Author Topic: Vortex Optic for AR-10: Calling George Hill (Read 8498 times)

Coronach · « **on:** October 17, 2009, 03:08:50 pm »

George and Co:

I have a friend who is the epitome of "$10 glass on a $1000 gun". He has a AR-10 clone with a flat top, and he is currently running a detachible carry handle with a carry handle mount and an old, battered Tasco POS scope. I know, I know, he's going about it all wrong, and is well on track to waste the cost of a Leupold scope in ammo and time trying to just get the gun dialed in. He has no cheekweld, and the scope and various mounting attachment points keep coming loose and undoing the work he has done so far. I'm doing my best to get him to just settle down and do it right, but he's a cheap bastiche and is convinced that what he has is good enough. It's not, for reasons that don't need detailing, and that he is slowly finding out.

I was mentioning Vortex optics to him, and he is intrigued by the low cost. Which model would you recommend for this application? He's intending to use the gun for intermediate range shooting. Also, assuming I can convince him to ditch the carry handle and CH mount (he already owns them, says he, why not use them?

), what rings would you recommend?

Thanks,

Mike

WeTheArmed.com

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2009, 07:12:06 pm »

I've a wee little video I'll upload when I get home tonight. I pulled out a couple things and threw them on an AR-10 to show you - and him - what he can have if he spends just a little money.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2009, 09:44:45 pm »

Well, never mind the video. Can't upload it.

Vortex Diamondback 4-12 Deadhold BDC, Weaver Tactical 1" Extra High 6 screw rings. I checked it out on an AR-10. Awesome. And not a lot of money.

FMJ · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2009, 09:59:50 pm »

Was it that French Guy again?

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2009, 10:33:38 pm »

Quote from: FMJ on October 17, 2009, 09:59:50 pm

Was it that French Guy again?

No idea... There was no email telling me anything.

Irwin · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2009, 11:47:04 pm »

Ohh well youtube doesnt even work for me anymore, why dont you upload it to weaponflix?

Harm · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2009, 12:17:32 am »

wow youtube fail... So lame. They can have adds for porn on there but for George they make an exception...

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #7 on:** October 18, 2009, 01:41:23 am »

http://www.weaponflix.com/video/137/A-good-scope-option-for-an-AR-10

seanp · « **Reply #8 on:** October 18, 2009, 09:43:24 am »

I like the $35 for those Weaver rings. That`s a smoking deal for rings that look that solid.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2009, 02:30:38 pm »

They are extremely solid.
I'd like them better if they were a bit higher. They are called "Extra High" but that is not exactly the case.
So this set up... 235 dollars before tax. You can't get a better set up for that little money.

Coronach · « **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2009, 07:13:48 pm »

HAHAHA. Great video, George. He does, in fact, have a fixed FSB. He will not want to cut it off. I've never been really bothered by the thing sticking up into the FOV, but I have less experience with magnified optics than you do. If he leaves the FSB alone, how much will it affect the view through that scope?

Thanks again!

Mike

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #11 on:** October 18, 2009, 07:26:57 pm »

The optic will actually "see around it" and wont cause much of a problem... but if he's that set on keeping it, I'd look for some higher rings or a riser rail to lift it so the front sight will obscure less of the glass. You wont see the front sight in the optic, but less obscuring means greater clarity... not just with this scope but with any. If he mounts a scope like this - there is no reason to keep the front sight on there... a Dremell with a Cut Off Wheel is a real easy solution to clean up the view.
Ideal Solution: Remove the standard handguards and get a low profile gas block and make the whole thing Free Floated so he can get the full effect of Clarity and Accuracy, which will be appreciated with such a set up.
*Sigh* But you said he's cheap... so yeah... a cut off wheel to the front sight would go a long way.

Coronach · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2009, 08:34:13 pm »

I agree there's no reason to keep the fixed front sight if he is using this as a semi-precision rifle, but he will want to do so. Trust me on this. As long as he doesn't have to do it to make the scope work. Any way you can post an image of what the sight picture would look like with a front sight in the FOV? I would put a spare optic on one of my ARs to prove it to him, but I don't want to dismount the red dot to do it.

If he goes with a riser to push the optic up high enouh to reduce the obscuring, will he probably need a cheekpiece too? I know he will if he gets it high enough to clear completely- that's what he has now. To his credit, he's not happy with that solution.

I'm working him through this in phases. Once he gets a suitable optic and mount on the rifle and he starts having fun by actually hitting stuff, I'll start putting the bug in his ear about redoing the front end of the rifle- low profile gas block, free-float handguards, etc.

Thanks George. Once again, great video.

Mike

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #13 on:** October 18, 2009, 08:39:54 pm »

Quote from: Coronach on October 18, 2009, 08:34:13 pm

If he goes with a riser to push the optic up high enouh to reduce the obscuring, will he probably need a cheekpiece too? I know he will if he gets it high enough to clear completely- that's what he has now. To his credit, he's not happy with that solution.

He may. Its all about how it fits.

Coronach · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2009, 08:42:26 pm »

OK. Gotcha. If this were a 1:1 optic, would this be pretty much a direct co-witness setup, or is it lower or higher than the sight plane of the irons?

Mike

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2009, 08:45:37 pm »

Lower...

Coronach · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2009, 08:52:34 pm »

OK. In that case, I can see where the front sight can be a major impediment, since it's not like it's a lower 1/3 cowitness and just obscuring a little in the bottom, it's actually sticking up over 1/2 way through the optic. Hrm. Are there higher rings available? I know that they won't be as cheap...alternatively, a good quality QD base/riser might be interesting.

Dunno if I can get ole Scrooge to come up off the money for that, though.

Mike

bmitchell · « **Reply #17 on:** October 19, 2009, 11:51:07 am »

Does the scope get in the way of charging? It looks like it sits low enough and far enough back that it might.

Ben

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2009, 01:42:15 pm »

You can still charge. I always left side charge anyways and that's no problem.

bmitchell · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2009, 01:48:49 pm »

Gotcha. I love these videos in the store.

Ben