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.224 Valkyrie Need Glass |
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tarboroheel1
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/19/2005 Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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Posted: May/22/2018 at 20:42 |
Just finished a .224 Valkyrie build and need suggestions for glass. It is an AR-15 build with a 20" barrel. Plan on using it for long range target and hunting purposes. Still needs to have close range capability though.
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tarboroheel1
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/19/2005 Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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Forgot to mention I would like to stay around $500.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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What is close range capability for you?
Generally, you should be looking at something along the lines of SWFA SS 3-15X42. ILya |
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tarboroheel1
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/19/2005 Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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Close range would be deer in the woods.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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That round has some legs, what do you consider "long range"? I usually recommend shooters prioritize, will it be mostly bench and some hunting or mostly hunting and some bench? Will the hunting be from a box or stalking? Do you wish to spin turrets or dope the reticle? What is your experience with magnifying rifle scopes? Do you want FFP or SFP? Will there be low light usage? That's a start. Without that, I can recommend tons of stuff that might not meet your needs at all. Be aware that you might be asking quite a bit from a $500 optic. Also, in what will you be mounting this optic (that can easily be $100-$200, and would that come from the $500 budget or is there a separate pot for that?) We can offer lots of help, but need a few details for it to be truly meaningful.
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tarboroheel1
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/19/2005 Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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I have already bought a Warne cantilever 30mm mount. It's not a 20moa canted mount though. It would probably be more for hunting deer with target being secondary, but I do want to start shooting more which is why I built the rifle. Longer effective range and cheaper to shoot. I don't mind turning turrets. I have been looking at the Athlon Ares 2.5-15, but it's a little expensive. Also looked at the midas in the same power rang but it is SFP.
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GiantGreg
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/22/2018 Status: Offline Points: 68 |
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https://samplelist.com/vortex-4-16x50-viper-hs-30mm-rifle-scope-demo-b-3.html
https://samplelist.com/bushnell-2-5-16x42-elite-6500-30mm-rifle-scope-demo-b-2.html
https://samplelist.com/swfa-ss-3-15x42-tactical-rifle-scope-demo-c-13.html
https://samplelist.com/swfa-ss-3-15x42-tactical-rifle-scope-demo-c-11.html
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Okay, then you need to look at 30mm tube scopes, or will need inserts. On your stated needs, I really like SWFA's SS line, but they are better bench scopes than hunting scopes. The turrets on the 3-9X and 3-15X are large (good for bench) and can be turned when the rifle is slung. They are also fairly large scopes for an AR15, though a 20" barrel does give you a bit more forward mass to offset a bigger scope. I have an 18" AR15 with an SS3-9 and an offset red dot, and it is among my favorite setups for many applications (it fits well with what a 223 can do, but is a bit under-abled for what a 224 can do.) On the used Vortex and SWFA, I agree; but be aware some other companies only warranty the original owner, and for a used scope, you ain't that. What is expected max shot on game? The round shoots pretty flat, you might not want an FFP as the reticles tend to get really big at the top and/or really small at the bottom of the mag range. For a hunter, that is less than ideal. There were a few times early in my hunting/usage that I lost reticles in low light on FFPs, it is no bueno for caca. For a hunter with capped, locking, or lo-pro turrets, I'll let someone else chime in. For a bench gun, SWFA is tough to beat in your price range.
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GiantGreg
Optics Apprentice Joined: February/22/2018 Status: Offline Points: 68 |
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2FP, illu, low pro knobs, useful reticle https://swfa.com/leupold-3-9x40-vx-r-patrol-30mm-riflescope-w-mark-2-ims.html
comes with mount, you could either seel the one you got or use this one and sell your warne. closer tradiontal hunter version: https://swfa.com/leupold-3-9x40-vx-r-30mm-riflescope.html traditional hunter with bdc https://swfa.com/leupold-3-5-10x40-vx-3i-riflescope-7.html (of course ballistic calculator and range time to see what they holds reall acount to) https://swfa.com/vortex-2-10x40-razor-hd-lh-rifle-scope-3.html if your primary is hunting then I would get capped with BDC/mil/moa reticle or locking turrets(my fav). lo pro can still turn accidently. none of these are ideal for long range target. the patrol would probably be ok target shooting probably inside 500 |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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How about the SIghtron s-tac line? https://swfa.com/optics/riflescopes.html?brand=Sightron&brand_model=S-TAC
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338LAPUASLAP
Optics Master Scope Swapper Joined: October/17/2009 Status: Offline Points: 2596 |
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Call me ignorant how did you come to choose that round what are it's capabilities what bullet weight at what velocity?
What bullets you use what coefficients? Sounds like and awesome build sounds like some good suggestions. I have enjoyed Sightron as it is a great value. I was pleasantly pleased with the last Vortex HD LH. The 2-10 or the 3-15... If lots of turning of the turrets is desired SWFA SS 3-15. While the Sightron is in the ballpark I believe the Turrets are as beefy as the SS. The SIII line is a nice line as well. |
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No one
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mike650
Optics God Joined: May/14/2006 Location: West of Rockies Status: Offline Points: 14569 |
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“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.” – Fred Bear
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tarboroheel1
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/19/2005 Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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I chose this round because of the ballistics and the fact that it is AR-15 platform. The ballistics of a 90 grain projectile are nearly identical to 6.5 Creed. I wanted a light easy to carry rifle capable of knocking down Whitetails. The .223 just didn't seem as capable to me.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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One downside to that caliber is the hunting bullets will be so much shorter than the 90 grain match bullet that they are designed for that it will have one heck of a jump to the lands. Whether or not that affects accuracy is hard to say. If hunting medium game was your main purpose a 6.5 would have been the better choice
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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The 6.5creedmore statement isn’t exactly accurate. Physics is the real issue here, Case capacity, AR10 vs AR15, is something no one and no caliber get around.
I do some long range and I hunt, and I looked at 6.5 Grendel and 224V, they are not equivalent - or near - except in the very best of circumstances for one compared to the very worst for the other. Everything is a trade-off. There are things I like about 224V, but it is not a 6.5CM-killer, it just isn’t. That said, it is better than a 223 in many respects and is scope-able for long range and for hunting. Sightron is a good suggestion, their stuff has tracked true for me, and the glass is more than serviceable. Edited by Rancid Coolaid - May/24/2018 at 08:52 |
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Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
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tarboroheel1
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/19/2005 Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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I already have a 6.5 Creedmoor. It is a Savage Stealth. Basically built the .224 for fun, but it will probably sit in my truck a lot so I can just grab it and go during hunting season.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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They sound great. I have a 5.56x42 which is similar but can only shoot up to 80 grainers because of length.
Hope u enjoy it. |
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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Scrumbag
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: October/22/2013 Location: London, UK Status: Offline Points: 4205 |
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Forgive my ignorance but isn't that the .222 Rem?
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Was sure I had a point when I started this post...
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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No it is a 6.8 spc necked down and slightly shortened to a .223 Will shoot 80 grain bullets 3000+ fps 6.8 is 43mm so you shorten it around 1mm to load the longer bullets. http://ar15performance.com/inc/sdetail/38016/47239
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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justDee
Optics GrassHopper Joined: July/16/2018 Location: Floresville, Tx Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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I just built a 224 and shot it for the first time this past weekend. 20" barrel from Palmetto Arms, BCG from them also. I bought it to be my 'toy' to shoot at the range here locally. Currently we have a range from zero out to 400 yards. There are plans to expand to 600 yards. With that in mind, I decided to go with a straight 20 x 42 scope from SWFA, MOA/MOA reticle. The rifle shoots great, shooting the factory Federal 75 grains FMJ rounds. At 200 yards with a 5mph cross wind, I was hitting the X. My only complaint, and it may be on me, is trying to find the right focal point for the scope. It has a pretty high eye relief. The scope is sitting pretty far forward and my eye is rather far back on the stock. And even when I find what I think is the right 'spot' the scope view appears cloudy. |
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