Hi all. I'm looking at upgrading my savage 308 optic, the build is a savage 12 308 in a mcree chassis. I plan for it to be a 1000 yard gun and to maybe shoot some competitions with it someday, i have a max of 850$ to spend, the base i have is a 20moa weaver with weaver rings. My choices atm are, swfa SS 3-15, bushnell elite tactical 3-12 with g2 or bushnell elite tactical 6-24 with g2. I would like enough low end for movers but enough high end for 1000 yards or maybe even 1100 yards. Right now it has a swfa ss fixed 16x on it.
Rifle Scopes 3-15 vs 3-12 vs 6-24
- Thread starter kimberfan
- Start date
In that price range, I would add the sightron siii to the mix. I have the 8-32x56 w/ moa2 reticle. The glass is very good and it tracks exactly as it should. They have a 6-24x50 as well. It would be awesome if they made a 4-16, I'd be all over that. Just received the ss3-15 and mounted it. Cant review it as I haven't shot it yet.
Just thought about that. At the moment, no. But they will have them. Shows up on their site but I don't think they are on the street yet. Contact Scott at liberty optics, I bet he'll know. Great guy to deal with.
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The SS will have the best glass of those three. Get FFP. I have actually been pretty impressed with the Weaver tactical. If you can push your budget another $100 then you could afford a Vortex PST, has lots of good features and 24x power. But back to my first statement most offerings in the SS line will have the better glass of all of theses options. Look for a used SSHD 20x, best glass for under 1000.
16 to 20x is perfect for shooting out to 1000, you don't want to go too high in mag in many cases.
I am in the same boat as you kimberfan. I currently have a 10x Bushnell and need something variable for my dual purpose rig (hunting/target). I really like the SWFA 3-15x42, Bushy 3-12 w/ G2, and Vortex HS-T 4-16. I contacted SWFA the other day and the 3-15 is in stock but are selling quick. If you do not mind having SFP Vortex has come out with something similar to the Midway Exclusive, the Vortex HS-T. LowLight has a thread going on about it; looks promising. The Vortex HS-T is a little bit less expensive than the other two but has zero stop which neither the SWFA or Bushy has. Glass is supposed to be comparable to the PST 6-24 as the 5-15 Midway special had good glass. I havnt made my decision yet but seem to be leaning towards the Vortex HS-T due to the zero stop even though it is SFP. I know you could have visual markers on the swfa or bushy turrets or even get PVC to make a homemade zero stop but i think the HS-T may be the best value. Just my .02. Keep us updated with what you decide
It'd have to have very good glass to beat either Bushnell Elite...they are highly underrated optics.
Never been behind a SWFA SS 3-15x (been looking at one myself) but I have previously owned a 3-12x and 6-24x Bushnell Elite 4200 Tactical and they are very good kit; I believe the current generation has a different lens coating and more elevation that the 4200s had.
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I just bought 2 SWFA 3-15's and have had the 3-12 before.
If I were to compare the glass alone I'd have to give the B3-12 the win, this is going off memory. For me 12x wasn't enough mag though.
The 3-15's have a better eyebox but I wouldn't call it generous, still kinda tight on 15x. The 3-15 has tons of elevation travel, supposedly 41 mils from what I've read but haven't tested it. Milquad retice is okay, I'm still trying to decide whether I like it or not, better than a basic mildot anyway. My 3-15's focus less than 6 yards away which is good for dry fire practice or mounting on a air rifle and shooting in the garage.
I haven't owned the B6-24. From what I've read it's a little short on elevation travel. 24x is nice to have when shooting groups.
the only thing i dont like about the SS is the reticule, i much prefer the G2, if i had enough cash i would go DMR and get new rings but that would mean no mcree and being stuck with my choate ultimate sniper (not a big fan) the vortex 4-16 looks good but i dont really NEED illumination and the glass from what i hear is no swfa or bushnell.
my priorities for this scope are low end mag with enough high end for 1000 yards>>good reticule>>good glass>>good adjustments>>30mm tube>>under 900$
if i go over 900$ i wouldnt be able to get my chassis and would be stuck with what i got or a bell and carlson A3.
my priorities for this scope are low end mag with enough high end for 1000 yards>>good reticule>>good glass>>good adjustments>>30mm tube>>under 900$
if i go over 900$ i wouldnt be able to get my chassis and would be stuck with what i got or a bell and carlson A3.
Get the HS-T 4-16x44 and put the rest toward your chassis (or ammo).
16x is plenty for shooting 1000 yards (yeah its SFP but at 1000yd you're at 16x anyway), 4x is plenty low enough for hunting even a dense wooded area, good hash reticle, great repeatability, and early reports are the optical clarity is very good.
16x is plenty for shooting 1000 yards (yeah its SFP but at 1000yd you're at 16x anyway), 4x is plenty low enough for hunting even a dense wooded area, good hash reticle, great repeatability, and early reports are the optical clarity is very good.
anyone ever try one of these out? Vortex 4-16x50 Viper HS 30mm Rifle Scope
the LR reticle looks freakin sweet!
along with zero stops, and 24 MOA per turn with 75 MOA max adjustment and 12 MOA per turn on windage with 50 MOA max on it, and FFP
pretty much everything i could want short of illumination (dont really need it though)
the LR reticle looks freakin sweet!
along with zero stops, and 24 MOA per turn with 75 MOA max adjustment and 12 MOA per turn on windage with 50 MOA max on it, and FFP
pretty much everything i could want short of illumination (dont really need it though)
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This. Sako is probably thinking of the SS HD line. I have the ET6-24x50 and I still can't tell if the glass is any better on my SS5-20x50. The SS is better in a couple other ways (tougher, better turrets) but optically the Bushnell is very nice and probably has an edge on any nonHD SS scope. I do agree that the Weaver 3-15x50 deserves a look.
Another vote of "I would be surprised if" the SS 3-15x glass is better than the listed Bushnell models. I've compared my 3-12x FFP Bushnell against some pretty good scopes (SS-HD 10x, Sightron SIII 6-24x, SIII 3.5-10x, Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x) and it's hard for me to tell much difference, although I think the SS-HD is the brightest of the bunch, and the SIII models maybe have the best resolution of the bunch (based mostly on reading a road name sign at 550 yards, and examining bricks and other small features on a house at 800 yards - all with the scopes off the rifle, btw).
I also have a Weaver 3-15x. I haven't compared it on the same day against that entire list, but have compared it side by side with the Bushnell 3-12x (FFP) and the Bushnell glass is quite noticeably better in resolution and lack of muddiness. I think the Bushnell FFP scopes with the 4x zoom range are underappreciated.
OP, I would probably rule out the 6-24x as too much magnification for movers closer in, and would consider the SS 3-15x, Bushnell 3-12x, and the Viper PST 4-16x.
thats what i was thinking but my ? is would 12x be enough for 1000 yards? (tactical comp and steel shooting)
To elaborate yes the SSHD line is excellent. Compared side by side with the Bushnell Elite the SSHD has clearer glass. But that said I would never say that the Elite is a bad scope, quite good actually.
Yes, 12x can be used for 1000 yards and many use 10x. Kind of comes down to wants versus needs, in other words, you may need at least a good 10x for 1000 yards but you want a 20. I don't have any fixed power scopes anymore and I often crank mine up in the high teens or 20s at that range but I'm getting older and can't see worth a crap these days
I've got an SS 3-15 and the Bushnell 3-12. The Bushnell glass is a tad better but not that much. It's pretty close. Neither are as good as my SS 5-20 HD.
I like the splined turrets on the Bushnell better but overall I like the SS 3-15 better. Hope this helps OP.
I like the splined turrets on the Bushnell better but overall I like the SS 3-15 better. Hope this helps OP.
Kimberfan, I re-read your first post and realize you are mostly focused on 1000 yard shooting, with shorter distances being secondary. If that's right, I think you would be happier with higher magnification, like a 6-24x50 scope. Not to say you can't do it with 10x or 12x, but I don't think it would be ideal. Depending on your shorter distance needs I would refocus on the 6-24x50 scopes from Bushnell and Vortex (Viper PST) and the 4-16x Viper PST, along with the SS 3-15x. If you didn't want/need FFP then I would tell you to get a Sightron SIII 6-24x50 and be done, but the version fully on the market is SFP, and the brand new FFP version doesn't seem to be in stock and will probably be $1000+ when it is on the market.
Was just looking for something else and noticed that SWFA's sample list has a demo-b Viper PST 6-24x50 (FFP, MRAD) for $830 at the moment:
Vortex 6-24x50 Viper PST 30mm Rifle Scope DEMO-B
Vortex 6-24x50 Viper PST 30mm Rifle Scope DEMO-B
+1 for the Weaver Tac, I have a 3-15 and absolutely love it. Feels hefty like a NF and side by side to my NF the glass isn't far off at all. And BTW Midway is selling some nice Weaver Grand Slam's in FFP for some "sick" prices. My bud just got a 20x with Euro ret for less than $450. (That's $250 off) It's not gonna last long so hurry.
well if i can find a decent price i think i might save up for a DMR, just gotta sell my 16x SS and a few other things.
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