Project Appleseed

There are a lot of differing opinions of best power for a 308 out there, so let's put the question to some of the best instructors out there!

The main use of the AR-10 is for hunting and FD AQTs with distances out to 600 yds.  I really like the SWFA mil/mil scopes but can't afford the price of the 3-9 so I'll get a fixed but not sure which would be the best power.

My real choice wasn't presented -

If it were mine, I'd tend toward a 2.5 or 2.75 power.  That's plenty to HIT out to at least 400 yards.

Best is relative and subjective.  Are you trying to hit a 5" target at 1000M?  We know that 10X is "good enough"  for 600M but "too much" for 25M.  You can get by with 6X and even 4X at 600M and 4X is not too much for 25M. 
I have killed deer at 250yds with a 3X scope and I had no problems seeing what I was hitting in low light.   
Do you shoot aperture sights out to 600+ Yards?  What are you going to use your AR10 for?    What will the light conditions be?  Are you going to shoot through or into  foliage?

Quote from: didactic on September 16, 2012, 09:56:39 PM
My real choice wasn't presented -

If it were mine, I'd tend toward a 2.5 or 2.75 power.  That's plenty to HIT out to at least 400 yards.

If all you are doing is shooting a 4MOA paper target in a field, I agree.  If I am hunting, a "HIT" is not good enough.  There is a great difference between hitting steel and ethically taking an animal in all light conditions. 

I agree that "best" is subjective.  I've got identical 2x scout scopes on both of my .308s, but I prefer wide FOV, quick target aquisition, and extra bright image over magnification.  Although there are other variables involved, generally for the same size objective lens aperture, the higher the magnification the dimmer the image.  I see the primary adventages of a field rifle scope as 1) putting both reticle and target on the same focal plane, and 2) collecting way more light than an aperture sight, allowing you to see clearly in much dimmer conditions, so I like lower power for that use.  I use a much higher magnification (14x) on my target .22

What will it be used for? That will determine what optics you choose.

I have a USO ST-10 sitting on mine in a LaRue mount. That is what works for me.

Don't understand the "too much for 25M" comment. If the rifle is set up correctly finding the target in the scope is not a problem. Proper set up and practice is the key no matter what you're using.

Prairie dogs are hard to see at distance with a 3x scope.

I have a Trijicon TA11H-308 on my Mega Maten and I think that its probably the very best option for a battle rifle, IMHO.  I generally prefer irons for most of my rifles but if I have to use optics on a military style battle rifle, I think they ought to be, appropriately enough,  military style battle optics. 

High magnification tube scopes go on long range bolt action rifles, not battle rifles and especially not assault carbines.  Even the new crop of 1x-6x low magnification illuminated reticle tube scopes just seem flat out wrong.  Put a Trijicon, Aimpoint, Browe, Elcan or other such purpose made battle optic on there.  I know the market may have changed somewhat in the past 5-10 years, but I can't help but think "boy does that look Bubba'd up" when I see an M1A, FAL, AR10 or G3 with a tube optic on it.  It gives me the same cringes as seeing a 3-9x40 Tasco scope on an SKS.   I immediately begin looking for the guy with the mullet driving an El Camino since thats likely the owner of the rifle.  Its just plain wrong.

I can see an ACOG on an M4 but I'll follow the military's lead and dress my AR-10 like the M110 SASS.
The USO is at least as tough and reliable as the ACOG.

The military may have gone to a variable, I haven't made that leap yet.