Thanks questions, questions, is 18.7 ounces heavy for an AR or even a 6.8 pound Carbine???? I think the Spitfire one Hajo just bought is around 15?
Or is that what the trade off is Distance for weight?
Hungry
I dunno. Would you notice a 4oz difference on a 7lb gun?
I guess in my mind the more important question is your Philosophy of Use. What is the majority of your use case?
It's hard to optimize for both short-range tactiCool and 500 yd precision simultaneously. You'd have to make a trade-off one way or the other.
SWFA makes other scopes. Shorter range tactical I'd lean more to a fixed 6x. If I was going to want to do a bunch of 500 yd shooting with reasonable precision, I'd want a fixed 10x and mil:mil turrets.
If I was going to be running around a barricade course doing operator stuff, I'd be more worried about every ounce.
If I was going to be doing a lot of 200-500 yd shooting I wouldn't care because I'd be shooting supported. My precision shooting is all done prone with bipod and squeeze bag.
Of course with a carbine, precision is relative.
[Edit] Since you have mentioned the Predator 6.5 CM, that and a fixed 10x SWFA would make an excellent budget conscious entry level precision rifle/scope combo.