Rifle Scopes Best sub $600 15x or 16x hunting scope?

WEATHERBY460

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Minuteman
Jul 12, 2011
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I am looking for a new scope but want to keep it below $600 since I will only use it once in a great while. I prefer 30mm tube and 50 or 56 objective lens. The vortex viper is the only thing I have found so far. Is there anything else?
 
It would be my pleasure to discuss options with you.
Some great choices under $600.00 from Athlon, Meopta, Steiner and Hawke.

Open Box Hawke Endurance 30 WA SF 4-16x50 - LRC 16x Illuminated #16352 only $349.99

Open Box Hawke Endurance 30 WA SF 4-16x50 - .223 .308 Marksman 16x Illuminated #16351 only $349.99

Hawke Frontier 30 SF 2.5-15x50 TMX #18221 only $399.99

Athlon
Midas BTR 2.5-15x50 - APMR1 SFP IR MIL reduced from $559.99 to only $249.99
or
Midas BTR 2.5-15x50 - APLR1 SFP IR MIL reduced from $569.99 to only $249.99

Meopta Meopro 4-12x50 MMD reduced from $699.95 to only $399.99

Meopta MeoStar R1 4-12x40 MMD (MilDot) reduced from $999.99 to only $599.99

Meopta MeoStar R1 4-12x40 with #4 Reticle reduced from $999.99 to only $599.99

Meopta MeoStar R1 4-12x40 German #1 Reticle reduced from $999.99 to only $599.99

I'm in all day, give a call 516-217-1000
 
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Not 50mm objective and a smidge more than 600 but take a look at the SWFA 3-15 FFP. Japanese glass and the one I have has been solid.
Not sure what you’re hunting, but for big game less is more. My Nikon prostaff 5 2.5-10 is what I have on my 3006 and 243 which are used less than my 223 MSR and 7mm mag which wear a NightForce nxs compact and a Leupold vx-6 3-18 (which I sometimes wish was a 2-12). The deer I shot this year at 135 yd I shot on 3 power... Ranges can get a lot further up here, but their isn’t a shot I would take on a deer that I couldn’t with a 10 power (max 350-400 yds). Now, on a coyote...

I’d add Nikon to the list. From a price:performance perspective it’s embarassing for my more expensive scopes. There is a difference, but I’m very happy with the nikons for hunting. Check out the Monarch line which comes in a 30mm tube and a magnification range of 3.5-14 or 4.5-18.

I have a vortex hst 4-16 which is good, but I think the glass is just as good on the Nikon. The turrets and reticle are of course much nicer on the vortex.

For a regular hunting rifle, a Nikon or a Leupold vx-1 up to 3 is pretty much my optic of choice. A 2-7, 3-9, or 4-12 is more than enough magnification. More will usually just give you a heavier, bulkier, more expensive setup that doesn’t hunt any better.

FWIW, if you want to blow the budget a bit and get what seems to be a great hunting weight optic with more magnification I’d check out the vortex razor 3-15 lh. Not sure what they go for in the US off the top of my head though.

Best of luck, lots of good options out there.
 
Vortex 3x15lh razor.
Very good glass for under 600 dollars.
Been using mine on a 450BM I built and it holds zero and deer hit ground fast so far out to 250 yards.
Like the #4 type reticle at low light.
The floating dot works great for shooting sub moa groups at 100 yards with my handloads.