Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 1-4 scopes!

Well, everybody has different needs and preferences in their optics. Some like to watch birds and debate about chromatic abberations, some like to drive nails and throw them across the yard. None do it all for a cheap price.

The Weaver Classic Extreme 1.5-4.5X us a good choice. It was made for Weaver in Japan, has a life time warranty, and is a darn good piece of glass. I think Natchez shooters is the only dealer for them.

I use the Burris 1-5x24 XTR II with the Ballistic CQ Mil reticle and I really like the scope.

I cheat and use a Leupold 1.5-5x,shoot steel out to 300 yards.

I have the VX-6 inbound. Got to get a mount still. What convinced me was looking thru an old Vari-x 2 1-4 at a 35 yard deer skull at sunset plus 30. The reticle gave up but I could still see the horns set on 4. Wish I had them cross canyon shots but I don't so 4.5-20 power scopes I just don't need! If I like it I am going to get the 2-12 for a 308 Kimber

Did you really order it from China? There is a huge issue with Leupold Chinese knock offs. Leupold only recommends buying from authorized dealers.

http://www.leupold.com/resources/counterfeit-warning/

What could possibry go wong?

I thought they were all made there? Just either officially imported or so called gray market items?

Have had them all.... and a bunch not mentioned.

If you need a 1x-something optic, you NEED a 1x optic. The scopes with 1.25/1.5x on the bottom end don't cut it.

In the 1-4x realm the Shortdot is of course king. The Trijican 1-4x with #4 is a solid choice, the Meopta K dot 1-4x is also good. However the time of the 1-4x is over. 1-6's are here and there is little reason to choose a good 1-4x over a 1-6x.


From most to least of those worth paying for-

Vortex 1-6x- best eyebox, FOV, 1x, and illumination on the market. (prefer mil reticle)

SWFA SS 1-6x- usable eyebox, good FOV, good reticle on 1x and best on 6x (potentially the best choice out of all)

Leupold VX6 1-6x with German Firedot #4 reticle- eyebox and FOV are very good, reticle is just bright enough, suffers from no graduated reticle

Bushnell Elite Tactical 1-6x SFP mil reticle- solid scope. FOV and eyebox is very good. Reticle is usable at low and high powers, but not daylight bright and turret are chintzy.




The Swarovski Z6 1-6x is awesome on 1x, has a daylight visible dot, and a mil based reticle. The major problem is durability issues.

The Leupold Mark 6 1-6x is ok, but suffers from the usual reliability issues, as well as illumination shading, and a reticle that is so thick as to be visually distracting.

I've used the Vortex, Leupold and Bushnell. I prefer the Leupold's glass, Vortex's reticle options and didn't even think the Bushnell was worth mentioning.

I am going to hunt with the simple firedot duplex, if the red dot is on why do you need the #4? For a self defense rifle an aimpoint or Eojunk is all I can see myself needing, beyond their range it would be some serious serious chit goin on and feeble old dudes like me need not apply anyway. Anyways, I am seein most of my shootable deer these days at very first and very last legal light, too much hunting pressure I think.

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-1-4x24-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P78365.aspx

Anyone got their hands on this yet? Seems like a lot of features for $400.

At 12:01 tonight it's only $299...

This looks like a great scope for the money. I was very critical of the first 1-4 they offered after my first go round with a 16x SS years ago. I now own a new generation SS in 10x and was very much surprised at how close it came to my MK4 3.5-10 in optical quality.

At 14 oz, it's light enough to fit on any AR without gripes. The illumination is not bright enough for the brightest of days which precludes it from using it as a red dot for 3 gunners but it would be great in real world uses like calling a coyote in low light. I think it looks very useful as an intermediate scope.

I never understood the hoopla over a first focal plane reticle, especially in a 1-4 scope. If you're gonna range something, that means it's way out there and I'm gonna have it cranked to 4x anyway. I'm glad to see they made it a second plane scope.

If I needed another 1-4 I would definitely try one. Stay up or set your alarm and save $100 at midnight tonight!

TWR, the benefit of FFP reticles in a 1-4 or 1-6 is the reticle, if designed right, can be used as a red dot on 1x and a mil or MOA scale reticle on 4 or 6x. It's not the best for all reticle types but it's nice with some. For me, FFP reticles don't become a necessity until you get into scopes with magnifications in excess of 15x.

I never had a problem seeing the bright red dot, regardless of what the rest of the reticle looked like. But I'm sure I'm missing more than why I use a 1-4, or in my case, a 1-6, a red dot on 1x and a scope on 6x.

The VX-6 is looking good, no FishEye at 1X that I can see. The Trijicon 1-4 I looked thru had some fisheye, I think true 1X is tough for manufacturers. Curious if the SWFA has any significant distortions in it at 1x.

Ordered one to try on my LMT CQB. We shall see...

Good deal! Let us know!

How about the hog hunter from Leupold? Haven't used one yet but it sounds like a sound principle. This from a guy who shoots mostly with scout scopes and 2.5x lightweights. Have a 30mm 1x to 4x with a heavy german #4 on the 458 SOCOM. Heavy but good Leupold glass. Was a clearance from Midway. Rusty

Rusty, just be aware the Hog Hunter is set to be parallax free at 75 yards. I recently picked up it brother, the Leupold Mark AR in 1-4, which has the standard Leupold setting where it's parallax free at 150 yards.

Either will work, it just kind of depends on your purpose.