Scope Advice

[makattak]

I am needing a scope for my 6.8 SPC AR.

I have it narrowed down to two:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-3-9x40-mark-ar-riflescopes.html

http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-1-4x20-mark-ar-duplex-riflescope-67170.html

(Yes, they are both Leupold Mark AR's)

Mainly, here's my concern:

I'd like to learn to use a mil-dot reticle and the 3-9 scope offers that while the 1.5-4 doesn't.

However, I'd also like the quick acquisition of a 1.5-4.

SO, here's my question for those with more experience with scopes than I (I've used irons my whole time shooting):

1) Leupold has a custom shop, does anyone know if I can get the 1.5-4 with a mil-dot scope? (The Leupold website doesn't seem to support that)

2) Would a 1.5 scope be useful on a home defense weapon, or would these scopes best function for hunting exclusively?

[Regolith]

1.5 would probably be ok indoors.  4x gets a little blurry at less than all-the-way-across-the-house distances, but it's not too bad.

The non-illuminated reticle would be a problem in the dark, though.  A weapon-mounted flashlight should solve that issue.

No idea if their custom shop will put a mil-dot in the 1.5-4x, but I don't see why they wouldn't.

[roo_ster]

A 1.5-4X with a mil-dot seems an odd duck.  I'd be more likely to go for a German #1 heavy post and/or illum reticle than anything else, if I were to go custom on a 1.5-4X.

I think that 4X is enough to squeeze the most out of any non-super-accurized AR and anything more is gilding the lilly. 

I think I would suggest buying two different scopes: a high-quality practical scope and a cheap plaything/educational scope.

1. The practical scope is the Leupold 1.5-4X.  It is quality and will wring everything you can from your AR.  FTR, 4X was the power of the ACOGs my unit was issued and served the sniper-trained (but no longer sniper-rifle equipped for various reasons) in our unit very well.  If you want to optimize for closer shooting, run with the German #1 Post & maybe illumination.

2. The Cheap plaything/learning scope is some Bushnell/Burris/NC Star/whatever scope with a mil-dot reticle in a greater power.

Place both on quick-detach picatinny mounts and run with them.

[Fly320s]

If you do go with the mil-dot reticle, make sure you get mil-rad adjustments to match. That will make the math much easier. 

[Jim147]

If I was the one doing it I would go with the 3-9. It may just be the way I shoot but I use one turned to 3x for still hunting. The last deer I took popped up looking right at me ten feet away. I had no problem seeing and making a center chest shot. (At ten feet that .277 bullet takes care of about anything.)

I'm thinking about getting a second upper, I have a bull barrel now, and putting one of the Bushnell Trophy T  dots on it for close in work.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-trophy-1x32-riflescope-730132p.html

Bushnell gave my brother one of those for some problems he had with another scope. We ran it hard last weekend and it was a lot of fun.

jim