I posted this in another thread, but that thread likely isn't active any longer so I thought I'd post it here, for those who may be interested.
Like many posters here, I did a lot of research into the best glass to mount to my SCAR-H. And in the end, I made an unconventional choice -- but one that I think many people here might find intriguing.
The scope is a GRSC 1-6x24 FFP scope, illuminated, with a patented reticle. In my opinion it is a great all-purpose scope for a battle rifle -- and designed to be just that -- inasmuch as it works very well through the effective range of the weapon itself (for CQB it acts like a "red dot"; for longer ranges it uses a very intuitive ranging system based on 10"/20", or head/torso, the details of which are explained in a video, below), and, at least up to 530 yards, the BDC, though calculated specifically for 5.56, works just as well with 7.62 (at 147gr, tested with an FN FAL).
The scope is designed first and foremost for quick target acquisition in CQB, and under such conditions is meant to be used with both eyes open. It is a true 1x scope. Illuminated for low light, the horse shoe acts as a red dot at 1 or 1.5x; in bright light and with no illumination, the black horse shoe reticle is very easy to pick up. If you like (or are only used to) a full-time illuminated dot, you may or may not immediately like the reticle site picture in direct sunlight: me, I like the high contrast that the non-illuminated "black dot" provides in such conditions, where the illuminated red can get a bit washed out on an FFP scope. And the time to target acquisition with this scope is just as fast or faster for me as it is with the RMR I have on my FNP-45 Tac.
Manufactured by Light Optics in Japan and using a proprietary / patented reticle from Ed Verdugo, former Special Forces, who also designed many of the sling attachments in use today, it has excellent glass with no distortion that I can find up at 6x. At the $1025 price point (less for military / LE), it is a fantastic, do-it-all optic for a combat rifle like the SCAR. Unlike some of its competitors, it uses low profile capped turrets, which makes them worry free (also, under the turret caps you can store spare CR2032 batteries, which provides the illumination).
You can find some outside reviews linked on the site that sells these, Norden Performance.
Full disclosure: I have no connection to Ed Verdugo or the companies involved in the design or production of the scope, outside of a few conversations I had with him to get some questions answered. I'm just a guy who did a lot of research on this and feels like he hit on a great solution for the SCAR. I'm particularly fond of the reticle for a battle rifle set up. In terms of build, it's very solid, without a lot of frills.
It's important to note, just so I'm clear, that this isn't a sniper scope, nor is it intended to be. It's a one-scope solution for a battle rifle and its regular applications. The scope weighs in at about the same weight as many 1-4x24 scopes, doesn't require a separate magnifier to turn a red dot into a useful distance scope, is night vision compatible, and works very well at all its ranges. For those who like mil-dots, this has those available for use, as well, but with the primary ranging system employed here you can put down the calculators and slide rules and hit your target consistently at and beyond the effective range (300yds for head shots; 500 yard for torso) of the rifle.
Honestly, I couldn't be more happy with the thing. The next step up is likely to be 1-8x options, some of which will use both front and rear focal planes (to "solve" the illumination "problem"). But those are going to double or triple the price, I figure.
Other scopes I very seriously considered were the Vortex Viper, the SWFA 1-4/6, the Trijicon TR24G, an ACOG, and the Leupold VX-6 1-6x with Firedot SPR
Below I'll include some vids made by Ed Verdugo to show the reticle and the ranging system, along with the obligatory picture of my rig wit the scope mounted. I used a Bobro extended mount and haven't had any problems with the charging handle giving me knuckle rash. I'll still probably pick up one of Stryker's EACH, but that's just because I like the heft of the thing, not because the scope mount gets in the way.
[Edit: I should note that I briefly considered an Elcan, too -- and all reports are that they are great scopes -- but my price range was constrained by the purchase of the rifle itself. I have a wife, you see, and I like being married... Also, a guy who goes by BigJimFish has done a great job of reviewing variable low power scopes, including impressions from 2012 SHOT Show, the compilation of which can be seen here.]
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Like many posters here, I did a lot of research into the best glass to mount to my SCAR-H. And in the end, I made an unconventional choice -- but one that I think many people here might find intriguing.
The scope is a GRSC 1-6x24 FFP scope, illuminated, with a patented reticle. In my opinion it is a great all-purpose scope for a battle rifle -- and designed to be just that -- inasmuch as it works very well through the effective range of the weapon itself (for CQB it acts like a "red dot"; for longer ranges it uses a very intuitive ranging system based on 10"/20", or head/torso, the details of which are explained in a video, below), and, at least up to 530 yards, the BDC, though calculated specifically for 5.56, works just as well with 7.62 (at 147gr, tested with an FN FAL).
The scope is designed first and foremost for quick target acquisition in CQB, and under such conditions is meant to be used with both eyes open. It is a true 1x scope. Illuminated for low light, the horse shoe acts as a red dot at 1 or 1.5x; in bright light and with no illumination, the black horse shoe reticle is very easy to pick up. If you like (or are only used to) a full-time illuminated dot, you may or may not immediately like the reticle site picture in direct sunlight: me, I like the high contrast that the non-illuminated "black dot" provides in such conditions, where the illuminated red can get a bit washed out on an FFP scope. And the time to target acquisition with this scope is just as fast or faster for me as it is with the RMR I have on my FNP-45 Tac.
Manufactured by Light Optics in Japan and using a proprietary / patented reticle from Ed Verdugo, former Special Forces, who also designed many of the sling attachments in use today, it has excellent glass with no distortion that I can find up at 6x. At the $1025 price point (less for military / LE), it is a fantastic, do-it-all optic for a combat rifle like the SCAR. Unlike some of its competitors, it uses low profile capped turrets, which makes them worry free (also, under the turret caps you can store spare CR2032 batteries, which provides the illumination).
You can find some outside reviews linked on the site that sells these, Norden Performance.
Full disclosure: I have no connection to Ed Verdugo or the companies involved in the design or production of the scope, outside of a few conversations I had with him to get some questions answered. I'm just a guy who did a lot of research on this and feels like he hit on a great solution for the SCAR. I'm particularly fond of the reticle for a battle rifle set up. In terms of build, it's very solid, without a lot of frills.
It's important to note, just so I'm clear, that this isn't a sniper scope, nor is it intended to be. It's a one-scope solution for a battle rifle and its regular applications. The scope weighs in at about the same weight as many 1-4x24 scopes, doesn't require a separate magnifier to turn a red dot into a useful distance scope, is night vision compatible, and works very well at all its ranges. For those who like mil-dots, this has those available for use, as well, but with the primary ranging system employed here you can put down the calculators and slide rules and hit your target consistently at and beyond the effective range (300yds for head shots; 500 yard for torso) of the rifle.
Honestly, I couldn't be more happy with the thing. The next step up is likely to be 1-8x options, some of which will use both front and rear focal planes (to "solve" the illumination "problem"). But those are going to double or triple the price, I figure.
Other scopes I very seriously considered were the Vortex Viper, the SWFA 1-4/6, the Trijicon TR24G, an ACOG, and the Leupold VX-6 1-6x with Firedot SPR
Below I'll include some vids made by Ed Verdugo to show the reticle and the ranging system, along with the obligatory picture of my rig wit the scope mounted. I used a Bobro extended mount and haven't had any problems with the charging handle giving me knuckle rash. I'll still probably pick up one of Stryker's EACH, but that's just because I like the heft of the thing, not because the scope mount gets in the way.
[Edit: I should note that I briefly considered an Elcan, too -- and all reports are that they are great scopes -- but my price range was constrained by the purchase of the rifle itself. I have a wife, you see, and I like being married... Also, a guy who goes by BigJimFish has done a great job of reviewing variable low power scopes, including impressions from 2012 SHOT Show, the compilation of which can be seen here.]
