Best optic under $800

J

Jb343434

Private
Minuteman
Sep 9, 2020
57
14
#1
Bolt gun build!
Well here is another optic question, and before you crap on my post there is so much junk and other post to sift through by the time I actual found anything conclusive the product would be obsolete,
I’m looking for the best you can get for the money!

Must be at least
1. 25x or more
2. Ffp
3. Zero stop
4. Useable reticle for competition and hunting
5. At least 30mm tube
6. Great glass
From my searching through the interwebs
I have found a couple the have sparked my interest
1. Bushnell forge 4-27 $699
2. Athlon ares
3. Vortex pst
4. Crimson trace
5. Riton
And so on...
just really seeing what people think is the best bang for the dollar $800 and below, please let me know what you all think!
 
Last edited:
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#3
Sightron Siii 6-24 ffp (not quite 25x). Just use burris sig xtr rings to have the bottom of travel as your zero stop and have ALL adjustment available. Simple mil reticle or mil-hash Xmas tree.
 
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#5
Are you mil/Leo? If so, many of the Hide’s optics vendors offer discounts. Perhaps you can get a better scope than otherwise for around 800.

That said, list of your requirements translates to Nightforce, SB, Mark5, Vortex Razor etc. The SWFA may or may not work depending on your definition of “great glass”. Especially at higher magnification and/or in lower light.

If all of your shooting will be done in broad daylight you can prob find something that meets your needs. Otherwise optics in the $800 price point fall on their face visually in less than perfect conditions.


Jb343434 said:
Bolt gun build!
Well here is another optic question, and before you crap on my post there is so much junk and other post to sift through by the time I actual found anything conclusive the product would be obsolete,
I’m looking for the best you can get for the money!

Must be at least
1. 25x or more
2. Ffp
3. Zero stop
4. Useable reticle for competition and hunting
5. At least 30mm tube
6. Great glass
From my searching through the interwebs
I have found a couple the have sparked my interest
1. Bushnell forge 4-27 $699
2. Athlon ares
3. Vortex pst
4. Crimson trace
5. Riton
And so on...
just really seeing what people think is the best bang for the dollar $800 and below, please let me know what you all think!
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
#7
nn8734 said:
Are you mil/Leo? If so, many of the Hide’s optics vendors offer discounts. Perhaps you can get a better scope than otherwise for around 800.

That said, list of your requirements translates to Nightforce, SB, Mark5, Vortex Razor etc. The SWFA may or may not work depending on your definition of “great glass”. Especially at higher magnification and/or in lower light.

If all of your shooting will be done in broad daylight you can prob find something that meets your needs. Otherwise optics in the $800 price point fall on their face visually in less than perfect conditions.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info
 
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#15
Champagne taste, champagne of beers budget...

Bushnell Match Pro offers you all this with the exception of "only" 24x and no zero stop for $450-500. Glass isn't "great" on the top end IMO (I own two of these) but the package is surprisingly good for the money.

I'd consider the Vortex Strike Eagle, Helos BTR Gen 2, and Midas Tac at that price point, add the Ares BTR Gen 2 and PST II if you have access to MIL/LEO discounts, and consider used optics like a DMR2, XTRII, etc.|

We are spoiled rotten with optics compared to just a few years ago in terms of feature set & optical quality at a given price point, but ya gotta be realistic about what you're gonna get...
 
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#17
nn8734 said:
Just curious, what cartridge you going with? how’s this rifle going to be used (prs, hunting, casual target shooting, etc) and at what typical maximum distances to the targets?
Click to expand...
6.5 Creed it’ll be on a Ruger precision with criterion barrel mostly used for local matches and target shooting and possibly hunt but probably not lol. 1000-1200 max but usually around 600
 
#19
BoilerUP said:
Champagne taste, champagne of beers budget...

Bushnell Match Pro offers you all this with the exception of "only" 24x and no zero stop for $450-500. Glass isn't "great" on the top end IMO (I own two of these) but the package is surprisingly good for the money.

I'd consider the Vortex Strike Eagle, Helos BTR Gen 2, and Midas Tac at that price point, add the Ares BTR Gen 2 and PST II if you have access to MIL/LEO discounts, and consider used optics like a DMR2, XTRII, etc.|

We are spoiled rotten with optics compared to just a few years ago in terms of feature set & optical quality at a given price point, but ya gotta be realistic about what you're gonna get...
Click to expand...
I have an Athlon Argos and like it but the glass can be improved upon, are the higher end athlons that much better in glass?
 
#20
I’m almost on the arken band wagon, but I’d like to consider the higher end athlons and sightrons I’ve looked through the strike eagle and wasn’t blown away esp with the turrets. I’m really interested in the higher in bushnells anyone have any history with the dmr or the forges?
 
#21
Jb343434 said:
How’s the glass quality?
Click to expand...

Not as good as a $2000+ scope, but for ~$400 it's about as good or better than anything else below that price range.

Truth is though, if you really plan on shooting out to 1200 yards, it's not so much about glass quality, it's more about solid tracking, and as long as you get a good one (they're made in china after all) there's absolutely nothing about an Arken that'll hold you back.
 
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#23
Jb343434 said:
Bolt gun build!
Well here is another optic question, and before you crap on my post there is so much junk and other post to sift through by the time I actual found anything conclusive the product would be obsolete,
I’m looking for the best you can get for the money!

Must be at least
1. 25x or more
2. Ffp
3. Zero stop
4. Useable reticle for competition and hunting
5. At least 30mm tube
6. Great glass
From my searching through the interwebs
I have found a couple the have sparked my interest
1. Bushnell forge 4-27 $699
2. Athlon ares
3. Vortex pst
4. Crimson trace
5. Riton
And so on...
just really seeing what people think is the best bang for the dollar $800 and below, please let me know what you all think!
Click to expand...
The strike angle 5-25 is pretty good. Meets all your requirements
 
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#26
I’ve got an Arken SH4 that’ll be here in a couple days. Ordered back in December. I’m hoping it’ll be worth the wait. T-Rex gave it very high praises, that’s what sold me on it.

New orders are supposedly only a 7 week back order.
 
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#27
Jb343434 said:
That’s what I’m hearing the higher end bushnelll stuff is real good
Click to expand...

I've got the XRS and the XRS-2 and they are rock solid.
Is there better glass out there? Of course
$2k brought both scopes into my house with some change to spare.

To get the same repeatability with better glass, you'll be in waaaay over $2k for one scope.

There's an XRS in the classifieds, and IIRC, two XRS-2 scopes right now.

The zero stop on the XRS is weird. They fixed that with the XRS-2 and added better glass with a better elevation turret.
You can pick up the -2 for a little over a grand if you shop carefully.
 
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#28
Mike Casselton said:
I've got the XRS and the XRS-2 and they are rock solid.
Is there better glass out there? Of course
$2k brought both scopes into my house with some change to spare.

To get the same repeatability with better glass, you'll be in waaaay over $2k for one scope.

There's an XRS in the classifieds, and IIRC, two XRS-2 scopes right now.

The zero stop on the XRS is weird. They fixed that with the XRS-2 and added better glass with a better elevation turret.
You can pick up the -2 for a little over a grand if you shop careful
Click to expand...
 
#31
Jb343434 said:
Oh no doubt that’s a helluva scope but a little bit over my price range
Click to expand...
Shipped with rings, sunshade and throw lever.
Make him an offer...

www.snipershide.com

SOLD - Bushnell XRS H59

Wanna gather funds to finishing my other build. Bushnell XRS H59 MDT rings Sunshade MK throw lever Asking $950 shipped Will trade for Defiance tenacity chassis/Stock
www.snipershide.com www.snipershide.com
 
#34
Jb343434 said:
Bolt gun build!
Well here is another optic question, and before you crap on my post there is so much junk and other post to sift through by the time I actual found anything conclusive the product would be obsolete,
I’m looking for the best you can get for the money!

Must be at least
1. 25x or more
2. Ffp
3. Zero stop
4. Useable reticle for competition and hunting
5. At least 30mm tube
6. Great glass
From my searching through the interwebs
I have found a couple the have sparked my interest
1. Bushnell forge 4-27 $699
2. Athlon ares
3. Vortex pst
4. Crimson trace
5. Riton
And so on...
just really seeing what people think is the best bang for the dollar $800 and below, please let me know what you all think!
Click to expand...
Burris XTR-ii. I wouldn’t say great glass but it’s good glass. Great turret. Mine tracks perfectly back and forth from 0-1200 yards+. Ffp. 34mm tube. Checks pretty much all the boxes.
 
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#35
Kentucreed6 said:
Vortex strike eagle 5-25. Less than $500 with Leo or veterans discount. Probably the best scope under the $800 mark for all the features. Arken would be a great option if you don’t need it this year.
Click to expand...
I just got my vortex strike eagle in yesterday. For the price with the LEO discount you can beat it. euro optics has them in stock
 
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#37
The strike eagle is the only scope I have ever seen move horizontally when you dial vertically. My buddy bought one and brand new out of the box it was broke. Sent it back and they “fixed” it. Still does it, just not as bad.
 
#38
I’d personally go bushnell or the Athlon before going with the vortex in this price range. I’ve owned 3 vortex (2 Viper PST and 1 HS) had a 66% fail rate. Yes vortex has great customer service but I wouldn’t trust another one without stepping up to the razors. Which at this point I’d go Cronus BTR

The Burris XTRII as mentioned is another bulletproof optic. I own the 3-15 and owned the 4-20. The 3-15 is very clear and the honest sweet spot for this optic. The quality suffers in the higher mags in the XTRII and my 4-20 was noticeably worse on 18-20. But still useable

I think to many people however get caught up on just how “great” the glass is. They fail to look at the reliability end as far as tracking/longevity and the history of the optic itself

I personally prefer to buy optics with proven track records now. It may not always have the newest features but it’s proven reliable
 
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#40
Matt337458 said:
The strike eagle is the only scope I have ever seen move horizontally when you dial vertically. My buddy bought one and brand new out of the box it was broke. Sent it back and they “fixed” it. Still does it, just not as bad.
Click to expand...
Is this a common issue? I have one and so does my brother. Neither of ours do that. It sits on a 22. Haven’t used it much though. Will Keep an eye out for it though
 
#46
b6graham said:
Its a shame the arken dumps a huge steamy shit right where I want to look for trace

Id have voted strike eagle. But too late
Click to expand...
Well it isn’t too late for me, I put an order in I’m sure I’ll have at least 5 months to ponder my decision I can always cancel the order and go with a higher tier Athlon, but you can’t see bullet trace with the arken!?
 
#48
Jb343434 said:
Well it isn’t too late for me, I put an order in I’m sure I’ll have at least 5 months to ponder my decision I can always cancel the order and go with a higher tier Athlon, but you can’t see bullet trace with the arken!?
Click to expand...
Just saying the reticle choice above center is a little much and distracting
 
#50
b6graham said:
Just saying the reticle choice above center is a little much and distracting
Click to expand...

I think you're thinking of one of Arken's older reticles they put out initially, the EP-4's EPR reticle: it was dumb as fuck (big combat-style rangeing nonsense right in the way)..? The SH-4 Gen2's have a newer VPR reticle that is actually kind of nice and free of that BS, to me it looks sort of like a homage to the Kahles SKMR3 reticle.
 
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