Rifle Scopes Hunting/Target Dual Purpose Scope <$1000

notacos4u

notacos4u

Rebellious Subject of New Yorkistan
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Dec 30, 2007
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#1
Not sure if this is going to be moved to the hunting section, but figured this part of the forum gets more attention and I might get more replies. I am looking for a hunting scope that I typically will be shooting between 20-150 yards. I am also going to hopefully use it to shoot steel out to 400 yards during the warmer months. I hunt in timber and not a lot of long shot possibilities. I hunt from an elevated tree blind. I will be utilizing this scope on a 308 savage stealth evolution, a remington 700 mounted in a ACIS chassis, or a custom built 6.5 creed moor sitting in a KRG chassis. I know, the rifles are heavy, But I have rails to shoot off of in my hunting blind.

I am military and am aware of the many discounts available for scopes from some of the makers, so I would like that to be taken into consideration when recommending a sub $1000 scope. I am not adverse to paying a little more by supporting one of the vendors on this site, but I would atlas like it to be in the ballpark.

I would like a scope in the range around 3-18 or there about. not really looking for 2-10 powers. I currently own a Meopta Meostar 4-16 that is probably 11 years old mounted on a different rifle.

Optics clarity is of big importance to me. Never owned a FFP scope, but was looking at that as a possibility. I would also like a lighted reticle, but it absolutely doesn't have to be. I want the biggest bang for my buck. as far a reticle..... not particular to any one, and I have no current plans to do any PRS or benchrest competitions.

I appreciate any and all advice and assistance in selecting a scope. Thanks Jim
 
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#4
I don't know what sort of discount you get with each manufacturer, but two scopes I really like under $1000 with good glass are the Leupold VX5/VX6 and the Vortex PST G2.

IMHO the 3-18 VX6hd with an illuminated Tmoa reticle makes an excellent hunting scope if you are happy with MOA and SFP.

The PST 3-15x44 is a great scope for the money if you want FFP.

If the discounts you get are considerable the Mark 5HD and Vortex Razor are good choices, but then again there are lots of options that may fit your price bracket.
 
#6
Check out Vortex Viper gen2 or razor gen1. All around great scopes and customer service/warranty. They usually can be found in the PX for ~$1000 or so.
 
#7
Possibly a SFP rather than FFP would be better. If you're shooting in the short distances and timber that you mentioned, you're going to need the lower powers and when you turn the power down it's going to be a bitch to see the reticle at times in timber. Depending on the reticle AND if it's illuminated of course. But you probably aren't going to need ranging capabilities either the way it sounds, so a SFP might be a better bet.
 
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#8
A lot depends on what kinds of reticles you like. I am really liking that Brownells MPO 3-18x50, but I do not know if you'll like the tree reticle. Crimson Trace 3-18x50 has a simpler reticle available and might work well too.

Similarly, I am not sure how much of a discount you get with the military ID, but if we are looking for something with a regular price of around $1500 or so, you should also consider EOTech Vudu 3.5-18x50.

ILya
 
#9
Here are the scopes I am currently looking at that will fall in my sub $1000 budget, the bottom 3 I would have to expand my budget a very little. I am leaning right now between Doug's deal for the Bushnell or possibly the Vortex Razor HD LH.... I plan on purchasing within the week, so what says everyone, based off the ones listed,

1572393982012.png
 
#11
notacos4u said:
Here are the scopes I am currently looking at that will fall in my sub $1000 budget, the bottom 3 I would have to expand my budget a very little. I am leaning right now between Doug's deal for the Bushnell or possibly the Vortex Razor HD LH.... I plan on purchasing within the week, so what says everyone, based off the ones listed,

View attachment 7173440
Click to expand...

Razor HD LH is SFP.
 
#13
gr8fuldoug said:
How about a Bushnell DMR2 3.5-21x50? We are offering these to the members here for only $899.99 if you call in and mention the Hide
Click to expand...


This^^^^

I called to verify this myself few days back. The DMR 2 is a rock solid optic and one of my favorite scopes. It has good glass, a very usable mag range for various tasks, and a forgiving eye box. For $899 it's a steal.
 
#14
I have the DMR2 and agree it is a great scope and a steal at that price.

I deer hunt in Georgia. If your terrain is similar to mine the DMR2 is NOT a good choice for deer hunting - especially at the ranges you mention.
 
#16
I would focus on the hunting over steel since you're not stretching it out very far.

That said, the Leupold with a fire dot and cds is the thing to beat for heavy timber at 3x, with the ability to turn it up and dial a few clicks if need be.


Being snipershide everyone has a boner for all the tactical scopes. Many have never needed or forgotten how useless most of those features are hunting.

I would never use something without locking or capped turrets. To easy to spin a turret on a pack and forget to check it.

There's not a lot of use for anything ffp at 500 yards and in. It's nice, but I'd rather have the heavy duplex fire dot I can actually see in the trees.

I've shot whitetails so close that 3x was too much, but never missed at 4-500 because 10-12x was too little. I tend to look at the 2-10, 2-12 range first and foremost for hunting.
 
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#18
I have some time behind the Bushnell 3-12 LRTSi and I believe it is absolutely the way to go. Very clear glass, relatively light weight, and reliable. I would pick one up again in a heartbeat. ESPECIALLY with the sale cameralandny has going.
 
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#19
rookie7 said:
Have you spent time behind that scope? What does the glass clarity and resolution compare to? Thanks
Click to expand...

When these first came out as the 3-12 LRHS, pre-order price was around $1,500 and guys were pretty happy with the performance at that price. Move forward a few years, the price hovered around a grand and were still considered a solid optic for the price given all the new competition in the 1k range. At 650 or 700 bucks new, these punch way above their price point. Optics are very good and mechanically very solid. Sorry, I don't have anything to compare it to directly in terms of optic quality. It's a very well executed optic in my opinion.
 
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#20
rookie7 said:
Have you spent time behind that scope? What does the glass clarity and resolution compare to? Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes, just bought another at Camera Land for their price of $699. I'm happy with the clarity and resolution throughout the power range. As far as comparing it to other scopes, I would put it above my PST Gen 2 and SWFA SS in the that price range. The older LRHS with the G2 reticle are pretty sweet as well. The weight and lower profile turrets on these are a plus for a hunting scope.
 
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#24
rookie7 said:
I have the DMR2 and agree it is a great scope and a steal at that price.

I deer hunt in Georgia. If your terrain is similar to mine the DMR2 is NOT a good choice for deer hunting - especially at the ranges you mention.
Click to expand...
Why do you say the DMR2 is not a good choice? For clarification on my end, I will not have many "long range", ie; 150 yd shots. Our woods are pretty thick and covered
 
#27
notacos4u said:
I am not adverse to paying a little more by supporting one of the vendors on this site, but I would atlas like it to be in the ballpark.
Click to expand...

You might pay less! Distributors are bound by "minimum advertised price" (MAP) provisions in their deals with scope brands. By calling a Hide vendor and mentioning the Hide, they can quote prices over the phone lower than MAP.
 
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#30
notacos4u said:
Why do you say the DMR2 is not a good choice? For clarification on my end, I will not have many "long range", ie; 150 yd shots. Our woods are pretty thick and covered
Click to expand...

For hunting the DMR2 in those conditions is the wrong choice, IMO. FFP recticle on 3.5x is going to be hard to pick up since it isn't illuminated. It is also a heavy beast. Still not what is needed for those hunting conditions.

For timber? Thick woods 200 and in? (and thick woods isn't 200, but if you walk out of the timber into a field you won't be handicapped) IMO, after many scopes and years of hunting in those types of conditions NOTHING beats a German #4 reticle - nothing. Also, Leupold offers that reticle in their VX-R line. So you get the benefit of the German #4 reticle, and then the center dot is red illuminated.

I have a VXR 2-7x33 with the German #4 on my daughter's rifle. It is awesome for it's intended purpose.

For a straight up hunting scope it is really hard to beat a Leupold for the money.

Here's a thought -

Buy a Leupold for hunting with the no-nonsense features you need, and then buy something like an SWFA SS 10x Mil Quad for the summer months to shoot on the range.

Win, win.
 
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#31
Call Leupold and check their military discount.

I would think that will bring a vx-5hd under $1k by a bit. Not 100% what their mil discount is but their pro discount is generous.
 
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