Decisions, decisions
- Thread starter YamaS3rider
- Start date
Burris xtr pro
Nightforce atacr/NX8
USO FDN 25x/17x
Zeiss LRP
Steiner m7xi
Kahles
Vortex razor 2/3
Element Theos
Shop the Schmidt & Bender sale on Euro Optic
Leupold mk5
There's a lot of options. I recommend euro optic for good prices. Used on the px has great deals too.
Nightforce atacr/NX8
USO FDN 25x/17x
Zeiss LRP
Steiner m7xi
Kahles
Vortex razor 2/3
Element Theos
Shop the Schmidt & Bender sale on Euro Optic
Leupold mk5
There's a lot of options. I recommend euro optic for good prices. Used on the px has great deals too.
Used Razor G3 would be my first pick.
I’ve seen them posted for $2000-2300.
I’ve seen them posted for $2000-2300.
Used Razor Gen3, Kahles K624i ons ale at EuroOptic for like $2299, Burris XTR-III 5.5-30x56, Zeiss LRP S3 6-36x56, used NF ATACR 7-35x...
German/Austrian SCHOTT glass and build for $2,300 is going to be really hard to beat. Despite what people are going to tell you, these are the newest generation build, and they are REALLY nice optically. These current generation K624i uses the same glass as the K525i, which is excellent. Most people still try to compare the older K624i, which had inferior glass to the K525i & newest K624i.
I have a couple of these...Excellent scopes for the money.
www.eurooptic.com
Get a set of ARC M-Brace 34mm rings (height depends on your rig).
German/Austrian SCHOTT glass and build for $2,300 is going to be really hard to beat. Despite what people are going to tell you, these are the newest generation build, and they are REALLY nice optically. These current generation K624i uses the same glass as the K525i, which is excellent. Most people still try to compare the older K624i, which had inferior glass to the K525i & newest K624i.
I have a couple of these...Excellent scopes for the money.
Kahles K624i 6-24x56mm RSW CCW SKMR4 FFP Riflescope 10681
FREE SHIPPING on Kahles K624i 6-24x56mm RSW CCW SKMR4 FFP Riflescope 10681
Get a set of ARC M-Brace 34mm rings (height depends on your rig).
Welcome Garner from Fuquay. lol lots of good options mentioned. I’d pass on anything Bushnell or USO though but the others are good.
You shooting matches or just shooting for fun?
Got a XRS3 6-36 to try out against some others and it was really a let down in the glass, reticle wasn’t bad but for the price the glass was not as good as I hoped. Also no illumination either. I tried to like it but couldn’t. Actually like the cheaper Match Pro ED more but if he is looking to spend good money on a good scope Bushnell wouldn’t be on my list to recommend. I know some like them but not my favorite.
Also their CS has really sucked as of late. I emailed them and it took over 3 month to get a reply to just get my account reactivated. To their defense when they did get ahold of me it was taken care of that day.
Also, didn't you say your $600 DNT beat the pants off the Bushy? If the OP is a newbie, and is only shooting to 1000 yards, he could save some serious coin and get the DNT 7-35x56, unless he just wants to buy a $2,500 scope...Which is just as legit a reason as any.
Broadly speaking, the optical difference between a "good" $750-1000 scope and $2500ish scopes will be most pronounced in poor lighting conditions.
Example: One shooting lane at a popular NC match venue has a little berm up next to a tree line, maybe 800 yards across an open field. Steel plate (suspended on old fire hose) against that berm turns grey from impacts, and the berm is shaded by mid to late afternoon while the field is in direct sun. Meaning: dark gray plate against dark dirt berm in the shade --> very high light contrast.
Example: One shooting lane at a popular NC match venue has a little berm up next to a tree line, maybe 800 yards across an open field. Steel plate (suspended on old fire hose) against that berm turns grey from impacts, and the berm is shaded by mid to late afternoon while the field is in direct sun. Meaning: dark gray plate against dark dirt berm in the shade --> very high light contrast.
- With old Vortex gen-2 4.5-27x56 Razor, I could see the yellow paint stripe "separating" fire hose from plate. I could barely see the plate, if at all.
- With current gen-3 6-36x56 Razor, I can make out the plate. But, especially at high magnification, its image goes pretty dark around dusk.
- As might be expected, my ZCO 5-27x56 has the best high-contrast/low-light performance... but it's also a $4000 scope, $1000 more than the gen-3 Razor.
Man, $2500 isn't in the crazy expensive category, but that's a pretty healthy budget. Your question is also pretty vague. What are you going to be using it for?
I'm not trying to assume anything, but your question indicates that you have no clue as to what you want and you're only going to find that out by doing what you do and taking note of deficiencies in your rig.
What separates a sub $1k scope from a $1500+ scope is not how they perform under ideal conditions, but how they perform under less than ideal conditions. On those crappy days when there just seems to be a haze in the air, or there's just a lot of glare or mirage or there isn't a lot of light is when a more expensive scope with good glass and coatings will set itself apart.
In your price range, if you stick to the better brands, you'll likely get a very good scope. What I look for is good glass, locking turrets with .1 mil clicks, a reticle that is not overly complicated, but will do what I need and a robust build.
I'd recommend getting something used. That way, making the wrong choice won't sting so badly.
Of course, if it's gonna be a range toy where you only shoot in nice weather, at well silouetted targets at known ranges, you can totally shoot out to 1000 with a $500 Arken EP. For shooting steel and such out to 1000, I generally like 2x for every 100 yards, at least.
I'm not trying to assume anything, but your question indicates that you have no clue as to what you want and you're only going to find that out by doing what you do and taking note of deficiencies in your rig.
What separates a sub $1k scope from a $1500+ scope is not how they perform under ideal conditions, but how they perform under less than ideal conditions. On those crappy days when there just seems to be a haze in the air, or there's just a lot of glare or mirage or there isn't a lot of light is when a more expensive scope with good glass and coatings will set itself apart.
In your price range, if you stick to the better brands, you'll likely get a very good scope. What I look for is good glass, locking turrets with .1 mil clicks, a reticle that is not overly complicated, but will do what I need and a robust build.
I'd recommend getting something used. That way, making the wrong choice won't sting so badly.
Of course, if it's gonna be a range toy where you only shoot in nice weather, at well silouetted targets at known ranges, you can totally shoot out to 1000 with a $500 Arken EP. For shooting steel and such out to 1000, I generally like 2x for every 100 yards, at least.
Hey Rob, we've met...you have a couple of Zeiss S3 if I recall and a need for a cleaning rod at the range
I shoot for fun but take shooting seriously.Hey Rob, we've met...you have a couple of Zeiss S3 if I recall and a need for a cleaning rod at the range
Was that you there today with the Banish 30?
Thanks for the input. Of the scopes I already have, I'm happy with all but the NF, I guess 'cause it's a NF, it isn't what I expected. I guess I'd like an opinion on the sub 3K SB and Kahles models. The Euro-optic guys really push the Gen 3 and it's a great scope but idk if there is an incentive for them to sell more Vortex. I get the 'buy once, cry once" theory and if I had 1 rifle/1 scope hell yeah. But, variety in this sport gets awfully expensive ;-)
For less than 2500, you can get into the Tract, Maven and Delta Stryker scopes with coin left over.
All three are very well made Japanese manufactured optics.
Great tracking, good glass.
All three are very well made Japanese manufactured optics.
Great tracking, good glass.
You can’t go wrong with the vortex 6-36 razor gen 3
Burris XTR Pro...solid glass, reticle, mechanics. The tall race dial nice in that you can remove it to write on instead of fumbling over the rifle. Best feature IMO is a much better eye box than many. Shop around there's some deals on it right now, making me think Burris might be replacing it with their new HUD model...I personally hope not.
Watch the PX here for things like this…
Optics - Kahles k 5-25i SKMR w/ left windage
Like the title says k25 I for sale with arc rings Every works perfectly 2125 with rings PayPal FF or GS your cover fees
www.snipershide.com
Burris has a lot of CA for my eyes, but the controls on the XTR PRO are exceptionally well thought out. Toolless zero and zero stop, removable turret for writing on, reticle design... Gosh I wish they hadn't launched with the red... For anything under $2k and over $800, the XTR PRO gets my vote.
If I were spending someone else's $2,500 today on a scope (new, not used)...and doing it without any of the discounts that myself or others might get for various reasons (and that makes a difference):
I'd probably go Zeiss LRP S3 for "target shooting out to 1K".
The Zeiss still has a couple quirks that I don't like, but you will be hard pressed to find a better set of features combined with glass for that money (again, without discounts). If hunting were involved, I'm not going with the S3.
*****
Once you added used and/or discounts to that question - I'd look hard at the Razor G3, ATACR 7-35, and for another $300 you are approaching some of the lesser-in-popularity-reticle S&B 5-25s.
I'd probably go Zeiss LRP S3 for "target shooting out to 1K".
The Zeiss still has a couple quirks that I don't like, but you will be hard pressed to find a better set of features combined with glass for that money (again, without discounts). If hunting were involved, I'm not going with the S3.
*****
Once you added used and/or discounts to that question - I'd look hard at the Razor G3, ATACR 7-35, and for another $300 you are approaching some of the lesser-in-popularity-reticle S&B 5-25s.
Have you looked through a recent production Burris XTR3 or Pro? They’re quite impressive with minimal CA.
G3 for 46oz or Zeiss S3 for 39oz. For less money and 32oz, XTR Pro. Other used, March 4.5-28, Minox ZP5, or others already mentioned. Check PX for good deals.
I think the ones I've looked through were manufactured in late 2022 or early 2023. Personally, I don't care much about CA in my scopes since I wear glasses and it always shows up when not looking straight though my glasses lenses. I'm used to it.
Most of the CA is there when you're on the fringes of the eyebox. But some people get mortally wounded if they see some color fringe in their optics, so I mention it as a caveat.
I’ve noticed the same thing.
Especially with the XTR iii. If you’re eye isn’t centered on the scope you’ll get CA and if it’s really jacked up you get scope shadow. “Experienced” shooters get pretty butthurt when they complain about CA and you tell them to check their head position
