Rifle Scopes $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

[fastline]

How would YOU spend it? I do NOT need new!!

Rifle is a Savage FCP tactical rifle and worthy of good glass. Tested to 800M but looking to push to 1000M. Previous scope was Leup VX3 LR with B&C reticle. Was OK but B&C reticle was NOT for me. Need more tactical reticle for manual calcs.

Just cause I will spend 1K does NOT mean I want too.... Need at least 16x mag, side focus, illum would be nice, 30mm tube, etc. Looking at SWFA SS HD 5-20x50, Weaver tactical 4-20x50, etc. NOT as concerned with a name tag. Just want the best bang for the buck. Would rather buy used, non-current model, etc. Just need a really nice scope for the money.

 

[Captain Kirk]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

Id say the SWFA SS 5-20x50 is a good choice, or save a few extra bucks and pick up a Bushnell HDMR 3.5-21 for around $1100 used here, no illumination but it has some very nice features, great glass and turrets plus 34mm main tube, best optic in that price range IMO.

Kirk R

 

[Lead Heads]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

1K is close to a lot of decent scopes. IMHO, I would honestly just wait and save a little more $ and buy a Bushnell HDMR. It's better to save and get what you want then to settle on something.
Just my $.02

 

[fastline]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

Two hits on the Bushnell HDMR??

I was going to ask on thoughts on the illum. I am going to use the rifle and likely coyote problems in which low light could be a reality right at dawn. I have a cheap illum scope now and still not convinced I need it... I mean who cares if you can see the hairs, can you see your target...? thoughts?

 

[fastline]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

Lets just compare to my previous scope, a Leup VX3 4.5-14x40 Long Range with B&C reticle. Let's say I was "mostly" happy but glass could have been brighter and crisper IMO. I want to make sure whatever I buy will surpass what I had, have more X when I need it, and still have the quality of the Leup.

 

[Captain Kirk]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

Most of my scopes are illuminated, but it is a feature that gets used very little, maybe one match a year will do a night shoot where it will get used. Its a nice feature but its not critical IMO.

Kirk R

 

[Josh Elam]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

Pick up a Bushnell HDMR 3x21 used for about $100 extra. I love my S&B 3x20 just cant afford buying a hand full of them. I just picked up a HDMR that will get here in a couple days and I hope I really like it and can put them on a few of my rifles. I have a SS 5x20, the glass is amazing I just dont overly care for the scope. I cant but my finger on it but its just a few small things.

 

[hondo1312]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

I picked up a used IOR 3-18x42 ffp mil/mil non-illuminated here on the Hide for $900 about a year ago. I've been really pleased with it.

 

[ScottyS]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

I'm a Nightforce F1 lover, but the SWFA SS 5-20 is my favorite in the $1k category. I have the illuminated model.

 

[BCP]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

Vortex PST, weaver 3-15 FFP, those fit your criteria too and both are illuminated.

 

[Tactical_Tom]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 and Bushnell HDMR are going to cost more like 1,250 used. What type of shooting are you doing if you jsut shooting paper then a SIIISS 10-50X60 LRMD/CM would be a lot less expensive and better for a target rifle.

 

[NoFail]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

You say used, and that should be a good idea. I'd just hang around in the SH used optics forum and wait for it to show up. I had seen several SS 5-20's there recently. They're gone now but more will show, or something else you deem sufficient. 1000-1200 $.

How about a SS16x42? 300 new. I have the 12 and am very happy with it for paper punching.

Boom!! http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3748583&gonew=1#UNREAD

 

[fastline]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

More hits on the Bushnell HDMR. Is this considered a step above the SWFA SSHD?

I am just starting to shop and in no rush. I do know if I buy used, I don't want to pay new price for used.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

check out the sightron SIII's great glas, perfect tracking and they have some tactical reticule now too.
Vortex viper PST's are also a lot of bang for the buck. and less expensive than the hdmr's
hope this helps
cheers.

 

[Captain Kirk]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

Interesting info if you have not thumbed through it yet, you will notice quite a few Bushnell HDMR scopes being used.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3728282&page=1

Kirk R

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical_Tom</div><div class="ubbcode-body">SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 and Bushnell HDMR are going to cost more like 1,250 used. What type of shooting are you doing if you jsut shooting paper then a SIIISS 10-50X60 LRMD/CM would be a lot less expensive and better for a target rifle.</div></div>

yeah not so much if you go to www.libertyoptics.com you can buy the hdmr new for $1159 shipped. price doesn't change until you add it to your cart, but i assure you that is the price i bought my second one recently.

 

[Kiba]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

I have several SWFA 5-20s and a friend has a pair of HDMR's I've spent quite a bit of time behind.

I much prefer the G2DMR reticle in the HDMR to the SWFA reticle. The SWFA reticle works just fine but the G2DMR gives you more precise holodver & windage options. I prefer the 10 mil knobs on the SWFA over the 5 mil knobs on the HDMR and the glass in the SWFA is noticably better in brightness, clarity, and resolution. The HDMR's glass is pretty good but both examples my friend has have the excessive chromatic aberration issue that is characterized by pronounced purple halos around white steel targets (there have been a couple threads on here about this issue in the past.) It won't stop you from seeing and hitting a target but the "purple halos" are annoying to some people and it seems that some HDMR's are better than others in this area.

No issues going to 1000 on a 308 with either-- both have plenty of erector travel and all of our examples track well.

For about $1000-1100 used you can't go wrong with either IMO-- they're probably about the best scopes in that price range.

(2 of my 5-20's are in the PX right now as I'm upgrading to S&B 5-25 on my 3 favorite rifles, I made the very expensive mistake of looking through and using an S&B...)

 

[kingjr]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

great info here and great answers!

 

[Joop]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

Nothing against the HDMR (it will be my next scope purchase), but for well under a thousand dollars, you could get a Bushnell Elite, either in 6-24x50 or 3-12x44, with illuminated mildot reticles that are FFP. I have both of those scopes and think they're a great buy. And, if illumination isn't absolutely required, you can get either with the G2 reticle, still under your budget.

 

[Alric]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

If not the HDMR, perhaps a used 6-24 PST or SWFA 5-20 would fit the bill.

 

[jasonk]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

SWFA 5-20x50 gets my vote, taken mine to 1k with lots of success.

 

[fastline]

Re: $1K to spend, going 1000M with a tactical .308.

I did notice the HDMR is a 34mm tube. I guess I forgot to spec that I would rather stay with a 30mm since I already have a nice ring set on it, that is unless the 34mm is the holy grail in improvement.

I have heard quite conflicting stories comparing the SWFA SSHD and HDMR. Someone here said the SSHD has MUCH cleaner glass, yet others hold the HDMR in higher regard. There was also a post on youtube comparing certain scopes and they rated the SSHD as "great" but the HDMR as "german level" top notch glass. I dunno. However, I certainly am trying to get perspective from my previous VX3 Long Range. I did not personally feel it had what I wanted in a 1000M scope. I want to work at holding 1/4MOA shots and need glass to enable that.