I've had this old Photon XT 4.6 since shortly after they came to market. It has only been used on .223/5.56 uppers so far. Has anyone mounted one on an AR in 6.8 SPC and used it extensively? I'm considering using it with a new upper in 6.8, and I can find NO documentation describing recoil tolerance of these units. It works fine and I wouldn't want to tear it up.

I have one on a 300BLK, and one on a 223wsm. If I recall, they were rated up to 300WM in the original owner's manual?

Thanks.

I looked through the manual that came with it---just a small pamphlet really...I found nothing spelling that out. I checked the warranty statement also. Nothing there. It's long out of warranty anyway, but I thought there may be some stated stipulation, but found none.

Maybe there was a later reprint or revision of the manual, or a more comprehensive online version but I haven't found one.

That WSSM probably has as much or more of a recoil impulse, unclebubba. How many rounds has your XT endured on that rifle?

I haven't really kept track, but at least 50. We've sighted it in, shot it, and checked zero again just once or twice. I'll see if I can track down the manual. I know I have it around here somewhere. The one on the 300BLK has been shot more.

I appreciate that. Thank you.

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I used to run one on my 450 bushmaster, a couple of shutoffs but overall it handled recoil above 6.8 spc…

Wasn't there a second version that came out about two years after the first Photon XT? My memory is teasing me...

Aahhh...now I remember. That was the RT version. Wanted to be sure I am asking for the right info, and it looks to me like I'm getting it. If the XT can handle your .450, it will survive my 6.8.

Thanks gents. After I develop a load (6.8 is a new caliber for me) I'll mount that old XT and rock on. I hope the piggies hate it.

I found the manual. It does not indicate what the scope is rated for recoil wise. It did say that it is rated for 5 degrees up to 122 degrees...but that does not answer your question.

Well...I think your and PigPopper's experience tell me what I need to know.

I've been looking around to see what's available in the thermal world, and ATN has some very inexpensive stuff available lately. I know about ATN'S reputation around here and I have real reservations, but my nephew has been using an ATN for a while and seems to like it enough to keep using it. I should ask him which model it is. He did have to send it in for service soon after his purchase but he got it back quickly. No problems since. I may go that route...seriously considering it, but I've had about three thousand in vet bills in the last week and more to come, so I'll have to keep my shirt on.

Thanks for your effort. Much appreciated!

I have the same old Photon.

It has been on a 308 (AR Platform) 100+ Rounds
The 308 has a suppressor.

Moved it to my 45 Raptor (AR Platform) 50+ Rounds so far.
The Raptor had a big muzzle brake that really tamed it quite well. It now has a suppressor on it.
That works very well also.

The Photon still works just fine.

I have one that's been mounted on my 6.8 "loaner" AR since the Photon first came out.
It's lived thru multiple users including myself quite a few times.
It's planted well over 60 pigs and is still going strong even after some target rich sounder mag dumps.
The only thing I have done is make a LiIon 12vdc rechargeable battery pack for it - still works fine with energizers but I have lots of 18650 batteries and chargers.

It's good to know I can use it on any of my ARs, but someting occurred to me last night...my Pulsar thermal can be set up with different sight-in profiled and I can just swap it between my 6.8 and my 6mm AR. The mount is QD, so I just need to test it for repeatability. That mount is an optional lightweight and I dontrecall the source, vut if it's not so good I can go back to the original mount if I can find it in my stash of excess stuff...it's much more robust and IIRC, itsQD also.

My Photon may continue to languish...who knows. It's good to have options, and it's good to know I can do more with the Photon also. I thank you guys for all the info!

River Rider..good to see you are still alive and kickin. I have a photon xt on my Howa 1500 .308…quite a few rounds fired and it’s just fine. I’m running 150gr sierras at near max for my loads. No negative effects…it’s been years and I’ve never had to rezero either.

Z

Well howdy Zee. Good to see you're still kicking too. Still living the dream, I hope.

That last post was three weeks ago. The entire question kept nagging at me for days on end and I ended up buying an AGM Adder for the new 6.8 gun. I ended up shuffling some guns around, too, as far as purpose goes. There will be a pair of ARs going down the road, and I'm going to make that Photon XT available as part of a killer deal on a night hunting package for someone wanting to dabble in night pigs.