got my scope selection narrowed down

B

BrettSass844

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 18, 2009
693
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Germantown, OHIO
#1
I have narrowed it down to a few different scopes that fit the budget to top my trainer off. I got a Savage MKII FV sitting in a Wallis Forge and she needs some glass. Base of choice is a EGW 20 moa and rings are Burris Extreme Tactical.

1. Hawke Sidewinder 6.5-20X50 (80 moa of travel)
2. Wotac 4-14X42 (80 moa travel)
3. SS 16X
4. Bushnell 10X

Thoughts, experience and opinions??? I have a lot of shit to buy in the next month or so getting ready for when warmer weather starts rolling in including a new scope for my 308, upgrading and adding to my hand loading equip and building a AR so please don't respond with advice to buy a high end optic. Unfortunately its not in the budget now. If you have any other suggestions on what has worked for you in the same price range let me know. I plan to try and stretch this out to 400. At least that is the goal!
smile.gif
 
#3
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

I LOVE my SS, it's a 10x and I wish it were a variable but realisticly I leave my scopes on one power (usually the highest power on paper punchers) and that means that it is kind of perfect for me and my needs. It has excellent glass (especially considering the money) and allways remains true to zero. It passed the box test perfectly too. Overall it's a great scope. I do wish I had gotten the 16x but for the purpose I bought it for, it performs flawlessly.

***I don't have hands on experience with the others though***

-Dylan
 
#6
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

out of the four my "vote" is for the hawke sidewinder

1. "cleaner" turrets
2. a more versatile reticle
3. larger range of magnification
4. side focus


make sure the 50mm objective isn't going to cause you a problem.

within the 400.00 budget, you make want to check out a millet TRS.
 
#7
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

I run the SS16X on my 40XB and love it. Will focus close (although FOV gets pretty small as you get in closer than 20 yards or so) and is fantastic for 100+ yds.
 
#8
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

Couple things I have found out with my trainer scope:
-glass clarity (try as many as you can before purchase)
I went from a cheap simmons to a Zeiss I got used here for just over 6 hundo, and its amazing how much better everything looks. Not saying go out your price range, just compare your options you have.

-travel (more = better). Even with a 20moa base, my scope only has 33 moa left vertical from my 50yd zero. that is not enough to rach 250yds (with the mildots in the scope I can reach 350, but barely)

-EFR (extended focal range) - my new scope focuses to 30 yds and some leupols focus to 20 I think. its a nice feature to have.

also is the zoom (like a 16xss) is too high, its harder to acquire the target at close range. - my vote is for a variable power, I like around 4 power for shooting critters (esp if you want to track moving ones), and I like all the zoom I can get for shooting itty bitty groups.

Good luck,
Dorgan T.
 
#9
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

In your guy's opinion what is the best scope that would be similar to a nightforce without paying the nightforce price for a rimfire. Turrets, build, glass... etc? Recital isn't as big of a deal though.
 
#10
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

ITGuy, the SS16 I have is what I use in training for my .308 with a Nightforce. The major difference (in feature) is the SS is Mil/MOA and my NF is Mil/Mil.

My personal opinion is that the turrets in MOA are not a big deal since I train using hold off through the reticle.
 
#11
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ITGuy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In your guy's opinion what is the best scope that would be similar to a nightforce without paying the nightforce price for a rimfire. Turrets, build, glass... etc? Recital isn't as big of a deal though.</div></div>
i don't mean to be a dick, and no disrespect, but that's kinda like asking where can you buy a rolls royce like car without paying a rolls royce price.

with optics, (except for a few rare exceptions) you usually get what you pay for.

there's this one that "looks" alot like a nightforce, http://www.nikkostirling.com/Content/Targetmaster.htm
but i'm hard pressed to find them around, or get a report from someone that has one. big in england / europe though.
i'm very interested in this scope, but not much intel on it.
 
#12
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BrettSass844</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have narrowed it down to a few different scopes that fit the budget to top my trainer off.

1. Hawke Sidewinder 6.5-20X50 (80 moa of travel)
2. Wotac 4-14X42 (80 moa travel)
3. SS 16X
4. Bushnell 10X
</div></div>

Here is my spin on this. Bushnell 10x has a parallax set at 100 yards. That might be a problem at 50 and under.
If you are OK with a fixed power glass, SWFA SS is an excellent value. Hawke's customer service is on par with SWFA and Leupold, nice features, but heavy. Do you really need illumination? If so, then Sidewinder is your answer. I will go a step further and get a Sidewinder Tactical, it is more refined with a great reticle.
 
#13
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

I use nightforce scopes on all of my center fire guns but got a Millet TRS for my .22 trainer until I could afford another nightforce. However, I've been pleasantly surprised with the Millet to the point that I'm not too worried about putting a nightforce on it anytime in the near future. That's not to say it's as good as a nightforce, but from my experience, the TRS well worth the cost.
 
#14
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

I owned a TRS-1 a while back. It was on my 308. What is the total elevation travel? I am leaning towards a variable power. That's why it was difficult to choose between the Wotac and Sidewinder. Both have great recticles and 80moa travel. The edge going to the Wotac for being moa/moa. But the Sidewinder goes up to 20x where the Wotac stops at 14x. O decisions... Decisions...
 
#15
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TOP PREDATOR</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ITGuy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In your guy's opinion what is the best scope that would be similar to a nightforce without paying the nightforce price for a rimfire. Turrets, build, glass... etc? Recital isn't as big of a deal though.</div></div>
i don't mean to be a dick, and no disrespect, but that's kinda like asking where can you buy a rolls royce like car without paying a rolls royce price.

with optics, (except for a few rare exceptions) you usually get what you pay for.

there's this one that "looks" alot like a nightforce, http://www.nikkostirling.com/Content/Targetmaster.htm
but i'm hard pressed to find them around, or get a report from someone that has one. big in england / europe though.
i'm very interested in this scope, but not much intel on it. </div></div>


I agree. However everyone wants a Rolls but cant afford it so they want the next best thing..something they can afford but feels similar to a Rolls. If I could afford it I would put a nightforce or whatever my highpower carries on my .22 but I cant right now. Right now I have a Weaver 36x. Its a great scope and Ill probably just keep it but I was just curious what others thought about other scope makers. Even if its just half the price...Im just looking for other options.
 
#16
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heitmann45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use nightforce scopes on all of my center fire guns but got a Millet TRS for my .22 trainer until I could afford another nightforce. However, I've been pleasantly surprised with the Millet to the point that I'm not too worried about putting a nightforce on it anytime in the near future. That's not to say it's as good as a nightforce, but from my experience, the TRS well worth the cost. </div></div>

got a millet buck gold for my 308, and i was really suprised at the quality for the price, i know there are better, but it works really good. the turrets are slightly "soft" or mushy, but it tracks perfect.
 
#17
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

Have you looked at the Vortex Viper?

I have the 6.5-20x50 on my TR and it is amazing for the price. Lots of adjustment and very clear glass.
 
#18
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

I really don't understand why everyone gets their panties in a bunch over a scope being mil/mil or moa/moa being soooooo much better than mil/moa or moa/mil because in all reality its not even difficult to adapt to. Plus you will be familiar with either type and hell that means smarter and more versatile don't it? So wouldn't making things a bit less simple be a good thing too? Maybe cause you to use your brain and think critically of your situation and what you need to do to get the right shot? Adapt and overcome, that's the way I see it. I feel that all I'm trying to say with this is that you really shouldn't make this a deal breaker when looking for optics. If the model you decide on has the simpler configuration then happy b-day to you, but don't let it cause you to chose a crappier model just to make shooting easier. 308 is a great round to learn off of because it gets pushed around by the weather. And when you switch to 6mm, 6.5mm, or 7mm you feel like you're cheating. I think this mil/moa thing is about the same thing.

00Buck, you beat me to it. As I was reading the new replies I couldn't help but think why the Vortex Viper series hadn't come up yet.
 
#19
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

I would go with the Hawke. I have 2. The 6x is too much for me at times with my 10/22. I have the 4.5-14x42 on the 10/22, and the 6.5-20x42 on my SPS .308. The benefit is basically the same reticule, and the exact same adjustments on both scopes. C/S from Hawke is great, and the Tactical 30 series is a great budget buy. I have had the 10/22 to 250 yards (very humbling...) with no problems, and the parallax adjustment works flawlessly. The ill reticule is a bonus even though the only time I have actually utilized it is while dry firing indoors for trigger practice. The SS is a great scope as well. I don’t think you could go wrong with either. I had one on my last AR for a while.

DSC01913.jpg
 
#20
Re: got my scope selection narrowed down

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TOP PREDATOR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
ITGuy said:
there's this one that "looks" alot like a nightforce, http://www.nikkostirling.com/Content/Targetmaster.htm
but i'm hard pressed to find them around, or get a report from someone that has one. big in england / europe though.
i'm very interested in this scope, but not much intel on it. </div></div>

Caveat: This is a First Impression Report (FIR)and no real testing has occured.

I`ve just bought a Nikko Stirling Gold Crown 3-9 (Opened box, overstock, for aprox $120) for using it on my 452 Varmint(rotating it with the Burris 3200 10X) primarily for the AO as I have access to several fixed ranges in "normal" .22 distances (15-50 meters) and the Burris 3200 10X wasnt up to the task of handling the shorter end of these ranges.

First impressions of it, by observing (not mounted yet) are quite good, as to the AO`s handling of different short ranges - from 7 meters to 57 meters, lasermeasured on the "longer" ranges, the AO scale are true, as to measured distance compared to the rangefinder.

I will boxtest it when I get it mounted and the pesky 60" of snow have melted, both for clicks and for magnification.

First impressions by observation/fingerf**cking:

The sight is reasonable clear, comparing it with the before mentioned Bushnell 3200, I would say they`re compareable with a slight lead to the Bushnell, clicks are firm and the AO`s spot on.
If the clicks are true through the magnification range, I think it will do the task I bought it for (handling shorter ranges) ok.

I`m awaiting a picatinny rail mount for the CZ, and untill the rail arrives, I`ll continue to run the Bushnell in the CZ mounts on it.
Click to expand...
 
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