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First AR-15 rifle now what scope?

Had the parts in the safe for a year finally got the 22 WMR AR together, question is which scope / ring setup are most folks using? I have a Leupold VX-3 HD 2.5-8x36 sitting on the shelf but will need to go to the LGS to pick out rings..

The scope you have should work fine....hopefully your AR has a picatinny rail upper, it takes a different mount than any other rifle.
Probably the easy button for a Leupold scope is a Leupold Mark AR mount....part #177093, would work perfect for your application.
steer clear of the Burris PEPPR mount 24 screws are not necessary with a 22WMR

Congrats on your new toy. I put one together last Fall with a Bear Creek side-charger upper and a PSA lower. More fun than I could’ve imagined.

I used the 30mm version of the Leupold mount on it. Only downside is all those screws if you plan on swapping optics regularly. I also have a couple of the PEPR mounts, which come with both plain and railed top caps, have 1/2” nuts instead of screws for clamping to the rail, but are pretty heavy at 8.7 ounces, and ounces turn into pounds. There are some really light ones, notably the Aero, but I’m not crazy about how the scope is held in those.

Have fun.

I have these SWFA mounts on two of my ARs. Like them both and you can use 1 inch or 30 mm scopes with them.

https://swfa.com/swfa-ss-tac-30mm-high-rings-with-1-inserts/

https://swfa.com/swfa-s-s-a-l-t-30mm-scope-mount-with-1-inserts/

Bought this set from Doug at Camaraland. I like these a lot.

https://cameralandny.com/shop/athlo...n=2905621&query=athlon%20ar%20mounts

Mine upper is also a Bear Creek, that was one of the few 22 WMR I could find!

I have a primary arms 1-8 SLX and I love it on my AR15. It doesn’t have crosshairs but once you’re used to it it’s golden.

https://www.burrisoptics.com/riflescopes/rt-6-1-6x24mm

I have this. It works great

i went leupold vx-6hd with duplex ret and firedot if needed. i just don't like a busy ret. guess i'll get to try out the cds system. i paired it with a ADM cantilevered rail.

Big Ed

Come on every first AR15 needs a Red Star scope! Wait, I’ll bet the upper doesn’t have a carry handle!😂

I’m putting a Sightron 1.75-5x32 on a AR setup. Not the prototypical “tactical” optic but it should work well. I’ve used similar power ranges hunting so it’s fairly familiar. Weight is around 12 oz vs the LPVO 30mm sometimes exceeding a pound.

Really have high hopes for this line of non-Chinese scopes. This is the first time I’ve tried Sightron but son has a Sightron red dot that’s 6 or 8 years old now. Since Burris seems to be burying simple optics as well as non-commie production perhaps Sightron can fill the void.

Plus Doug @ cameraland has this scope and other power ranges at very nice prices starting at $179.

I like the Athlon BTR Gen2 2-12x FFP Ill for near and far. Works well work the AR platform I think and would still be a good choice for a 22 WRM or 223. With the lit aiming circle you can blast at close range just centering the circle and still have the option to dial up to 12x for a ground squirrel peaking over cover at distance. Plus the reticle is nice for quick hold overs.

I have one also on an AR. Very pleased with it so far.

It's totally up to the OP, but I generally run AR specific scopes on my AR's. Burris AR556 and AR7.62 4.5-14x42 work great. Do you want a LPVO, or a real scope???

I have a Leupold 3.5x10 on my AR’s


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Lest we forget, the OP’s new AR is a .22 magnum, so he may not need many Xs, depending on use, of course. I find that a 1-4 has enough power for 100 yards, and the wide view at 1x is pretty nice for close-up.

What do you intend to do with your AR? That would be my number one question before making recommendations? Second question is how much you want to spend?

I agree with this. The choice of scope really depends on on how the rifle will be used. And it's a .22 WMR which is pretty unusual for an AR.

For example, a scope for a home defense gun would be different than a scope for a precision rifle. Most of my AR's have LPVO's because that's what works best for my use, but I do have one 20 inch with an SWFA 10X on it that I've used in long range matches. So it all depends. A .22 WMR could be a plinker, a predator/varmint rifle or maybe something else.

I drive Illuminatti's on my 22WMR Krunchentickers. Hint.



Just sayin'............

You can spend more money that this. You can buy a better scope than this. It's hard to spend better money than this. https://www.sportsmans.com/hunting-...ar-optics-1-6x24mm-rifle-scope/p/1710849

Paul, I like the reticle. Do you know what bullet that reticle is calibrated for? I've got different guns set up for different projectiles. If that reticle is designed for 193's, might work on one gun I have in mind.