Rifle Scopes Least expensive First Focal Place, Mil/Mil scope???

[Amerigo]

Hi all -

I have a friend who is shopping for a scope. He has used my Vortex Viper PST 6-24x, and he really likes it, but it's more than he can spend. He really wants First Focal Plane and Mil/Mil though.

I know SWFA makes a 3-9x that fits this criteria for $599, and Weaver makes a 3-15x for $699.

Does anyone know if you can pick up these features in a scope for any less than $600? Or can anyone tell me some other brands that make these in this price range?

Thanks!

 

[CASDB]

Falcon Menace Riflescopes. Don't have any personal experience with them, but they fit the budget.

 

[hk dave]

The Swfa 3-9 is excellent. I would not hesitate to recommend it.

 

[kyshootnman]

Midway USA sells one from BSA that has these features. I have no experience with this scope. Another model similar to the Falcon Menace is the Primary Arms scope. I have no experience with it either. I do have a Falcon Menace 5.5-25 and have not had any issues with it. It will not compare to an upper end scope with these features, but he will get the features he desires for his budget.

 

[Falsecrack]

Falcon Menace Riflescopes. Don't have any personal experience with them, but they fit the budget.

I have the 4-14x version, and have been pretty pleased with its performance. However, I will mention that I've always been suspecious of it's durability, so I wouldn't use it for anything more than a range optic.

 

[Amerigo]

Awesome guys! I knew you'd point me in the right direction!

It looks like the Falcon Menace stuff may be the best option for him. Kyshootnman - on your 5.5-25x Falcon, which reticle do you have?

Falsecrack - regarding your comment, are you saying you wouldn't trust this hunting?

 

[Crosshair]

Primary Arms 4-14X44 Mil Mil FFP Scope - First Focal Plane - Mil Turret - Mil Reticle Scope

At $229 it is probably the cheapest I know of. This, the Falcon, or BSA (which is basically a re-badged Falcon) are about the cheapest options. Whether its worth it or not, depends on the user and goals. They are all going to be mostly of chinese descent, which a lot of times is not so great, but sometimes can surprise, as in the case of the Minox ZV3 line -- Very very good glass for well over its price range. Generally there are favorable reviews for all 3 of these scopes (at their price point).

 

[Captramrod01]

Your friend settling on that Chinese Falcon would be a mistake. SS 3-9x pop up for 500 bucks fairly often, if you can squeeze a couple more bucks out of him the weaver edmr 3-15x is the best sub 1k FFP mil/mil scope in my opinion.

 

[skog]

used bushnell elite 4200 3-12x44 pop up in the sub $600 range too

 

[Amerigo]

Your friend settling on that Chinese Falcon would be a mistake. SS 3-9x pop up for 500 bucks fairly often, if you can squeeze a couple more bucks out of him the weaver edmr 3-15x is the best sub 1k FFP mil/mil scope in my opinion.

He is mounting this on a Remington R25 (.308 semi-auto). I think he'd be crazy to put a $300 scope on this gun. I don't know much about the R25, but I'm sure it's not super accurate (when compared to a bolt-action or a high-end .308 auto), so maybe putting a 5-25x scope on it is overkill. The SS 3-9x might be his best option. He loses the magnification but gets better glass.

 

[Falsecrack]

He is mounting this on a Remington R25 (.308 semi-auto). I think he'd be crazy to put a $300 scope on this gun. I don't know much about the R25, but I'm sure it's not super accurate (when compared to a bolt-action or a high-end .308 auto), so maybe putting a 5-25x scope on it is overkill. The SS 3-9x might be his best option. He loses the magnification but gets better glass.

I used mine as a training scope on my OBR heavy, and like I mentioned earlier, it did the job (at least out to 200yds). With that being said, I would have no problem recommending an SS 3-9 or maybe a Vortex PST FFP or any other "known" brands, if only for the peace of mind it would give me.

 

[CSTactical]

The Weaver scope are OK, I will say the PST is much nicer.

Mike @ CST

 

[BCP]

He is mounting this on a Remington R25 (.308 semi-auto). I think he'd be crazy to put a $300 scope on this gun. I don't know much about the R25, but I'm sure it's not super accurate (when compared to a bolt-action or a high-end .308 auto), so maybe putting a 5-25x scope on it is overkill. The SS 3-9x might be his best option. He loses the magnification but gets better glass.

There's a guy on here with a used IOR 2.5-10 FFP int he classifieds. It's an older one he wants 650. I had one like it and would say 550 would be fair the optical clarity was astounding and it tracked just fine. I would buy it if I had the cash.

Another good one is the sightron SIII 3.5-10 mil mil. I have one on my 18" 223 build and it is great. Optically it is almost as good as the IOR just not quite as much contrast.

Finallly there are used 10x SWFA HD scopes on here all the time for 500-600. That would be excellent for him.

Don't let him buy shit like BSA for 300-400 just because it is 14X or whatever.

 

[hlee]

He is mounting this on a Remington R25 (.308 semi-auto). I think he'd be crazy to put a $300 scope on this gun. I don't know much about the R25, but I'm sure it's not super accurate (when compared to a bolt-action or a high-end .308 auto), so maybe putting a 5-25x scope on it is overkill. The SS 3-9x might be his best option. He loses the magnification but gets better glass.

A good rule of thumb on buying scopes is to spend at least as much on the glass as you did on the rifle. If you are going to skimp somewhere, the scope is not the place to do it. Don't knock the R25 because it is a MSR. The modern sporting rifle- even when not a JP, GAP, Larue, POF, etc- is capable of surprising accuracy.

Check out the threads below...

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...0yard-semi-auto-6groups-30round-shootout.html
This is a recent posting, but the DPMS rifles are holding their own (Rem, DPMS, Bushmaster are owned by the same company- and I have heard one company makes the MSRs for all three)

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...00yard-semi-auto-6group-30round-shootout.html
2 DPMS in top 10

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...0yard-semi-auto-6groups-30round-shootout.html
DPMS takes top 2 here.

I found a bushnell 6-24x50mm elite tactical scope for $799 new and I thought that was a fair price at the time.

 

[kyshootnman]

Kyshootnman - on your 5.5-25x Falcon, which reticle do you have?

Mine has the EMD reticle. I wasn't saying this is the best scope available with these features, just answering your question. At the low price point you were asking about, the options listed were what I thought of. Of course you will get a better piece of glass the more you spend (in most cases). Just don't get hung up on needing a S&B to go have fun.

 

[scudzuki]

I wouldn't recommend you buy less than the SWFA or the Bushnell.

Joe

 

[sawman556]

If you don't have the cash to by a decent optic with all the bells and whistles, ditch the bells and whistles. Get a fixed SWFA SS 10x, 12x, 16x or whatever for like 300 bucks.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Bushnell, SWFA, and Weaver are all good to go. 308 AR's are hard on scopes with that heavy bolt slamming back and forth, he needs to buy quality.

Also SWFA has a new 3-15 FFP mil/mil out for the same price as the 3-9x. I haven't used one so I can't comment on glass quality or anything but I can tell you the classic line which it seems to get most of its build from are good scopes. That's another scope I'd recommend if he can't afford the big bucks now, for $299 you get a hell of a lot of scope for your money and they are very reliable and will take the beating from a semi 308 no problem. It's not FFP since its fixed power but it is mil/mil with a great reticle. As long as its not going to be used for hunting a 10x or 12x works great on a 308 target rifle.

 

[Crosshair]

I would highly recommend the SS 10x mil quad for $300 and a set of rapid transition back up sights.

 

[Honky]

I have the Midway BSA FFP scope on a 10/22. It tracks, holds zero, and POA is consistent throughout power range. However, about 11x the eye box and eye relief gets absolutely terrible. Glass is more than usable below 11x or so, but it gets dark above that. The reticle is well designed, with mil and half-mil hashes. There are reports of it not standing up to recoil, but I have it on a rimfire, so I can't get into that.

 

[Blackstone]

Any SWFA, Bushnell.