Help me pick a scope for my daughter

S

snowplow

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Oct 1, 2024
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20
WA
#1
Hey guys, I got a couple other threads going on right now but this is totally unrelated. I got my 17-year-old daughter a Ruger American Gen 2 6.5 cm. They come with a 20-in barrel so they're a pretty compact gun. She is used to shooting but I wanted to get something that she could shoot really comfortably as much as she wanted, and deer hunt with. Generally speaking, we don't shoot very far, but I have a friend who we hang out with a lot and he's always inviting us out to a Long range range. 0-1000.

So here's the deal, I'm really not familiar with this cartridge although he is. He is really pushing me to put a 3 to 15 power scope on this but that seems huge to me. Granted what I'm familiar with (2x7 or 3x9) won't be able to do much out there on the big range.

I'm just curious what most of you guys would set your daughter up with for scope power? Im trying to find something that could hunt close well, while also stretching out a little bit to have some fun and not overwhelming and ruining the utility of this compact gun.

Where do you think you would land?
 
#2
3-15ish sounds about right, even 4-20. Gives her low power and wide field of view and the ability to get a better view if she desires. They don’t tend to be really huge and there are multiple vendors depending on price range,
 
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#3
First we need a budget

Then we need what you want to do with the gun. You described somewhat what you want to do. But there’s a big difference between a 3-9 scopes hunting rifle and a 1000 yard crossover rifle

3-15 is decent. That’s what I have on my primary hunting rifle. A Burris XTRII.

Personally I think 3-9, 4.5-14 or 4-20 are decent compromises for hunting but limit you on the end range

I feel the 3-15 is as low as I’d want to go for a 500 yard and shorter hunting rifle
 
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#5
Well price is 300-600 depending on how much l like it. When she hunts with me around here 2x is perfect, 3x is doable, and 4X is common but a little little too much sometimes in my opinion. With that being said, she's almost 18 and already is doing a little hunting on her own and with other people doing other things. I'm trying to set her up with something really versatile. I know most people aren't doing what I'm doing, but I don't know a lot about the other stuff. So a 2-10 sounds perfect to me but my buddy says I'm crazy and not enough magnification. I actually got a great deal and bought the primary arms 3-18 SLX with the Creedmoor reticle for 300 bucks and have it on my bench right now but I was thinking of sending it back. It's definitely heavy and seems enormous, but to be fair, everything seems pretty enormous to me since I usually run a 2-7. That's kind of why I'm asking you guys. The 4-20s seem a little smaller and lighter. I don't love 4x and was really trying to stay with at least 3x but maybe that's the way to go. The prices are pretty good and it seems to me that a dedicated 6.5 Creedmoor bdc would be the easiest thing for her. I like the Burris fulfilled lV 4-20 because it has a Creedmoor reticle. I actually really like the primary arms one I have too it just seems humongous on this rifle though.
 
#6
It's a bit above your price but I've seen the Athlon Ares ETR UHD 3-18 on Amazon for $720. I have one and have been favorably impressed that for the price, it's a pretty good value. It has a zero stop, the turrets clicks are crisp, the APRS6 FFP IR MIL reticle is usable and good, and the glass is pretty good for the price. All of my other scopes are Tier 1 or near Tier 1 scopes (Vortex AMG, Kahles K624i, S&B 5-25 & 3-20 PMII, Tangent Theta) so to meet my standards is pretty high. I got mine on a trade with another SH member and it's on my 223 practice rifle.
 
#7
I picked up a couple 3-18 vortex strike eagles for my sons 10/22 and his bolt gun. I got them both brand new here in the PX for under $500 each. I borrowed one for my deer hunt and was pretty happy with the low light and FOV for the price. Definitely better FOV and low light than my XTR3.

20241109_125203.jpg
 
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#8
My other hunting rifle wears a Burris E1 3-9. I think the 3-9 and 4.5-14 are great hunting scopes and with the E1 reticle takes the adjusting and overall complexity out of the system

You’re looking to build a hunting rifle. Not a hunting rifle capable of 1000 yard shooting. Stick to compact and light and it will serve your purpose better imho
 
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#12
Crossover scopes are tough to get right.
You need a good reticle that can be easily used in low light and close range.
I usually prefer a second focal plane, I prefer first Focal Plane scopes for range rifles.
Either can work well for what you describe. I like the aforementioned 2.5-15 x 50 athlon ares btr gen 2, it can be had on Amazon for about 619 bucks and is worth the investment. Vortex has a new crossover PST in 3-15 that checks your boxes.
Keep in mind, a FFP crossover scope needs illumination, if you live in one of those fucked up states that doesn't allow illuminated reticles, then SFP is your obvious choice.
Tagging in @gr8fuldoug. Maybe he can hook you up with an ares FFP MIL/MIL scope.
 
#14
Thanks for the video. I watched that yesterday and it was excellent. I actually kind of like that. Swamp. I think that athlon would be perfect except I feel like it has one Achilles heel and I can't figure out how you guys get around it. It seems like it would be basically useless on to power, The reticle just disappears. And the illumination is really faint. If I could design the perfect scope I'm looking for, it would basically be that one except have a top post (3 is just weird), and either the center dot or possibly the segmented circle around it (but not both) would be illuminated Leupold fire dot or PA Nova bright. Then for low range you can just up the brightness until you can see it well enough and you don't need much reticle and The disappearing of the reticle turns into a good thing. But I can't find anything like that at any price remotely doable.

I'll check out that GPO. I'm completely unfamiliar with the brand. I know I'm shopping extremely budget level here but is it on par with Burris and PA?

I'm starting to think my best option might be something with a very simple reticle like a heavy duplex. Something you can see really well and quick with CDS dials. That leaves Leopold, Burris, and the custom dial people. Is that where I need to be headed?
 
#15
snowplow said:
Thanks for the video. I watched that yesterday and it was excellent. I actually kind of like that. Swamp. I think that athlon would be perfect except I feel like it has one Achilles heel and I can't figure out how you guys get around it. It seems like it would be basically useless on to power, The reticle just disappears. And the illumination is really faint. If I could design the perfect scope I'm looking for, it would basically be that one except have a top post (3 is just weird), and either the center dot or possibly the segmented circle around it (but not both) would be illuminated Leupold fire dot or PA Nova bright. Then for low range you can just up the brightness until you can see it well enough and you don't need much reticle and The disappearing of the reticle turns into a good thing. But I can't find anything like that at any price remotely doable.

I'll check out that GPO. I'm completely unfamiliar with the brand. I know I'm shopping extremely budget level here but is it on par with Burris and PA?

I'm starting to think my best option might be something with a very simple reticle like a heavy duplex. Something you can see really well and quick with CDS dials. That leaves Leopold, Burris, and the custom dial people. Is that where I need to be headed?
Click to expand...
If you are OK with MOA/MOA the athlon 2.5-15×50 midas HMR is a really nice scope, geared to hunting but resettable, capped elevation with an excellent crossover reticle
 
#16
snowplow said:
Hey guys, I got a couple other threads going on right now but this is totally unrelated. I got my 17-year-old daughter a Ruger American Gen 2 6.5 cm. They come with a 20-in barrel so they're a pretty compact gun. She is used to shooting but I wanted to get something that she could shoot really comfortably as much as she wanted, and deer hunt with. Generally speaking, we don't shoot very far, but I have a friend who we hang out with a lot and he's always inviting us out to a Long range range. 0-1000.

So here's the deal, I'm really not familiar with this cartridge although he is. He is really pushing me to put a 3 to 15 power scope on this but that seems huge to me. Granted what I'm familiar with (2x7 or 3x9) won't be able to do much out there on the big range.

I'm just curious what most of you guys would set your daughter up with for scope power? Im trying to find something that could hunt close well, while also stretching out a little bit to have some fun and not overwhelming and ruining the utility of this compact gun.

Where do you think you would land?
Click to expand...

I see your from WA. it varies here, but hunting blacktail in W. Wa is vastly different from muley in E. Wa. If your western Wa I would caution on going over 3x on the bottom. My favorite hunting scope is a 2.5-10x42. I take it out to 1,000yds all the time. More magnification is always better for longer range, but it's easier to shoot less magnification at longer range targets then it is to shoot higher magnification on the bottom at shorter range in the dark timber while hunting.
 
#17
jbuck88 said:
I see your from WA. it varies here, but hunting blacktail in W. Wa is vastly different from muley in E. Wa. If your western Wa I would caution on going over 3x on the bottom. My favorite hunting scope is a 2.5-10x42. I take it out to 1,000yds all the time. More magnification is always better for longer range, but it's easier to shoot less magnification at longer range targets then it is to shoot higher magnification on the bottom at shorter range in the dark timber while hunting.
Click to expand...

I 1000% agree. I'm in western but getting pulled east harder and harder from friends. I hunt with a 2-7. Three is okay. Four is okay most of the time until it isn't. Not that it's too much power, but sometimes it takes too long to get on target or you see nothing but hair and it takes a minute to figure out which one's the buck and they run off. Very thick here. That's why I appreciate a brightly lighted scope so much. Not so much because I need the light, but because it makes pulling up a shot so much quicker on Target.
 
#20
m1match said:
It's a bit above your price but I've seen the Athlon Ares ETR UHD 3-18 on Amazon for $720.
Click to expand...
You can do much better than that on eurooptic, 583
https://www.eurooptic.com/Athlon-Ares-ETR-3-18x50mm-APRS6-FFP-IR-MIL-Riflescope-212106.aspx

I agree with the crowd that it’s tough at low power if you are shooting a buck zoomed out in the dark at sun set. But illumination pretty well negates that issue.
I imagine most shooting will be on the range, just a could handfuls in the hunting blind.
 
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#21
Shooting at a animal is so much more important then shooting at steel its not even close. Completely irresponsible to try to negate that fact.

Illumination is a valid point, but then your relying on batteries and electronics to be successful. I've done it and it works, but still taking a chance.

My closest elk was less then 15yds in pretty dark timber 100% wouldn't have been able to shoot without illumination. This year was the same case. Shot was longer, but only a few minutes past legal shoot and in the tree line so only possible with illumination. I've pulled that scope off not and just put a SFP scope on.
 
#22
A little older and I like the 3-12 LRHS.
Often found near your budget.
Shot a lot of game with em and steel at 600-1000+ without issue.

My daughter is 12 and uses one too.

She does like the 3-15 SFP scope a lot too. Esp for hunting.
Its a Vx5 I snagged used, but even then, a little over your budget.
 
#24
ggmanning said:
Both my kids that shoot and hunt started with Vortex Viper PSTs picked up used here. 4-16
Click to expand...
You mean 3-15? I have some of the FFP version and they have a really wide FOV on the low end (41.2’ @ 100yds) for a 3x.

Never used one to hunt deer, however, so I’m not sure how great they are at low light. Not much of a deer hunter.

Second focal plane version:
vortexoptics.com

Viper PST Gen II 3-15x44 EBR-4 (MOA)

EBR-4 (MOA) Reticle | 30mm Tube
vortexoptics.com vortexoptics.com

First focal plane version:
vortexoptics.com

Viper PST Gen II 3-15x44 FFP

Please Select Reticle | 30mm Tube
vortexoptics.com vortexoptics.com

No capped or locking dials, however.

Full disclosure: I am selling some FFP versions as I have too many scopes lol
 
#26
carbonbased said:
You mean 3-15? I have some of the FFP version and they have a really wide FOV on the low end (41.2’ @ 100yds) for a 3x.

Never used one to hunt deer, however, so I’m not sure how great they are at low light. Not much of a deer hunter.

Second focal plane version:
vortexoptics.com

Viper PST Gen II 3-15x44 EBR-4 (MOA)

EBR-4 (MOA) Reticle | 30mm Tube
vortexoptics.com vortexoptics.com

First focal plane version:
vortexoptics.com

Viper PST Gen II 3-15x44 FFP

Please Select Reticle | 30mm Tube
vortexoptics.com vortexoptics.com

No capped or locking dials, however.

Full disclosure: I am selling some FFP versions as I have too many scopes lol
Click to expand...

I have a pst gen2 3-15 on my kids hunting rifle. Great scope, but the battery is always dead. Seems to last a few weeks at best.
 
#27
jbuck88 said:
I have a pst gen2 3-15 on my kids hunting rifle. Great scope, but the battery is always dead. Seems to last a few weeks at best.
Click to expand...
I don’t really use illumination, but the batteries n my PST scopes seem to last a long time. Maybe you should sent your scope in?

I don’t think there’s an auto-turn off with PST illumination, so maybe that’s the issue?
 
#29
The XTR2 would be a good choice, should be able to find one with that budget, used ones pop up here in the px also.

I haven’t looked through a Signature HD yet but those are close in price.
 
#30
The USO 3-12 is what I used on 2 rifles for my boy and I love it. Perfect hunting scope and you can get em for your price new or buy on the px here (what I did) and get em for less.
 
#31
I agree with @jbuck88 in that 3x on the low end can be a liability depending on your conditions. I have been around the world on my general purpose 16” 308 hunting rifle trying to find the perfect optic for my needs, starting with open sights then moving to the scout platform with a fixed 2.5ish scout scope, then to a FFP 4-14 SHV and quickly on to a SFP 2.5-8, then to a Sig Romeo red dot and now to a VX5 3-15 (SFP mil/mil). I am not overly happy with this combo because it’s too much of a compromise in both directions and I prefer FFP. I mostly hunt in heavily wooded timber but often take it out to 500 on the range for fun. However, I would rather my range sessions suffer from the scope being SFP and having a bit lower resolution on maximum magnification than my hunting suffer from too high of a minimum mag and too thin of a reticle. Unfortunately there are very few FFP scopes that properly balance the mag range and reticle for true dual use so I tried this SFP option.

The best SFP scope I have found for dedicated hunting in the thick stuff is the VX5 2-10 with the fire dot reticle. It is great for point and shoot situations where 150 yards is a long shot and deer and pigs can be on the move. The dot is daylight bright and quick to acquire. It has a locking elevation dial, a small form factor, and is very light. The only negative I find is that it’s MOA. My preferred FFP hunting optic is a T6Xi 3-18, but it suffers in bright daylight in close-in situations due to the thinness of the MSR2 at low magnification, and it’s as heavy as a brick. But everything else is done right. It’s tracked accurately out to 1250 yards on steel and the center-only cross illumination is very finely graduated on the dimmer levels so as not to be a target distraction in low light conditions. I just switched over to the new Area 419 mount so I am going to top it with a mini red dot to help in these situations.

Lot of rambling here, but hope it helps.
 
#32
Just buy a good scope dedicated to long range. Pop the hunting scope off and put the LR scope on before when you head out for some LR shooting. Leave the scopes in their dedicated mounts and switching on one rifle should be really straight forward. And, once zeroed to that rifle, re-zeroing them after re-mounting shouldn’t use more than a couple of rounds.
 
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