Best Scope for Various Price Ranges Listed

[Brownclemson]

Hello - I hope everyone is doing well. I would love to get some opinions on scope of various price ranges. I have several rifles I am working on. Each for different uses so not all need perfection on optics. What’s your opinion on these price ranges which I am shopping.

Best sub $500 scope?

Best $500-1000?

Best $1000-$2000?

Thank you for your valuable opinions!!

 

[db2000]

Best scope is a loaded question and either an ignorant post or just stirring the pot. That being said, a few scopes that are very nice to me:
< $500
Helos BTR Gen 2 (420 and 624 if found used or 2-12 new )
$500-$1000
DNT 7-35
PL-x 1-8 used

 

[Jkoehle1]

Probably best to add other parameters - target turrets? Max mag range? Min mag range? Illuminiation? Reticle preferencs? Etc

 

[Im2bent]

 

[FuhQ]

You didn't give a magnification range, or what they are going on, or their intended use so here's my generic suggestions for those price ranges... If they're going on hunting rifles, then these can be kind of heavy (except for the Vortex Viper HD). If they're going on hunting rifles, my suggestions would be different.

If they're going on long range or bench rifles here's my suggestions...

Sub-$500: Arken SH-4J 6-24x50 VPR MIL

$500-$1000: DNT 7-35x56 TOR MRAD ... or ... Vortex Viper HD 5-25x50 FFP MRAD

$1,000-$2,000: Burris XTR-III 5.5-30x56 SCR2 MIL ... or ... Nighforce NX8 4-32x50 MIL-XT

 

[Turkeytider]

You didn't give a magnification range, or what they are going on, or their intended use so here's my generic suggestions for those price ranges... If they're going on hunting rifles, then these can be kind of heavy (except for the Vortex Viper HD). If they're going on hunting rifles, my suggestions would be different.

If they're going on long range or bench rifles here's my suggestions...

Sub-$500: Arken SH-4J 6-24x50 VPR MIL

$500-$1000: DNT 7-35x56 TOR MRAD ... or ... Vortex Viper HD 5-25x50 FFP MRAD

$1,000-$2,000: Burris XTR-III 5.5-30x56 SCR2 MIL ... or ... Nighforce NX8 4-32x50 MIL-XT

Granted only 365 rounds through my Tikka Super Varmint but so far VERY pleased with my Arken SH4 J 6-24 Gen II.

 

[Brownclemson]

Thank you. I guess I should have given more detail. Ouch. I should have been more specific but my post intent was quality/clarity. Magnification is great if it comes with but I was looking more or less for clarity, light conditions, product support, value. These are hunting rifles and not competition. Forgive my lack of detail. I have several Leupold and various Vortex. Outside of those I am not experienced with other brands. Several of my friends have gone to Nightforce and they seem to have several models at reasonable prices but I am unfamiliar with them. Thanks for the responses! I have already gleaned much imfoirmation.

 

[FuhQ]

Thank you. I guess I should have given more detail. Ouch. I should have been more specific but my post intent was quality/clarity. Magnification is great if it comes with but I was looking more or less for clarity, light conditions, product support, value. These are hunting rifles and not competition. Forgive my lack of detail. I have several Leupold and various Vortex. Outside of those I am not experienced with other brands. Several of my friends have gone to Nightforce and they seem to have several models at reasonable prices but I am unfamiliar with them. Thanks for the responses! I have already gleaned much imfoirmation.

If you've been using Leupold and older Vortex scopes, anything I posted above would be an upgrade... LOL

If you're not afraid to go up to the $2K range, then I'd buy something in the $2K range, and not skimp. You will regret it later. If you have the money for better, always buy better.

I think you would really like the NF NX8 4-32x50 MIL-XT. A buddy has one of those and the 2.5-20x50 MIL-XT and both are excellent scopes. The 4-32x50 we both kind of agreed had better glass for some reason, and the extra magnification on top was nice for longer ranges, and PID'ing your target.

Right now, EuroOptic has a no sales tax sale going on for the NX8...

Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 Mil-XT Riflescope C634

FREE SHIPPING on Nightforce NX8 4-32x50 Mil-XT Riflescope C634

www.eurooptic.com

Here's some other great options that are close to your price range (maybe just slightly over by a couple hundred, but worth the extra money)...

I have 2 of these, they are excellent scopes... You won't beat the glass clarity and lowlight performance at this price... Real Austrian SCHOTT glass and build.

Kahles K624i 6-24x56mm RSW CCW SKMR4 FFP Riflescope 10681

FREE SHIPPING on Kahles K624i 6-24x56mm RSW CCW SKMR4 FFP Riflescope 10681

www.eurooptic.com

I have the 6-36x56 version of this, and it's a pheonomal scope... But for hunting the 4-25x50 would be a better option, IMO...

Zeiss LRP S3 4-25x50mm .1 MRAD FFP ZF-MRi #16 Riflescope 522675-9916-090

FREE SHIPPING on Zeiss LRP S3 4-25x50mm .1 MRAD FFP ZF-MRi #16 Riflescope 522675-9916-090

www.eurooptic.com

And these are on sale for an awesome price right now (just slightly under $2K), and are excellent scopes with great glass and I really like the SCR2 reticle.

Steiner T6Xi 5-30x56mm SCR2 Riflescope 5125

FREE SHIPPING on Steiner T6Xi 5-30x56mm SCR2 Riflescope 5125

www.eurooptic.com

 

[ma smith]

Nothing is ever always 'best' optically, everything has limits, and that means everything is about tradeoffs at those limits. The same can be true with form-factors and reticles as well. If you don't know what and where those limits are, there's typically no point in upgrading.

The main function you need to be dead nuts reliable, is both tracking and RTZ over time. Problem is those aren't optical features, and rearely get measured/tested/discussed. You're typically looking at $800-1,000 pricing floor price at an aboslute minimum, and some would argue its really twice that.

The proven reliable "budget" scopes, that are both fully-featured and reliable, are typically street-price $1600+ (suitable for PRS type use). Those optics might be available on discounts and used market for cheaper. You don't need to use that class of optic if you don't want to or its financially non-viable, but those optics/pricepoints tend to be the lowest where you see people deciding to "stop" spending money.

People with glass below that standard typically upgrade glass as they get more experienced (ie find out "what and where those limits are").