I got asked what scope would be ideal on an AR 15, for general use?

[Grumpy]

now if you think about that question a few seconds and have any familiarity with the AR 15 platform you know most are caliber 223 remington but theres DOZENS of other caliber options available and the basic platform
is available in everything fro 11" barrel pistol versions to 28" varmint rifles so it would obviously help to know both what you intend to do with the complete rifle package and the barrel length and caliber as a start point, but knowing what your shooting at and the likely range and condition would be almost mandatory.
picking a scope for another persons like trying to select a girl friend for them, they will always have some difference of opinion on the important features and be willing to over-look things you may feel are far more important.
Now I'm going to assume a hunting or sporting use simply because if your in in the MILITARY and hunting terrorists you'll most likely be supplied with a rifle with red dot optical sights designed for low light target aquasition and have no choice in how its set up or equipped.
I'm also forced too think most guys will be using the 223 rem for game that its basically capable of handling effectively, and that's a range from
prairie dogs (1 lb-2 lbs)
to coyotes (20-30 lbs)
to deer, most under 170 lbs)
and Id doubt most rifles will be used at over 500 yards for prairie dogs
400 yards for coyotes
or over 250 yards for deer.
due to the bullet weights and trajectory of the projectiles suiting the game in a 223 caliber AR 15 rifle.
you,ll obviously need more magnification for a 500 yard prairie dog than a 70 yard shot at hogs or deer, so Id suggest you select as high a quality scope as the budget will allow and Id certainly select one with a manufacturer offering a life time no questions asked, repair guarantee.(and a good reputation of honoring that guarantee)
I,ve had best results with fairly compact scopes, longer scopes provide greater physical leverage to break the mounts and they can be heavy enough to be a P.I.T.A. and make quickly finding the target a chore!
Id suggest no scope but a quality variable here with 2x-3x being the very lowest , you really need the low power for a wide field of view for hunting fast moving game at limited distances like a bouncing white tail deer at 30 yards in the timber)and about 12x being fully able to handle the longest shots in the hands of an experienced rifleman.(youll need that to punch praire dogs crows and place shots accurately on coyotes out at 500 yards
you tend to get what you pay for so your budget will likely help limit your choices ,most $200 -$300, scopes won,t be quality comparable with the $800-$1400 scopes, but I can tell you from experience you,ll rarely regret carefully shopping and buying the most expensive and highest quality scope your budget allows, Id suggest spending about 50%-70% of what you spent on the rifle as a reasonable value here, your optics will effect how fast and effectively you can acquire and hit a target.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2...cope-35-14x-40mm-side-focus-bdc-reticle-matte

http://www.midwayusa.com/s?userSearchQuery=leupold+rifle+scopes&uac=true

https://www.amazon.com/Green-Blob-O...0&sr=1-20&keywords=30mm+picatinny+scope+mount

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/optics/scopes?brand=nikon-scopes&currentpage=1

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....cs,nikon-scopes&itemsperpage=30&currentpage=1

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/optics

something like this would be great if you can afford it
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/13...-tube-2-12x-42mm-custom-dial-system-cds-matte

or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leupold-VX-...scope-Wind-Plex-Reticle-170692-/301893956815?

I certainly would not feel totally cheated having something like this at a much lower price
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0012516319/prostaff-7-2half-10x50mm-30mm-tube-nikoplex

NOTICE BOTH THE SCOPES ABOVE HAVE 30MM tube size,
these tend to be stronger, and allow some optic improvements that the much more common 1" scopes won,t have in the less expensive versions

youll need a decent , solid and rigid, scope mount
https://www.amazon.com//dp/B00RQ28FS4
1 INCH
(I JUST ORDERED A SET OF 1" COMBO MOUNTS AND RINGS LIKE THESE(above) AND WAS PLEASED WITH THE PRICE & QUALITY,
obviously if you select a 30 MM scope you'll need matching 30 mm mounts & rings

http://www.basspro.com/Nikon-Prostaff-7-Rifle-Scope/product/15020607464810/

http://www.basspro.com/Nikon-Prosta.../15020607464810/?cmCat=CROSSSELL_PRODUCT_HZB1

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-buying-stripped-lower-ar-receivers-but.8620/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...eferably-a-high-quality-accurate-rifle.12662/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/what-ar-15-version-would-you-consider.12473/

 

[Grumpy]

IVE never yet had a properly installed weaver style base and rings fail, loc-tite on clean de-greased, and properly tightened, screw threads helps

a 150/400 watt gun makes soldering much easier

BTW red loc-tite is a thermally sensitive bonding agent,
if you need to remove scope mount screws, or any screw locked in place with this thread binding agent, that were locked in place with red loc-tite simply hold a high wattage soldering iron firmly against the screw head for at least 2 minutes before you try to remove it, this allows heat to travel through the screw and melt the bonding plastic based locking agent

 

[Grumpy]

maybe Im wrong....
https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-holographic-sights/
http://bisonarmory.com/22-6-8-spc-heavy-stainless/

 

[Grumpy]