Rifle Scopes best quality at affordable price

[JG_PA_308]

Ok guys, right now I have a .308 and the scope I have on it is a Shooter's Edge 4-16x50 tactical. I know it's not the best scope out there but given the time and $$ I just went with it because it was what I wanted at the price I could afford. Now I can kind of tell it's not the best scope after shooting it some, but yet I haven't taken it out past 200 yards or really shot at groundhogs with it yet and "doped" the scope as I maybe plan. Which I feel with this scope and doping it, it can change it around a little.

My question is, what would be a very good scope that you guys would recommend? I'm open to anything, I don't plan on buying soon, but i'd like to get an idea and to look at my options first. I want a tactical scope, with illuminated reticle. Mil-dot...etc..doesn't really matter because I want to look at my options.

Thanks in advance.
JG

 

[JG_PA_308]

I forgot to add, I'd like to keep it under $500 if possible

 

[30Hart]

Check out www.snipercentral.com/scopereviews.htm Good first place to start...all the different scope reviews together with pictures and features. Let's you compare them....that's not all the scopes but a good first start since your question is generic.

 

[Flyingbullseye]

If you can afford another $200 I'd look at the weaver tactical EDMR. Tough construction, great glass for the price and mil/mil.

 

[DoctorBen]

I'll second the Weaver Tactical 3-15x50 EDMR. It's a heavy beast, fairly good glass, and mine tracks just fine.

 

[JG_PA_308]

looks like a nice scope...but whew...the price

 

[sulcop96]

+2 on Weaver, also the Vortex Viper PST.

Sully

 

[demolitionman]

+2 on Weaver, also the Vortex Viper PST.

Sully

This scope is in your price range, and it's in mine as well. Wonder what the gang here on snipershide has to say about the Vortex Viper:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/385640/vortex-viper-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-65-20x-50mm-side-focus-v-plex-wide-reticle-matte

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/38...20x-50mm-side-focus-v-plex-wide-reticle-matte

 

[Goin'Hot]

Unless you plan on doing some extra snipery stuff, you should forget about illumination. I have a couple illuminated PH's and I pulled their batteries because I never use the illumination.

Look at the bushy 10x tactical or the super sniper 10 out 12x. Matching reticle and turrets that will help you learn. Either is fine out to 1k as well. Don't get too caught up in all the tacticool features that you'll never use.

 

[roggom]

The Weaver has everything you need, I have a few Vortex and they are nice, but it is hard to beat the Weaver at a similar price. If you are patient, they pop up on the hide for $600 used.

 

[scudzuki]

For under $500 you are going to have to decide between performance or features.
You're not going to get good optical quality, illumination, and variable power for $500.

SWFA has fixed power scopes for under $500. Matching turrets and reticles, available in MOA or mils, but no illumination.

Keep watching http://www.samplelist.com/Riflescopes-C3391.aspx for deals on used equipment.

Joe

 

[JG_PA_308]

I want the illumination for when I decide to go hunting at night. I don't know exactly what I plan to do, so i'd like to have the stuff for in case something comes up that I want to do I have it when I need it. Instead of being sorry I didn't get something and regretting it.

 

[JG_PA_308]

thanks for this info guys, keep it coming

 

[NoFail]

Does it have to have illumination? Can it be fixed instead of variable?

It's just really hard to get all that for <$500.

http://swfa.com/Leupold-3-9x40-VX-R-Patrol-30mm-Riflescope-P49445.aspx

http://swfa.com/Weaver-2-10x36-Tactical-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P55483.aspx

http://swfa.com/Nikon-M-308-Riflescopes-C4157.aspx

http://swfa.com/Vortex-Viper-PST-Rifle-Scopes-C2860.aspx

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-MRAD-Scopes-C4225.aspx

 

[JG_PA_308]

I would really like and prefer for it to have illumination, and no I want it to be variable. I can see now that it's a lot harder to get all that for my price, which is why I pretty much went with the Shooter's Edge at the time because it had all that I wanted for only $150.

But I want quality glass, guess you get what you pay for. I'll have to start saving.

 

[SLVGW360]

I understand that you want illumination, but do you really need it? I too wanted to have it. Now that I do in a Nightforce scope, I find that its value for actual use is a very narrow window at dawn and dusk. Maybe some low-light situations in the city if you are a LE sniper, but you're not that. There maybe other applications that I don't know about. You mentioned that you want to hunt at night. Most things that you can legally hunt at night can typically be hunted with artificial light or NV. I have NV (the good stuff) as well and you definitely don't need illumination for that.

I hope this helps. It's your call. If it were me, I would go with the best SWFA you can get for your money without the illumination.

 

[demolitionman]

Are all the "deals" at SWFA used products?

 

[MosesTheTank]

I gotta agree with the illuminated reticle for hunting. Legal hunting for deer being 30 min before sun up and 30 min after sun down, add to that some heavy timber overhead and all you may see of your reticle against a deer, especially on a no moon/cloudy night, is a mass of black nothing. Coyote hunting all night... same thing. You would be better off with tritium iron sights or a simple red dot.

 

[M47Patton]

Do you plan to shoot beyond 500 yards?

Most of the higher power weavers only have ~35 moa of internal adjustment total. That won't be enough to get much further then 500 yards. If you add a 20 moa base then you may not have enough down adjustment for a 100 yard zero.

I just ordered a vortex viper from Camera Land. They are selling the 6.5-20x44 Vplex scope for $279. It has the same glass as the mil dot and bdc models which cost ~$430.

I needed an affordable scope that can get me out to 1000 yards. This vortex has ~65 moa of internal adjustment which should be just enough (I need 32 moa for my 260).. if it's not enough then a 20 moa base will give me plenty of room. It should be delivered in a couple of days. I'll probably put up a youtube video on it. I've heard good things about these so hopefully this does the trick.

 

[JG_PA_308]

Yes I plan to shoot beyond 500 yards, and I set my zero at 200 yards.

But with coyote hunting at night i'll probably be seeing their eyes, so with the illumination i'll be able to pick up my reticle better to put it on em.

 

[ArmyJerry]

For the money, the Bushnell 10x Elite is hard to beat, the Viper PST for 400+ is an excellent choice, have both, great scopes.

 

[supratt96]

I've hunted coyote at night with an illuminated reticle as well as non-illuminated. While I will admit that the illuminated reticle is a nice feature to have, it really didn't make that much of a difference. I can't think of any shots I missed that I could blame on not having an illuminated reticle. Non-illuminated reticles actually are surprisingly easy to see in the spotlight.

A very decent scope within your price range is a Burris Fullfield II Tactical. It doesn't have illumination, but it has worked just fine for me. Surprisingly good glass and very good tracking. I've killed quite a few critters with it at night.

 

[SOTA]

buy once cry once, get a nightforce for around $1300 used

 

[Nebula]

buy once cry once, get a nightforce for around $1300 used

This. Don't even worry about sending any ammo downrange or doing your part until you've got $3000 minimum invested in your rifle. Don't tell me you were planning on shooting it without a AICS chassis or at the very least a McMillan stock... you'll shoot your eye out.

 

[jz97ss]

Agreed. I have my zeiss, nxs, and several other high end glass. I decided to buy a burris after a buddy recommended it. Absolutely love it. Almost matches all my high scopes in clarity. Super impressed with it

I've hunted coyote at night with an illuminated reticle as well as non-illuminated. While I will admit that the illuminated reticle is a nice feature to have, it really didn't make that much of a difference. I can't think of any shots I missed that I could blame on not having an illuminated reticle. Non-illuminated reticles actually are surprisingly easy to see in
the spotlight.

A very decent scope within your price range is a Burris Fullfield II Tactical. It doesn't have illumination, but it has worked just fine for me. Surprisingly good glass and very good tracking. I've killed quite a few critters with it at night.

 

[sib1948]

Yes, you do get what you pay for. You need to get out and shoot more to 500, hopefully with some buddies who will let you shoot some of their weapons. You don't really know what you want or need until you shoot frequently at distance 500-1000 yds or greater. Spend your money now on ammo and practice while saving for the other things you might want and need as you become more proficient. Many good scopes at varying prices available. Whn you do decide to buy, many good bargains used here at the Hide. Good Luck

 

[Tarheelpwr]

The Falcon Menace will prob be your best bet. Glass quality is better than average, you get mil/mil, illum, side focus, FFP, and you're right at $400:

http://swfa.com/Falcon-Menace-4-14x44-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P57241.aspx

That's really your best bet as far as full featured tactical scope until you get up to the Viper PST/Weaver Tactical, but those double the price.

 

[HOGTOOTH5R]

The Falcon Menace will prob be your best bet. Glass quality is better than average, you get mil/mil, illum, side focus, FFP, and you're right at $400:

http://swfa.com/Falcon-Menace-4-14x44-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P57241.aspx

That's really your best bet as far as full featured tactical scope until you get up to the Viper PST/Weaver Tactical, but those double the price.

+1 on ^^^^

I've got 2 of the FFP Falcon Menace Scopes Both 5.5-25 x 50mm Mil/Mil one with the EMD and other with M12 Rets. I've pretty impressed with what you get with it at this price range. It's not the best but it certainly get it done. The Glass is clear through the Mag Range and the Rets are very userfriendly and far better and useful than the typical Mil Dots in this price range. The only down side is good luck finding these right now as most places I looked are out of Stock. Especially for the 4-14 x 44 Ill models.

If you can find one, you'll be good.

Cheers.

HOG.

 

[Direct_Fire]

I definitely think that a Fixed power 10x from SWFA.com would be your best bet. You can get great glass for a lot less when you go with a fixed power scope and 10x has been used by the military for their sniper waepon systems for many years.

 

[demolitionman]

For what it's worth, my shooting partner bought a Nikon monarch .308 model which I believe is designed for the AR platform, yet he mounted it on his 700. That Monarch is a 4x16x? And about 125 more dollars than my Bushnell Legend Ultra HD. Hands down, no doubt, my inexpensive (300.00) legend ultra he Bushy is way crisper and clearer than his Monarch throughout the whole magnification range. I couldn't believe it! Maybe I have A freak of a great Bushnell, or his Monarch is below par, because everything I've ever read says the Monarchs are great entry level scopes. My Bushy blows his Monarch out of the water in visual clarity and magnifcation. Only thing his scope has hts nice is tactical turrets. He looked through my legend ultra he, and now he's thinking of returning his Monarch. Just a heads up my on cheap entry level scope experience.

 

[dustinoif3]

Millet 4-16x50 trs-1. Solid glass for 300

 

[bh10]

Primary Arms 4-14x FFP Mil dot with illumination.

 

[dawson08]

Millet LRS-1 Mil-Mil.

 

[Red_SC]

Two excellent options within your price range, but without illumination:

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-12x42-Tactical-Riflescope-P53714.aspx

http://swfa.com/Burris-35-10x42-MTAC-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P53422.aspx

 

[Red_SC]

Doubletap.

 

[demolitionman]

Maybe Millet fixed a lot of their control issues since this post: http://www.opticstalk.com/millett-lrs1-problemsuggh_topic12321.html I hope they have, and let me add I have had no experience with Millet other than in a retail store. I'm researching for a new scope and I can't help but keep coming across thread after thread and review after review on all the issues with the "Big "magnification Millets. There all over the Internet. I'm not the type to put a lot of faith on net reviews but its rampant negativity concerning Millets online....do any of you Hide members know if all the bad online juju concerning Millet is simply just un-warranted negativity?

 

[BuzzBoss915]

" I want a tactical scope, with illuminated reticle. Mil-dot...etc.."

Okay, first. Can you explain why you need a tactical scope? Or, perhaps you just "want" a tactical scope?

Second, no issue with the reticle choice, but there are many others.

But, third: You want an illuminated reticle.

I have two USO, a 5X25 and a 1.8X10, both illuminated. I have used the illuminated once and it cost me an animal. Yeah, I hit him but aside from some blood and bone, it was no advantage, at all. In fact, because it was a moonless night, I didn't have the time to select the correct intensity so I fumbled around and turned it off and the coyote was still standing there, but I couldn't see well enough to put the crosshairs where they needed to be. I just guessed because I was essentially blind. Long story, but my point is that an illuminated reticle has very little usefulness, for me, and I do a lot of hunting at night, mainly with various types of spotlights, and as was mentioned above, picking up non illuminated reticles, at night is easily done. So, that begs the question; why do you need it?

I think the important thing would be to use or borrow and get familiar with some of the gear that's out there. I also believe that "fixed" is good value in glass. I also believe that "used" is good value. Since, we are talking about "almost" entry level, (no offense) it's possible that you don't have a real clear concept of what you like and what you need, which isn't a crime, but as somebody else said; cry once. You will not complain that you bought too much quality, but we frequently hear about poor quality. I have a Kahles and a Zeiss that are both excellent for identifying targets at night, without illumination, because of the quality of the glass and the coatings. Good luck with your choice. BB

 

[Lukas Koukal]

Keep an eye on second-han option too, here in the FS section and on other forums, too. There really is no need to pay for the box of a new scope while a used one will perform the same for less.

 

[S4599]

Weaver or Vortex gets my vote.

 

[Rem40xb1]

under 500 Leupold