Rifle Scopes Budget 22 Trainer Optic

Kwfranklin88

Kwfranklin88

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Jan 11, 2020
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#1
I’m new to long range shooting. I’m on a very tight budget. I’m trying to find the cheapest optic I can that will still get the job done on a 22 trainer. I will be shooting 30-150 yards.

I will be running a swfa 3-15 on my other rifle. So I prefer something that is mil/mil. Since I’m new to long range and on a tight budget I will be using the 22 to learn and practice. So I can practice more for less money on ammo.

I would like to stay under $300 if possible. I’ve spent a lot of money already getting started in this game. Any ideas? If I can’t find a good deal then I’ll just go with a fixed power swfa. Should I get 6x or 10x? Most of my shooting will be 50-100.
Thanks guys! Really appreciate all the help so far!
 
#10
It's really hard to beat the SWFA fixed power scopes for the money. Lower powered ones like the 10x really have quite good glass. I'm not sure about the FOV specs, but I think it would work great at 50 yards and beyond. Their 2 biggest strengths are mechanical reliability (tracking and such) and total elevation travel. What they lack in nice to have features they easily make up for where it counts. 40mil of elevation is a ton. That would get me out to 2300yds with my .260 (assuming it was over my zero....). Just my .02....
 
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#14
I'm really happy with my vortex diamondback. Ffp. Something to keep in mind is parallax range. I tried a leupold vxfreedom 4-12 tmr that was fixed parallax and couldn't get the target and reticle both in focus at 25 yards. If I remember right the vortex will go down to 15 yards.
 
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#16
motorcycleboy said:
Swfa 10x. Not even close to too much for 50 yards. Not enough to see hits on paper though. A pain to use a spotting scope when you don’t have to. I would say 15x minimum for what your looking to do.
Click to expand...

I use a 4-16 tango 4 and it's fine at 10x to see hits. Glass is hit and miss on swfa.

Spotters aren't hard to use, just need a decent setup.
 
#17
If you are using SWFA SS 3-15x42 on your other gun, I think it makes sense to get either 10x or 12x SWFA fixed power scope with the same reticle. That will give you significant sight picture commonality between the two and for training purposes that can really matter.

Another option is to see if you can get a used 3-15x42, but that may not be all that simple to do within your budget.

ILya
 
#21
SWFA 10x or 12x, perfect. I use the 12x for NRL22 base class and I don't feel like I'm missing anything unless it's a real small target at 100+ and those are very rare. Hasn't held me back in the slightest.
 
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#22
I run Mueller 8-32x44 tactical optics on my 22lr trainers. They focus/parallax to 10 yards and have 1/8 MOA adjustments with very fine reticle. While I do plenty of PRS style shooting 90% is with the 22lr shooting guys between 25-125 yards and really small targets or steel swingers. ALL of my other scope are MIL/MIL and this does not interfere with shooting 22. I do not need MIL or pyramid reticle for these rifles but to each their own.

www.opticsplanet.com

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#24
Dynamik1 said:
Actually I'm not sure I'd agree with that. My Talos is much nicer than my Argos.
Click to expand...
I believe you. I assumed the higher up model would be better. I have not had the Argos. Ive read and heard many good reviews on them tho. Only the Talos and Ares. The Talos was heavy enough to drive nails with and had a super fussy sight picture/eyebox. Tracked reliably tho. I very quickly sold it. I should not have tried the Ares BTR first and assumed id be okay with the Talos on a budget rig.!
 
#25
motorcycleboy said:
At 150 yards you can see paper hits at 10x ?
Click to expand...

Yes. The glass is crystal clear in the center with good resolution. Where it fails against the better scopes is the clarity falls off as you go out.
Ares btr is cloudy comparatively, as is swfa.

Coatings on different glass and the way they portray the picture to your eye is a big part of it also. Vortex for example, I can't look through for 5 minutes without getting a migraine. I can however stare through many others for hours with no issues.
 
#27
Admitedly small sample size but... the swfa 12x I snagged on blackfriday sucked dick compared to the athlon talos btr. Might have had better turret feel (might!) and a reputation for "bomb proof" tracking but everything else about using it was god awful to experience. Sure the swfa has 2x the elevation travel but I dont know of anyone that would want to shoot at something at 12x with 40 mils dialed into its 5 mil turrets.

I put them both right there together, one on each ear of a gamechanger and went back and forth. The athlon had better color, better sharpness, better fov, better eyebox... there really wasnt anything that the swfa had going for it other than being a much less pleasant to get behind for any of the masochists out there.


That you can get the argos btr for even less right now on its clearance sale makes a no brainer if we are staying under 300 bucks.
 
#28
I had a 12x swfa on mine for a while. I shoot at my house from 50-200 regularly and 50yrds was no problem at all. 25 even would be fine I think. Only reason I took it off is because I had a spare us optics lr17 after I sold the gun it was on. I dont see how you could go wrong with a 10x or 12x.

Hell worst case is sell it if you dont like it. Used ones hold thier value ridiculously well.
 
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#32
I have two of the Mueller 8-32x44, and have them mounted on LR C/F rifles, having used them in 1000yd F Open Comp on a custom 260, et al. They've been excellent for approaching a decade.

They have a good rep for 22lr Comp.

I am replacing the one on the 260 with a 4.5-18 Bushnell AR Drop Zone 6.5CM BDC scope soon, since I no longer shoot Prone.

Greg
 
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#33
I just bought an Argos gen 2. It's 10-40 but the lower power ones should have the same turrets. The turrets on my gen 2 line up perfectly and feel very similar to the Midas TAC turrets now. The glass is good enough. I haven't tested tracking yet.
 
#34
Kwfranklin88 said:
I’m new to long range shooting. I’m on a very tight budget. I’m trying to find the cheapest optic I can that will still get the job done on a 22 trainer. I will be shooting 30-150 yards.

I will be running a swfa 3-15 on my other rifle. So I prefer something that is mil/mil. Since I’m new to long range and on a tight budget I will be using the 22 to learn and practice. So I can practice more for less money on ammo.

I would like to stay under $300 if possible. I’ve spent a lot of money already getting started in this game. Any ideas? If I can’t find a good deal then I’ll just go with a fixed power swfa. Should I get 6x or 10x? Most of my shooting will be 50-100.
Thanks guys! Really appreciate all the help so far!
Click to expand...


Check out the Riton Conquer X1. Good value for the money and killer warranty.
 
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