Hello!Tyler here.I have been wondering what you guys thought about combat magnification.The British assault rifles have the 4x magnified SUSAT scopes and our M4A1 carbines have a Trijicon TAO1NSN 4x in the SOPMOD kit.Canadas Elcan is 4.3x(I think), while the Styer AUG only has 1.5x magnification.I was wondering what you guys thought about combat magnification.Some will argue you need none.But if you were forced to have magnified optics on your rifle what magnification would you have(fixed power).Just wondering.
Thanks,Tyler Gorski.

I wouldn't want more then 4X. I think what is really needed,is smaller MOA dots in these scopes. With a scope like the US aimpoint,you're talking a dot that covers the upper half of a human at 200 yards or more. It does away with accuracy.

But remember, red-dot sights are made for CQB,not ranged work.Thats where magnification comes in.EOTechs have a 65 MOA dot for CQB and a 1 MOA dot for more ranged work.But thats why SEALs and Marines carry all that stuff right?Aimpoints and ACOGs.Anyone else want to state opinions?Happy to read replies.
Thanks,Tyler Gorski.

Combat: 4x or less
Sniping: 10x or more

Just don't see how a general combat weapon could have much more than 2.5 power. Of course see through mounts make most of this moot.

The best combat magnification is to have 19 year old eyes.
No scope was needed, and I could hit the nail holding the target.
That lasted until I was 35.
Now at 52, I could hit a softball at that distance.

My father got a marksmanship badge in WW2, and now he can't tell how many fingers I am holding up.


At 52, I prefer my Leupold 40X scope.

Thanks for stating you opinions. Personally, I like 4x magnification. Not too much, not too little. But in my opinion, the EOTech reticle is the best. I read a sniper in Iraq is using a M14 with a KAC M14 rail system with a EOTech on in(remember,unmagnified) and has 19+ kills at well over 100 yds. Will read additional replies, keep em' coming.

Thanks,Tyler Gorski.

actualy, most of his kills were at close range, i.e. under 250, thats not all that hard to do.

Snipers I know like 3x9 or 10x fixed scopes, for any other I wouldnt want more than a 5, and a 3x would probably be more than I'd need

Jay

I have used the following optics over the last 20+ years.
AUG 1.5X [military circle reticle no dot] Colt 3x scope, Schmidt & Bender 4X with BDC, Swarovski 4X with BDC, Hendsolt 4X with BDC, ACOG, ELCAN 4X with BDC in the mount,1.5x5 Leupold, 3.5x10 Leupold, Leupold CQT [1-3X] EO-TEC
All of the above were mounted on semi or fullauto rifles in either 223 or 308.
The following is my opinion. "Civilian" optics are probably not tough enough for military use in the long term.
They work OK for Police and civilian use.
Much better are the units designed for military use.
Variable power does make the scope weaker, but can be handy.
The EO-TEC is battery dependant [which I do not like] but is very good up close ie CQT.
For several years the AUG was my favorite 223 rifle.
The circle reticle is perfect for its intendend use. The demensions of the circle and the thickness of the opening is just right. It is the only circle reticle that I have found to be perfect. It seemed like the "fastest" reticle I have ever used.
The Swaro, Hendsolt, and S&B 4X models with the BDC are very good for outdoor use. They are not as fast inside 100 yards [smaller field of view] as the AUG but come into their own as range increases. I like the BDC feature. They "gather" plenty of light making them usefull early and late.
For "all round" use they are hard to beat.
The ELCAN is like using a big screen tv. It is bulky but very good.
The ACOG had a built in "BDC crosshair" that was spot on to 600 yards [that is as far as I shot it]. They are small and compact seem to be very rugged. Good for a 223.
I have been using a Leupold CQT on a Colt Commando for only a short time. It is 1-3X with a circle dot reticle [illuminated when necessary]. So far I have shot it to 300 yards. Even with the short bbl of the Commando it will stay in a 10"x10" square all day no problem. I wish the outer circle was the same demensions as the AUG. The CQT is bigger and heaver than the ACOG, but the 1X makes it work indoors and the 3X is nice at a distance.
So....
The best reticle of the bunch is the AUG. [Swarovski made scopes that take regular rings is you can find one].
The smallest and most compact is the ACOG.
Probably the best all round for the civillian is the S&B, Swarovski, or the Hendsolt 4X units with the BDC. On 308 rifles I prefer the 4X with the BDC.
So far the Leupold CQT is working well. It is a good choice for a Flat top 223.
Hope this helps.

I shot the prototypes of what became the M-24 at SOTIC when I was on active duty. The guys responsible for it wanted a 6 or 8x scope, and felt the 10x that was adopted was too much, though they admitted 10x made sense if the rifles were ever converted to 300 WM, an idea that was floating around at the time. For an M-16 variant, I'd say 4x tops, with a fine reticle for shooting out to the maximum effective range of the weapon. I kinda like the Premier 4a, but I spent most of my time in thick brush. Guys who have worked in more open terrain might want something else.

Okie John

I tried several scopes / magnifications over several driven hunts.

The perfect scope for quick shooting is the Kahles 1.25 to 4 x 24. The field of view is unbelievable at 32 m at 100 m. Thats more than 3 metres wide at 10 metres distance! You have to see it to believe it!

I usually ( depending on hunting stand and thickness of cover and expected shooting distance ) end up with a setting of 1,5 up to slightly over 2.

1.5, 1.75, 2, eventually 2.5 x pick your favourite among those considering your country.

The AUG sight is fine, but a horizontal level outside the "O" against canting and an extremely fine dot in the middle of the "O" for those rare long shots would make it even better.

keep on shootin� H

Hello!I just learned from ar15.com that the Marines are putting TA31F ACOGs on their brand new M16A4 rifles.Their new rifles will have Knights Armament RAS systems plus the ACOG for only 1000$!!!!!Cool.By the way the ACOG has a tritium lit chevron reticle and is 4x.
Thanks,Tyler Gorski.

2.5X up to perhaps 4X. Wide field of view is the paramount consideration.....