Rifle Scopes First Tactical Scope- Value Question

[lawofsavage]

My main question is what is the most economical scope that has:

-Matching turret/reticle
-Zero Stop
-Illuminated Reticle
-> 20x at top end mag range
-Enough Elevation Adjustment to get a 6.5 Creed to 1000 yds. with a 20 moa base

and is rugged and has optical quality sufficient for competition. I would prefer it to be around $1000 but definitely don't want to go over $2000. I would give up one feature for an extremely good deal or as a tradeoff for really good glass.

(I am very new to the sport and my goal is to be shooting competitions within the next year. I have very limited experience so feel free to make suggestions that don't include my criteria).

The focal plane does not matter to me since I would most likely be at highest power any way.

Right now the only optic in my price range that I know that has all the features
is the NF 5.5-22x50.

I really don't want to pay almost $1800 from optics planet but I really want the zero stops.

I think the zero stops would be really useful in a high stress or competition environment so I'm willing to but don't want to....

I can get a Leupy Mark 4 8.5-25x50 LR/T Illuminated with TMR and M5 knobs which match the reticle for 1200 new from where I work.

Would it be worth it to save the money since I have zero equipment or go ahead and get NF and buy once cry once.

Also on the list to get are a laser range finder, spotting scope, manners stock, binoculars, tactical backpack, krieger barrel, muzzle brake ..... pretty much every piece of equipment to get started in competition.

I currently have a stock Savage 12 LRP and Bushnell Elite Tactical and it is easily .5 moa out to 300 with 140 grain AMAX's. So another option could be keeping that.

I'm a recent college grad with no debt and no girlfriend and a decent job so I've got some disposable income but this sport sure ain't cheap....

Any insight would be appreciated....

 

[redhooker]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I am in the process of narrowing down my next scope purchase as well, and I have a similar list to yours. The short list now includes the IOR 6-24x56. I had the opportunity to look thru an IOR and the glass looks as good as all the $3k+ scopes I have been looking at and has some great features. I like the mil/mil, ill reticle, FFP, and plenty of adjustment. No zero stops price is $1800. I see on the SWFA site they have a MOA/MOA with ZS for just under $1900 but I am unsure if the mil/mil has that option.

I have only been able to look through the following scopes for comparison, it sucks that I don't have anywhere local with a great selection to check out:

NF, S&B, Leupold, Bushnell, Zeiss and Vortex.

I'm willing to spend more than a PST but would rather not go much over 2k. This seems to be a tough price bracket for these features.

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

For the price the Zeiss Conquest glass is unbeatable I've used one before and looked through it then looked through a NF. To my eyes Zeiss was far and away better it just doesn't have all the features I need.

 

[Rick 324]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I just got a Viper PST 6-24X50 and it is awesome. Great Reticle, FFP, Mil Adjustments and a good amount of Travel! The optics are clear as abell and the price was $950 shipped... It has shims that you add for a Zero Stop and all of the features that I have seen on much more expensive scopes and the price was awesome...

You have a long road ahead for selection because you have a good budget to do it with. Search on the site and I am sure you will see a hundred posts about the same question...

Good Luck!!

 

[Moadrifter]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

In that price range I would choose the following in order:
Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50mm $2,000 (keeps up with the very best in all categories)
SWFA SS HD 5-20x50mm $1,500 but hang around for a deal (I think there is one now) or call SWFA - should be able to get it at $1,000 or a little more. At $1,500 IMO the Razor is a better bet, but at $1,000 or thereabouts the SS is great bang for buck. This scope has fantastic optics but some have had issues with a +/- 1 click issue on the turrets (several recent threads on this scope)
Vortex PST 6-24x50mm less than $1,000 - great scope for the price but optics are not the same as the other two.

There are several great detailed reviews on all 3 of above - if you can't find them let me know and I'll paste them in for you

 

[NIHILator]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I am considering the Nikon M308. You can get one with the Nikoplex reticle and Quick action turret for less than $550.

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I'll have to look those up. Who manufactures the SWFA scopes for them?

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

Thanks for the recommendation on the SWFA that looks really nice on the webpage does locking ocular adjustment mean zero stop?

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-5-20x50-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P51653.aspx

I can get a Mark 4 LRT Illuminated and M5 knobs in whatever mag range for $1200 how would that compare to the SWFA?

 

[jonthomps]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

Vortex Razor or a Nightforce scope would get my nod with the NF edging out the Vortex due only to price. If you're willing to pay a bit more a used S&B or USO would be solid choices too.

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I'm really thinking that's the way I should go is with the NF and just be done with it and save alot of time thinking about it as well that I could be shooting. My cheap gene just keeps on telling that those damn zero stops aren't worth the $600 dollars extra of what I could get a very comparable Leupy or SWFA for. Right now it's between the

8.5-25x50 Mark 4 LR/T
SWFA SS 5-20
NF 5.5-22x50

Tough Choice

 

[remau308]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I do not recommend the Leupold. I have had too many Mark 4's with tracking issues to ever recommend one again. The SWFA is a great scope, but the NF definitely gets my vote over the others. If you want to check one out, come to The Firing Pin when you're in Auburn later, and we can let you look through one.

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I'll be in Auburn this weekend so I'll have to do that. I'm planning on going to that competition now and shooting my setup now I've got for the first time beyond 230 yards. I've got a Savage 12 LRP in 6.5 Creed with a Harris Bipod and a Bushnell Elite Tactical 6500 6-24x50 FFP with a Warne 20 MOA base and tactical steel rings and I use a rear bag. I'm using 140 grain AMAX's so we will see what happens when I get out there.

 

[Radar360]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

The NF F1 is a very durable scope and tracks excellent; however, the Viper PST can hold it's own very well and it will not break the bank. The above reply's contain excellent recommendations.

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I definitely want the NF NSX that's my first choice.... If I decide to go the budget route what is the general opinion of SWFA SS vs Vortex PST. They both have shims for zero stops right?

Does the NXS use a clutch or shims for its ZS mechanism?

Okay I figured out that the SWFA does not have ZS and the Vortex uses shims...

 

[remau308]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

The Vortex PST gets my vote of those two. My first optic was a PST, and the shims work great, and tracking has been perfect on all the ones I've ever used. However, The Bushnell you already have is not a bad optic.

 

[redhooker]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

The NF is off my short list until they get a FFP at 20 power or better. They do look incredible and seem like the most solid of all I have held.

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I've been pretty impressed so far, I just don't really have much to compare it too....

I'd say it was a pretty damn good deal for NIB $600. Where I order from at work (bigrocksports) unfortunately doesn't stock NF though ....

At this point I really don't know if anything short of NF, S&B, or USO would be a big enough improvement to justify the expense.

 

[joemusso]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

take a look at a IOR 6-24 a great piece of glass for the money

call scott at liberty optics. he is great to deal with he is here on the site.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showprofile&User=2722

http://www.libertyoptics.com/contents/en-us/p421.html
http://www.libertyoptics.com/

joe

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

The price is right on that IOR. I'd love to see some reviews on the turrets and how it tracks. I've heard the glass is awesome. I found some demo NF's for about the same price. I wonder how long the "introductory price will last on those IOR's they look very nice I bet the glass is way nicer than NF I just don't know about everything else.

 

[Moadrifter]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Moadrifter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In that price range I would choose the following in order:
Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50mm $2,000 (keeps up with the very best in all categories)
SWFA SS HD 5-20x50mm $1,500 but hang around for a deal (I think there is one now) or call SWFA - should be able to get it at $1,000 or a little more. At $1,500 IMO the Razor is a better bet, but at $1,000 or thereabouts the SS is great bang for buck. This scope has fantastic optics but some have had issues with a +/- 1 click issue on the turrets (several recent threads on this scope)
Vortex PST 6-24x50mm less than $1,000 - great scope for the price but optics are not the same as the other two.

There are several great detailed reviews on all 3 of above - if you can't find them let me know and I'll paste them in for you </div></div>

Finally got some time to paste the posts and reviews - these are all good reads with good information on your decision IMO:
Field Test: Razor v SS v DMR G2 v NXS
Does Razor 5-20 Stand Up To Top LR Optics?
High End Tactical Scopes: Part III
Riflescopes: Under $2000
Questions: SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 for Long Range

 

[Moadrifter]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

Did you check out the used postings?

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

Thanks for posting those reviews I had already read a couple of them. I'd really rather buy new but I would buy used if it was a great deal 2-300 wouldn't be enough of a discount IMO. Right now I've really narrowed down to NXS 5.5-22x56 or 8-32x56 or the new IOR's 6-24x56 they look a little nicer the NXS to me I just haven't seen a review of the turrets yet.

 

[Moadrifter]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

Great choices.

 

[bassani]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

dont think you could go wrong with any of those. At that price point on the Leupold, you could use it and then sell it down the road with little to no loss of money

 

[B3dlam]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I have had a lot of success with an SWFA 5-20x50HD its a great scope and around 1300 or so i beleive for the non-illuminated model.

 

[jonthomps]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

"Right now the only optic in my price range that I know that has all the features is the NF 5.5-22x50. I really don't want to pay almost $1800 from optics planet . . ."

THEN DON"T!!! If FFP isn't a big deal to you (sounds like it's not) then you're dead on - for the money, NF is very hard to beat in terms of value, reliability, and features in my opinion. If you decide to go that route call Mike at CSTactical or Chris at Sport Optics. I've bought from both (lots from Chris). They'll give you a fair price and they both are great to deal with.

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I would much rather deal with one of those guys and around the second week in October I should have one ordered just have to decide NF or IOR now. Also if I go NF to go with the 5.5-22 or 8-32. I wonder if the Leupold Mark 4 ARD would work as advertised on reducing mirage?

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

That wouldn't work for a 56mm objective anyway.

 

[the once-ler]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

DON'T BUY FROM OPTICS PLANET!! I bought 3 scopes of different brands and had problems with all 3

 

[lawofsavage]

Re: First Tactical Scope- Value Question

I would much rather use someone that supported the hide and has good CS! I was using their prices as an easy reference hopefully that's what everyone starts doing...