Describe your perfect scope

[JMo22]

Doing a little market research on the current state of riflescopes...what does your perfect scope spec look like? Length, weight, mag range, features, glass quality vs other features at a given price point, etc. per use case? What are some thing that currently available scopes are lacking for a given price point or use case?

Any and all feedback is welcome. Many thanks.

 

[brianf]

I’ll bite

TT glass and quality that costs as much as a NF atacr

With reticle choices of ZCO, Vortex, TT

European FOV specs before they are reduced for US market

Tool less zero

Locking turrets

Red or green illumination

5-40x mag range

Not too long / shorter than most SB scopes

If most if not all of those can’t be combined..there is a scope already on the market which does one of the above “combinations”

 

[JMo22]

I’ll bite

TT glass and quality that costs as much as a NF atacr

With reticle choices of ZCO, Vortex, TT

European FOV specs before they are reduced for US market

Tool less zero

Locking turrets

Red or green illumination

5-40x mag range

Not too long / shorter than most SB scopes

If most if not all of those can’t be combined..there is a scope already on the market which does one of the above “combinations”

Good input, thanks. The FOV thing being tacked back on for the American market as a "feature" is pretty annoying. The more I shoot the more I value a good eyebox and FOV.

 

[VandelayIndustries]

2.5-15x50 or x42
Bushnells G2H reticle with .2mil wind marks. Illuminated. Toolless low profile lockable turrets. Under 27 oz. Forgiving eye box and parallax. Wide fov. And most importantly durable.
If it’s a NF please get rid of the rotating eye piece.

 

[steve123]

MPVO
2.2-13.2 x 38 to 42
sub 13"
Sub 21oz
30mm tube
Highest grade glass and coatings possible.
Reticle similar to Athlon Helos G2 2-12 DMR with a few minor changes like .2 mil center dot but thicker and wider circle of death.
Motion activated Daylight bright green illume.
Wider low profile 10 MIL elevation turret, tool less, large numbers, distinct feel of clicks with firmer action, ZS.
10M close focus.
Wide FOV.

lifetime warranty support in the USA.

 

[WWJD]

3-20 Vortex AMG
34mm
Gen III Style Turrets
Under 35oz

 

[Glassaholic]

Doing a little market research on the current state of riflescopes...what does your perfect scope spec look like? Length, weight, mag range, features, glass quality vs other features at a given price point, etc. per use case? What are some thing that currently available scopes are lacking for a given price point or use case?

Any and all feedback is welcome. Many thanks.

This is kind of a can of worms as there are so many nuances to what "perfect" means for any given person - and "perfect" often changes over time with regard to experience and use case, etc.

We have some awesome and amazing scopes on the market today in the LPVO class and the long range FFP class, what we are seriously lacking are really good offerings in the MPVO class and the mid-range crossover class, especially when it comes to reticle and illumination.
Here's my thoughts for existing Crossover/MPVO:

FFP 56mm objective (under 35oz)

• The Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56 is the best "new" offering, but needs a better reticle for usability at 3x (or brighter illumination)

FFP 50mm objective (under 30oz)

• TT315M 3-15x50 - probably the best offering but this design is over a decade old (but still the best) and could use a refresh or at least a reticle that works at 3x besides the mil-dot.
• The Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 has real potential, but reticle choices for use at 2.5x are non-existent, if NF offered the FC-DMx reticle or a variant of that blended with Mil-XT they have a real winner here.
• The Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22x50, lightest weight FFP scope in its class, but what is up with that mag range, I don't think anyone except NRL Hunter was asking for that which was likely the target audience with this scope, if Vortex could do a LHT 3-18x50 under 23oz and offer a reticle that works at 3x... money $$$
• Burris XTR IIIi 3.3-18x50, Burris is part of the same parent ownership that owns Steiner and have shared design and reticles, but Burris needs a reticle that works at bottom mag just like Steiner.

FFP 42/44mm objective (under 25oz)

• March 1.5-15x42 with DR-TR2B dual focal plane reticle, really have nothing to complain about, yes I wish IQ was a little better at higher mags but this is a 10x erector so set your expectations accordingly, it is the best MPVO on the market to date.
• Steiner H6Xi 2-12x42 but just like the 3-18 above, the reticle is not ideal for 2x use
• Leupold almost makes the cut with weight at 26oz so worth mentioning their Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44, but like the others here, gotta have a reticle that works at bottom mag. And who uses a 35mm tube anymore???

I realize there are a couple options here and there but I left out any 4x erector designs, they are nice (or can be) but just not what the market is really demanding right now unless the price is right. Also didn't include a lot of cheap scopes

The most common theme here is the reticle, why sport optics manufacturers cannot figure out how to make a good reticle for a crossover and/or MPVO is beyond me. Bushnell did it over a decade ago with the G2H reticle - just add a circle of death to your existing long range reticle while you figure out how to do a decent crossover reticle - one that works well at bottom mag and works well at top mag.

As far as what would my "perfect scope" be for these categories, here are my thoughts:

FFP 56mm objective (under 35oz)

• 3-20x56 or close variation thereof. Would love to see something from March with a dual focal plane reticle or the FML-TR1H and with brighter illumination.
• For a few years now I've wanted Minox to take their sister company Blaser's 4-20x58 and put the ZP5 turrets and MR4 reticle in it, but Minox appears to be all but fading from the American marketplace unfortunately so I have little hope for any future Minox product to trickle into the states.

FFP 50mm objective (under 30oz)

• 3.3-20x50 or close variation thereof. Would love to see something from Vortex, either AMG or RG3 but weight has got to be under 30 and reticle has got to be usable at the bottom.
• Numerous threads have teased us with a ZCO "hunter" version of their 4-20x50 with the magic 30 (30mm tube and 30oz) but I just don't see ZCO doing anything outside of their signature 36mm tubes anytime soon.
• Would love to see TT delve into the 6x erector market and offer a TT318M 3-18x50 under or close to 30oz and to offer a reticle that works at 3x with brighter illumination and 10 mil per rev double turn turrets.

FFP 42/44mm objective (under 25oz)

• This is really the untapped market, everyone abandoned this it seems once LPVO's started getting 8x and then 10x erectors, but having good 1x and that much magnification creates issues for long range usability and now a lot are returning to an MPVO style scope. Similar to the LPVO, for a scope to succeed in this category it's got to have a reticle that works at bottom and top mags.
• Nightforce NX8 1.5-12x42 with FC-DMx would be an immediate success. They have the erector, they have the reticle, just need to make the scope.

I am hopeful that 2025 will see some of the above fantasies fulfilled...

 

[taliv]

A USO 5-25x TPAL with internal bubble level and capped windage. With TT glass and NF reliability. And when people talk about it they use a German accent.

 

[Secant]

28oz ZCO420
*Cough* @gebhardt02 *cough*

 

[beetroot]

I emailed Leupold years ago about this.

A VX5hd, 4-20x50, 10mil turrets, 30mm tube, FFP reticle.

A FFP and Mil version of the VX6hd 2-12 would also be awesome.

I don't necessarily want a Leupold scope but the VX5/6 glass is good enough (FOV is good on these), and the weight isn't too bad. Would like tot to track correctly though.

 

[OREGUN]

TT 7-35.

Done.

 

[JMo22]

This is kind of a can of worms as there are so many nuances to what "perfect" means for any given person - and "perfect" often changes over time with regard to experience and use case, etc.

We have some awesome and amazing scopes on the market today in the LPVO class and the long range FFP class, what we are seriously lacking are really good offerings in the MPVO class and the mid-range crossover class, especially when it comes to reticle and illumination.
Here's my thoughts for existing Crossover/MPVO:

FFP 56mm objective (under 35oz)

• The Steiner T6Xi 3-18x56 is the best "new" offering, but needs a better reticle for usability at 3x (or brighter illumination)

FFP 50mm objective (under 30oz)

• TT315M 3-15x50 - probably the best offering but this design is over a decade old (but still the best) and could use a refresh or at least a reticle that works at 3x besides the mil-dot.
• The Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 has real potential, but reticle choices for use at 2.5x are non-existent, if NF offered the FC-DMx reticle or a variant of that blended with Mil-XT they have a real winner here.
• The Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22x50, lightest weight FFP scope in its class, but what is up with that mag range, I don't think anyone except NRL Hunter was asking for that which was likely the target audience with this scope, if Vortex could do a LHT 3-18x50 under 23oz and offer a reticle that works at 3x... money $$$
• Burris XTR IIIi 3.3-18x50, Burris is part of the same parent ownership that owns Steiner and have shared design and reticles, but Burris needs a reticle that works at bottom mag just like Steiner.

FFP 42/44mm objective (under 25oz)

• March 1.5-15x42 with DR-TR2B dual focal plane reticle, really have nothing to complain about, yes I wish IQ was a little better at higher mags but this is a 10x erector so set your expectations accordingly, it is the best MPVO on the market to date.
• Steiner H6Xi 2-12x42 but just like the 3-18 above, the reticle is not ideal for 2x use
• Leupold almost makes the cut with weight at 26oz so worth mentioning their Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44, but like the others here, gotta have a reticle that works at bottom mag. And who uses a 35mm tube anymore???

I realize there are a couple options here and there but I left out any 4x erector designs, they are nice (or can be) but just not what the market is really demanding right now unless the price is right. Also didn't include a lot of cheap scopes

The most common theme here is the reticle, why sport optics manufacturers cannot figure out how to make a good reticle for a crossover and/or MPVO is beyond me. Bushnell did it over a decade ago with the G2H reticle - just add a circle of death to your existing long range reticle while you figure out how to do a decent crossover reticle - one that works well at bottom mag and works well at top mag.

As far as what would my "perfect scope" be for these categories, here are my thoughts:

FFP 56mm objective (under 35oz)

• 3-20x56 or close variation thereof. Would love to see something from March with a dual focal plane reticle or the FML-TR1H and with brighter illumination.
• For a few years now I've wanted Minox to take their sister company Blaser's 4-20x58 and put the ZP5 turrets and MR4 reticle in it, but Minox appears to be all but fading from the American marketplace unfortunately so I have little hope for any future Minox product to trickle into the states.

FFP 50mm objective (under 30oz)

• 3.3-20x50 or close variation thereof. Would love to see something from Vortex, either AMG or RG3 but weight has got to be under 30 and reticle has got to be usable at the bottom.
• Numerous threads have teased us with a ZCO "hunter" version of their 4-20x50 with the magic 30 (30mm tube and 30oz) but I just don't see ZCO doing anything outside of their signature 36mm tubes anytime soon.
• Would love to see TT delve into the 6x erector market and offer a TT318M 3-18x50 under or close to 30oz and to offer a reticle that works at 3x with brighter illumination and 10 mil per rev double turn turrets.

FFP 42/44mm objective (under 25oz)

• This is really the untapped market, everyone abandoned this it seems once LPVO's started getting 8x and then 10x erectors, but having good 1x and that much magnification creates issues for long range usability and now a lot are returning to an MPVO style scope. Similar to the LPVO, for a scope to succeed in this category it's got to have a reticle that works at bottom and top mags.
• Nightforce NX8 1.5-12x42 with FC-DMx would be an immediate success. They have the erector, they have the reticle, just need to make the scope.

I am hopeful that 2025 will see some of the above fantasies fulfilled...

This is amazing feedback, thank you for taking the time to put that together

 

[diggler1833]

Take the NF ATACR, change the magnification ring that 75% ofthe consumer base bitches about, and add alpha Schott glass. I'd be done.

 

[mi650]

My perfect hunting scope isn't the same as my perfect target scope. And my perfect hunting scope isn't going to be the same as someone who hunts in more open areas.

I need great low light performance. I wanted to get a Leica Magnus a couple weeks ago, but didn't hear back from the guy for several days. I ended up with a Swaro Z8i instead.

 

[BobKaare]

TT glass and quality that costs as much as a NF atacr

Funny thing, here in Norway, the Atacr is considerably more expensive than TT, but both are absurdly expensive here.

Perfect scope for me would be the March 4.5-28x52 Gen2 with their new FML-WBR reticle (only available on 5-42), but at a price I could actually afford.
Light weight for the features and extremely good optical performance.

 

[EXSOCAL]

3-20x50mm scope with theta glass, <25oz, illuminated gen 3XR reticle, toolless theta turrets, and sub $2500 price. One can dream.

 

[JWG]

A 34mm Nightforce NX8 that is 1-6. Keep the FCDMx reticle. Keep everything the way it is, except light transmission/exit pupil change as a result of lowering the ratio to a 1:6 and making the tube larger. Should only add 1-2oz and would be well worth it.

 

[jbuck88]

Your better off describing your perfect woman.

 

[tacoman69]

20oz, nightforce durability, alpha glass, 3 x15, ffp thlr reticle( hunting primary use).

 

[K80/6.5]

Nightforce 4-28x56 atacr with TT glass and pr2 or pr3 illuminated reticle 30-35 ounces.

 

[UNRL Ghandi]

I'd be curious to see what a March 3-24x high master wide angle with a dual focal plane reticle would look like. Don't worry about making it so short either and instead focus on the best eyebox and giving it a not so finicky parralax.

 

[Denys]

Funny thing, here in Norway, the Atacr is considerably more expensive than TT, but both are absurdly expensive here.

Perfect scope for me would be the March 4.5-28x52 Gen2 with their new FML-WBR reticle (only available on 5-42), but at a price I could actually afford.
Light weight for the features and extremely good optical performance.

You might want to look at the existing FML-LDK reticle for the 4.5-28X52. The new FML-WBR is only for the the 5-42X56 Gen 2 as you accurately stated.
The LDK, like the WBR, does not have the Christmas tree arrangement and presents a cleaner picture in the eyepiece. As I like to say, Christmas trees are only relevant a few weeks per year.

 

[Denys]

I'd be curious to see what a March 3-24x high master wide angle with a dual focal plane reticle would look like. Don't worry about making it so short either and instead focus on the best eyebox and giving it a not so finicky parralax.

I like your thinking. Can I trouble you to post that exact statement at the marchscopes.com website, in the Contact Us box?

 

[UNRL Ghandi]

I like your thinking. Can I trouble you to post that exact statement at the marchscopes.com website, in the Contact Us box?

Done!

 

[obx22]

Perfect scope?
Let’s start with the reticle.
Christmas tree, but- the top of the tree is at the top 1/3 of the field of view at highest magnification. Already lost you? The point is to have more holdover points for speed shooting at different distances. At the very top should be a bubble level. I’ve seen this on a scope once, zero reason this cannot be incorporated in a FFP.
Carry the tree “branches” all the way down to the bottom of the field of view at low power, this area gets wasted and again, zero reason not to. Incorporate the full 10 plus colors in the illumination, it’s available on the cheapest scopes, this should have been adopted a decade ago.
There should be an adjustable iris at the objective to enhance viewing through mirage. There should be an integrated throw lever, or threaded ports in the mag ring for a variety of different length “levers”.
The non-rotating eyebell should be smaller, not the current trend of huge eyepieces that require the tallest rings if used for hunting. Go ahead and adopt the largest tube practical to get the maximum amount of adjustment travel possible. If it means a 45mm tube with integrated mount, then so be it. That’s one less thing to fail, and a larger tube will be stronger.
There is also little reason why you can’t have two different types of illumination- one which illuminates the glass etched reticle, and a 2FP “tactical LPVO” type illuminated reticle that is available at lowest magnification but invisible when turned off.
Tool-less zeroing, and locking “non-capped” turrets. Zero lock that doesn’t require any extra parts and doesn’t rob you of vertical adjustment.
The full interior of the tube as well as the iris should be vantablack, and this should be an option for the exterior as well.
Turret adjustments should be in a wide window so there is zero doubt of how many revs you have dialed.
Exterior finish should be available in a variety of custom colors
Scope body should be 7075-T6 or better and all adjustments stellite material or better.
Triplet lenses where required and full multicoatings on ALL air to glass surfaces.
All the above technologies have been in existence for well over a decade, in some cases multiples, so there is little R&D required, and zero reason to continue having to decide what to do without.

 

[458win]

A good lightweight compact 1” fixed power in 4 or 6x. With a simple crosshair (like straight mil dot or duplex). Good glass, reliable adjustments.
Leupold does ok with the 1.5-5 but eh it’s leupold.

The trend is huge scopes and they just look out of place on a lot of smaller rifles.

 

[HaydenLane]

I don’t do enough actual long range shooting to know what I’d want in big glass, but I wouldn’t complain if my Gen III razor lost half a pound or more. I’m not sure I see a point in the 6x erectors in LR scopes, the reticle designs aren’t remotely usable on the bottom end. 10-30 or 12-36 would do just fine.

For a hunting scope, I still love my LRHS. Give it 2x on the bottom, tool-less turrets, alpha glass, and maybe .2 or .25 hashes. Don’t think I could ask for more than that.

 

[JMo22]

Great input, keep it coming!

 

[want2ride]

basically a Burris Veracity PH with the electronics able to sense temp and barometric pressure, better glass, more elevation, and a MIL reticle... and i really liked the floating + of the original veracity, so i guess that too.

 

[blue_ridge]

A Vortex Gen2 HD-E mil/mil but in 2-12x instead of 1-6x.

 

[Guns&WhiteWater]

I think it just arrived.

Edit: ... And it’s going back.

 

[RTH1800]

NF 2.5 - 10 X 24 with side focus and FFP. Anodized green.