reticle) scope....don't expect much from it. Next jump up is the $400-$500 range and you can get some pretty decent glass for that. Next step up is the $600-1000 range and you need to be careful there...since you can pay for "name" and not necessarily get much better quality.

Shop wisely for optics.

TxD wrote:I think that a handgun scope would be required on an AR pistol.
Extended eye relief. EER

All the scopes mentioned above have about 3" eye relief.
Then again, maybe I'm wrong.

Good point.

And you are correct, most 1X4' s (if not EER) will have from 3"-4" of eye relief.

flintknapper wrote:

jeeperbryan wrote:From my research, all the 1-4x scopes appear to be made by the same company in China :)

I'm going between the Millett DMS or Primary Arms. Both appear to be exactly the same but with slightly different reticles. Primary Arms version is $119 and they are TX based as well.

Then you didn't do much research...(except for lower tier scopes, which are Chinese junk).

The Bushnell is made in Japan by the premier optics company there "LOW" (Light Optical Works), they make the glass for many of better scopes available today (that aren't German made). Almost all companies that offer lower tier scopes have parts (if not the entire scope that are made in CHINA). But the better scopes have good Japanese glass and some are manufactured entirely at that plant.

It would behoove everyone to do thorough research before purchasing....so that you'll get the most for your money.

Not to be an "Optics Snob"...but just stop and think about the cost to produce a scope....vs. the retail price. If you buy a $100.00 scope and then start whittling away the profit margins (retailer, wholesaler, importer, manufacturer) you end up with a $25.00-$30.00 scope (cost to produce). Now really.........how good could it be?

On a rimfire....that might be O.K., but if you need/want better performance, then stay away from lower tier (read Chinese) junk.

At the same time......don't assume that ALL scopes of a certain platform (1 X 4) are made in China, they are NOT. It is PRICE that seems to dictate country of manufacture and quality (or the lack of).

Flint.

How do you know that they're actually made in Japan? Because Bushnell says so?