I received this question via a private message and thought it was interesting enough to answer it in some detail. I have been thinking a lot about appropriate optics for gas guns recently, so this came it at the right time.
Here is what I ahve been messing with last few days:
Above: 18" WOA barrel 5.56 AR-15 with Burris XTR PS 5.5-30x56 on it.
Below: 22" Satern barrel 224Valkyrie AR-15 with Delta Stryker 3.5-21x44 on it.
For obvious reasons, I am not posting who asked the question, but what I'll do is send him a link to this article, so that he gets an answer and we might have a good discussion.
Here is what I received:
Had a question for you
I have a Knights Armament SR25 6.5CM with a 14.5" barrel - I plan on shooting 100 - 600 yards at targets at 100 yd intervals
I am favoring the TT 315P with an Aimpont Acro mounted on top -( see you liked the TT315M) - would that be enough magnification?
I saw the SB SB 5-20 which offer more top end - I like the turrets on the Tanget and tooless Zero - what are your thoughts between the 2?
If I stayed 400 and under - how do you see the TT315P with the Acro Red dot against the SB 1-8 Short Dot (saw your review on that)
There isn't really enough information in the question for a simple answer, so let's consider a couple of options.
What is the gun for?
For shooting medium range (out to 600) with occasional close range use? If yes, go with a conventional scope and offset or piggybacked RDS.
For shooting at close distance with occasional med/long range use? If yes, so with a nice LPVO like the above mentioned S&B Short Dot 1-8x24 https://alnk.to/3J8vlFv. It is quite capable at long range, but where it will really knock your socks off is up close and personal.
The question of what is enough magnification is pretty personal. For me, 3-15x is plenty, but I shoot a lot off of the tripod and off of barricades which likely influences my decision. For that, my 3-15x50 TT315M Tangent works great and 6mrad of elevation is plenty. https://alnk.to/gVNkUXB 175gr #08 out of a shoter tube will drop in the 5 to 5.5mrad range at 600 yards.
For a dedicated long range semi-auto, other than the looks, there isn't much downside to a larger scope, which is why I set up Burris' XTR PS on the 5.56 AR pictured above. It is for my son to learn to shoot at distance and to us in next year's BOTC match. https://alnk.to/gp33YuR
If I were setting up an accurate semi-auto and wanted a high mag scope for it, I would likely lean toward March 4.5-28x52. https://alnk.to/dLjHgjh It is compact, relatively light and very good optically for any use other than the dead of the night (for which we should be using clip-ons anyway).
S&B Short Dot is a very nice scope, but March is a newer design and, other than the lowest light, has an edge in terms of image fidelity and stray light control.
TT315P Tangent is a veyr ncie scope and toolles turrets are appealing. However, there is a weight penalty to that. For me, that was not worth it. I ahve 5-25x56 and 7-35x Tangents and those toolless turrets are spectacular. However, in a 3-15x50, I am quit ecomfortable with simpler 6mrad per turn knobs on the TT315M.