Rifle Scopes All American Optic w/o breaking the bank, i.e. robust, OK glass, mechanically sound?

[DJL2]

Everyone loves a good "help me choose a scope" thread - thought I'd do a copy-paste-answer for the format on this to give you all an opportunity to chime in! Just what you wanted, right? Up front, I do have a Vortex Viper PST II 5-25 that I could use...but, opinions of the optic aside, it's HUGE.

Please consider including the following when asking the SH community what scope we'd recommend for you:

• What is the platform for the scope? Winchester Model 70
• What cartridge are you shooting? .30-06 (All American!)
• What is your intended use for the scope? Hunting @ "sensible" distances, "medium" range target/steel/plinking
• What type of conditions will you typically shoot in? Daylight, Lowlight
• What are the typical distances you intend to shoot? <550 meters (if it can be done with "irons," an optic should handle it!)
• Are there any specific specifications you would like? OBJ <50mm, <20 ounces, parallax adjustment, marked turrets, < 14 in length
• What is the price range you can afford? <$1500

I certainly could have further restricted the specifications, but so doing is what brought me here in the first place (i.e. not finding much). Ultimately, it'd be nice to keep the system weight right around a World War winning 10 lbs sans ammo. That leaves roughly 28 ounces to play with for optic, mount and sling. Something like 2x to 3x is preferable on the low end w/ good FOV. I'd like 10x or better on the high end, but that's far less important than features (e.g. less than 14 inches long, decent light transmission, robust/mechanically sound). I'm a fan of fancy reticles (e.g. the Burris Ballistic Plex E1). I like marked turrets and I like the adjustments and the reticle to match...though, I understand that might be too big an ask in this context.

Scopes I've looked at that seem "close" -
Burris Veracity 2-10x42mm (a little porky at 23 ounces, but ticks a lot of feature boxes)
SIG Whiskey5 2-10x42mm (also on the portly/plump side of things)
Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm (little brother to the VX-6...seems like you save money on the erector, much the same otherwise)
Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm ("too much" magnification, but side parallax, more reticles choices, etc...still makes length/weight, I think)

I've haven't looked seriously at the usual players on this part of the hide...I'm not shopping in that price class/range. I don't need a 7x or 8x erector with lots of zoom, I'm not going to obsesses over "warmness" or whether the choir of angels that sings when I open the box speaks Hochdeutsch. Seriously, though, the impetus for this post is that I am certain my search is incomplete and I'm undoubtedly excluding some good options from consideration.

 

[spife7980]

So when you say "All American Optic" youre not meaning made in America, are you? Im guessing not but just want to be sure as the closest youll get is the vortex amg at this time and its above your price point.

 

[ZEROGUY]

Steiner T5Xi.

A bit heavier than you like, but fits all other critera.

It is made in USA, probably with foreign components, and owned by an Italian parent company.

Don't know if a 100% USA made optic exists.

 

[Shankin]

I’ll preface this by saying that I have no experience with these scopes at all. I remembered looking at these last night when thinking about a lower powered optic for use on an AR, and thought I’d throw them in for consideration.

Falcon S8i 1-8x24, SFP, 17oz., 10” long, mil/mil

SWFA has a 1-4x24 and a 1-6x24 that might work as well.

 

[DJL2]

No...I realized it might be read that way about a microsecond before I clicked post and couldn't beat my own OODA loop. Not my finest work. It made sense in my head at some point.

ETA: Funnily or Sadly, that doesn't even apply to the M70 anymore. I cannot keep track...think the last I read was parts produced under contract by FN, assembled in Portugal? We'll see how it shoots. The bolt, at least, runs as smooth as butter and from the purely subjective standpoint of look and feel is a quality piece. The M70 is replacing my CZ 550 FS - trading Turkish Walnut for some nice Maple. We'll see if the 3-pos safety on the M70 grows on me...same function as the CZ, different implementation/design. My perspective on things is pretty warped...I originally thought this was the Featherweight...had to read Super Grade off the barrel to see what I had in my hand. Really, it's a rescue gun...I re-homed my CZ to save this poor rifle from gathering dust at my LGS.

So when you say "All American Optic" youre not meaning made in America, are you? Im guessing not but just want to be sure as the closest youll get is the vortex amg at this time and its above your price point.

 

[The DFC]

I have a Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm with impact 29 reticle and really like it. Used to have on a .308 gasser but it ended up being a very nice match for my KAC LPR and will probably stay there. Glass is very nice to my eyes and it's one of the lighter 15x scopes I've handled.

 

[NGCSUGrad09]

Look for a used Nightforce 2.5-10x42.