Rifle Scopes FFP Scope for PSR

[SupperTrooper]

Hi guys. I'm a new member and am new to Precision Rifles, so please be gentle.

After a lot of reading (I research everything to death before buying) I just purchased my first PSR, Tikka T3x TAX A1 in 6.5 Creedmoor. I now need a few things for it (Scope, Rings, Suppressor, Bipod). I'm devoting this thread to the scope.

I am looking to use it for steel/paper shooting, possibly dip my toe in to competition shooting. Current range next to me is up to 600 yards, but one is being built with 1,000 & 2,000 yard range. Based on all the article and thread comments, I am looking for a FFP/MRAD scope. I am thinking of a magnification of roughly x5 on the low end and up to x25-x30 on the high with a 50-56" diameter. My ideal budget (hopefully taking advantage of a sale) is around $1,500.

I was looking at Nightforce NXS and SHV, but both are SFP.

I am now looking at ether:
1. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50 (Can get locally for $1,000)
2. Trijicon AccuPower 4.5-30x56 (Found on-line for $1,769)

What are your suggestions and is there another option I should be considering? Do you think the two I am considering are good options and which would you pick?

I appreciate all of your wisdom and advice!

 

[AIAW]

You are missing one critical piece though especially since you are new to the arena. Reticle. Nothing worse than a new user having to deal with a terrible reticle choice starting out. Also, $1500 in the FFP market is going to yield not so many choices worth spending cash on unfortunately.

I'd suggest something tried and true if you can up that budget a bit.

Perhaps something around this series...

https://www.eurooptic.com/Bushnell-...Matte-Black-ED-RTZ-Zero-Stop-G3-D-LOK-ET.aspx

https://www.eurooptic.com/Leupold-Mark-5-36-18x44mm-M5C3-Matte-FFP-CCH-173297.aspx


Way off from your budget, but a decent contender: https://www.eurooptic.com/Nightforce-ATACR-5-25x56-F1-ZS-1mrad-Illum-PTL-H59-C577.aspx

 

[Olen_4504]

I would look hard at the Athlon Ares ETR or the Cronus BTR

you can find Cronus BTR's here in the PX used for $1300 frequently. i shoot a cronus BTR and it's served me very well.


if you decide you want a new one - PM me

 

[gr8fuldoug]

It would be my pleasure to discuss options with you. Athlon does offer one of the better FFP options under $1,500.00

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

I'd say take a long hard look at the Bushnell DMR2. If you can stretch your budget closer to $2000, then look at the upgraded Pro version of the DMR2, which offers a significant upgrade in glass quality.

Edit to add: You might also be able to catch a used XRS2 for a price you're willing to stand. New they sell for just shy of $2300, but you might score a used one for cheaper if you keep an eye on the exchange here.

 

[Scott_RAP]

Welcome! Sounds like you’re in a great spot for long range fun.

Still a novice in the sport myself, and most of my direct experience is still on the budget end of things. I definitely agree with the comment above about selecting the right reticle. Also having the same units on the reticle and your adjustments (MIL/MIL or MOA/MOA). Fairly standard in the price range you’re considering.

You may already be aware of it, but here is a link to a site with several great articles and reviews on the gear being used by the top shooters in the PRS series. Lots of high end (and high dollar) stuff, but a good resource for research into equipment and things to think about. Other choices if you’re also considering used.

What The Pros Use

 

[The Godfather]

With the deals on the vortex razor II lately that would be my top choice. The new price was recently lowered to $2k and my guess is used prices will quickly fall into the 1600-1750 range. Many think this scope has a nice price/performance ratio.

 

[SupperTrooper]

Thank you for the feedback thus far. All good and fair points. I may try to see if I can stretch it to $2,000. But at the same time, hard to justify spending this much on one component (very important one) of equipment in a sport I am just starting and will not practice every week.

Reticle selection is a good point. Christmas tree style is the one I kinda like and appears as a consistent options on long range scopes (the ones I looked at). Not a Mil-Dot fan from initial look at it, but I know it has it's tremendous value on judging range if target size is known.

 

[SupperTrooper]

You are missing one critical piece though especially since you are new to the arena. Reticle. Nothing worse than a new user having to deal with a terrible reticle choice starting out. Also, $1500 in the FFP market is going to yield not so many choices worth spending cash on unfortunately.

I'd suggest something tried and true if you can up that budget a bit.

Perhaps something around this series...

https://www.eurooptic.com/Bushnell-...Matte-Black-ED-RTZ-Zero-Stop-G3-D-LOK-ET.aspx

https://www.eurooptic.com/Leupold-Mark-5-36-18x44mm-M5C3-Matte-FFP-CCH-173297.aspx


Way off from your budget, but a decent contender: https://www.eurooptic.com/Nightforce-ATACR-5-25x56-F1-ZS-1mrad-Illum-PTL-H59-C577.aspx

I hear you on the price. The two other scopes I had on my wish-list if I could go over-budget, where Vortex Razor HD AMG and Nightforce ATACR. But that is going quite a bit over.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

Thank you for the feedback thus far. All good and fair points. I may try to see if I can stretch it to $2,000. But at the same time, hard to justify spending this much on one component (very important one) of equipment in a sport I am just starting and will not practice every week.

Reticle selection is a good point. Christmas tree style is the one I kinda like and appears as a consistent options on long range scopes (the ones I looked at). Not a Mil-Dot fan from initial look at it, but I know it has it's tremendous value on judging range if target size is known.

The good news is that most high-end glass tends to hold its value decently well. You won't get your money back, but you can usually get 70-80% back selling it. Lower end optics, it's more like 50-60%, sometimes less. It's also never a bad thing to have top-drawer glass, even when starting out.

On the Bushnell side, I prefer the G3 reticle. Depending on the model you purchase, though, Horus reticles are available in the DMR2 and XRS2. The DMR2 Pro is only available with the G3 reticle. In my experience, the .5MIL hash marks in the G3 let me hold wind and elevation corrections to .1mil if needed, but don't clutter up my view so badly that it's hard to see splash from misses and impacts. I can also accurately range targets of the reticle and I can usually end up within 10 yards or so, as long as I have accurate target sizes. Getting that good takes a lot of time and practice at it, though, but the reticle is more than capable.

 

[Glassaholic]

Welcome to the Hide Supper, you'll find that most are helpful around here, a few jerks, but aren't we all at times

How soon do you need the scope? The reason I ask is because the new Burris XTR III 5.5-30x50 is coming out in a few weeks and looks to be a great scope for the price, here's some scopes in the range of what you're looking for where you can compare specs side by side. I should also mention that the Sig Sauer Tango6 line often goes on sale into the $1500ish range and the 4-24 and 5-30 usually get great reviews.

 

[Precision Underground]

I use a swfa 5-20 hd that is really nice and ffp.

 

[Maestro]

I was reading along when I saw how $1500 won't go very far in this realm. I'm not disagreeing with the poster but man...At the $200 level you have people saying step up to $500 for an SWFA. At the $500 level you have people saying step up to a $1000 for a Gen II Viper (Or similar). At the $1000 level you have people say step up to $1500 for a Cronus (or similar). Apparently at the $1500 level you have people saying step up to $2500+ for an ATACR (or similar). Let's be honest - short of people who will do this damn near for a living, a $500 scope with ample magnification will work. Don't feel the need to spend endlessly chasing the best thing. Believe me, I'm very guilty of this (not necessarily with gun accessories but with Cars, Boats, and Houses). There are thousands of options out there. Stick with a tried and true option and don't feel the need to overspend on your first go round of all times. Have fun and peace.

 

[Blackfoot 7]

You can get an H59 FFP Vudu for under $1500 right now.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

So what's the verdict?

Less than a month later and most of these options can be had for $1000 or less new.
Sig tango 6 $999
Burris xtr2 $750
Viper pst 2 $999
Athlon Ares BTR $599

 

[enichols]

Since the OP asked specifically about this optic... I have been running one of the Trijicon Accupower 4.5-30 FFP/MIL on my 6.5 Creed match gun since January. I have used it in several PRS-style club matches and training sessions as well as just at the range, and I am loving it so far. The glass is really nice, I really dig the reticle, and it has tracked flawlessly.

 

[4darkseid]

Long range really does cost money. What are you buying is repeatability. Lots of budget scopes don’t have repeatable windage and elevation adjustments. So let’s talk MOA or minute of angle. At a given hundred yards an MOA is that same number of inches. 7MOA is 700 yds and 7”. If you buy a “target” scope that is really match grade you should expect the turrets to adjust to 1 MOA at 10 minutes or so. Let’s say you zero at 100yds and want to shoot at 700. You know your bullet will drop 49” so you add 7MOA up. 7*7=49. Why is this important. Let’s say your turret is off by two minutes. That’s a 14” difference at 700 yds.

Leupold makes some good scopes. I would get a fixed 10x scope because it will be more durable and you won’t have to worry about zero shift as you zoom.

 

[Diver160651]

^ deleted my post, shaking my head.

 

[TomRC]

I'm a newbee but also a researchaholic with 15+ years experience in high end photography optics. Been looking at everything and at around $1500 I'd go with a used Vortex Razor or if you catch the right sale I just don't see how you can beat the Athlon Eres ETR for close to a $1000.