Rifle Scopes Looking for a mid-range beginner scope

[BeAccurate]

Hi all,

I'm trying to get started in rifle shooting with the intent of shooting .223 at ranges of 50-200 yards for varmint hunting and ~600-800 yards for target shooting. I'm looking for a good scope in the $400-$500 range to mount on a Savage 12. Eventually I would also like to get into tactical/practical shooting.

Currently, I'm leaning towards the Vortex 6.5-20x50 PA riflescope with the standard mil-dot reticle. It fits within my budget, ($460 new, cheaper if I can find it used) has great reviews and I hear that Vortex's customer service is second to none. I'm especially enticed since I'm a total novice at centerfire rifle shooting and don't count out the possibility of somehow botching the scope.

A few questions/reservations I had were about specific features of this scope:

Will the Mil reticle but MOA turrets be a huge problem for a novice who is learning? I've read around that Mil/Mil scopes are much faster and better. Are there Mil/Mil scopes at this price range that are as good as if not better than this Vortex?

How clear is the glass at 20x magnification? I have heard from friends that I should select a scope with more magnification than I think I will need so that the clarity and light transmission will still be good at the magnifications I end up using it at. For example, 10x on a scope that goes up to 20x would be clearer than 10x on a scope whose max is 10x. How valid is this and does it make a significant difference?

Are there any other scopes I should look at in this price range for this application? I have heard good things about Nikon Monarchs and the Nikon M-223 line, as well.

Many thanks.

 

[mzvarner]

I was impressed with my vortex viper HS. Mine was a 4-16 power but it was very clear to me. Their warranty is awesome. I had free floating debri in mine the first day I got it. Emailed them. D had a fully paid shipping receipt 20 min later. Had the scope back about 4 days later.

I think a lot of guys will tell you to stay away from the mil/moa. If needed spend the little extra money to have matching turrets/ reticle and save your self the headache.

 

[thrusty]

Will the Mil reticle but MOA turrets be a huge problem for a novice who is learning? I've read around that Mil/Mil scopes are much faster and better. Are there Mil/Mil scopes at this price range that are as good as if not better than this Vortex?

MIL/MOA scope will not be a HUGE problem...I have a Leupold Mk4 - just takes some learning. If you observe through your reticle in MILs it will be helpful for you to know how to translate that into MOAs for your turrets...just a simple thing to learn really.
At a $400-$500 price point....I'm not sure.

How clear is the glass at 20x magnification?

I can't speak about the Vortex PA series....I don't have one. However, the Vortex PST is very clear at 20x - it's a great optic for the money.

I have heard from friends that I should select a scope with more magnification than I think I will need so that the clarity and light transmission will still be good at the magnifications I end up using it at. For example, 10x on a scope that goes up to 20x would be clearer than 10x on a scope whose max is 10x. How valid is this and does it make a significant difference?

I'm not sure this is necessarily true...this gets into the sharpness of the glass, the objective, amount of light....etc. It will also get you into troubles if you end up with a SFP (second focal plane) reticle, which the Vortex PA has. The reticles in SFP scopes are calibrated to be accurate at a given magnification....in other words 1MOA or 1MIL in a SFP scope typically holds true only at the max magnification. If you have a 20x scope and are always using 10x, then you will just have to figure out one more additional formula - and that's what the value of your hashmarks or mil dots equate to at a given zoom. Your best option would be to locate your target on 10x and zoom to 20x if you want to use hold-overs or range...

To not have to deal with this, you would need a FFP (first focal plane) reticle...which the reticle maintains its subtensions across the zoom levels....anyway, we're getting too much in depth now.

My personal preference is to get the amount of magnification that is appropriate to the hunting and/or shooting you will be doing. At 200 yards, I think you'll be just fine for varmints with that scope...even 600 you'll likely be good. 700-800 though, you may be fine in the right conditions, but add some heat and mirage and that's a different story. High magnification on lower end glass doesn't do anyone any favors...tends to get blurry real quick.

Are there any other scopes I should look at in this price range for this application? I have heard good things about Nikon Monarchs and the Nikon M-223 line, as well.

These are both decent scopes.
If you're interested, I have a used PST for sale...little above your price point, but less than retail: http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/optics-sale/196836-fs-vortex-pst-6-24x50mm-ffp-moa-moa.html

 

[lawofsavage]

In my opinion, I think a decent value on a starter scope would be a sfp pst in your choice of magnification. You will probably want to upgrade to a ffp later but the sfp model will save you a little up front and you can buy more ammo and focus on your fundamentals then sell your scope and get decent value if you want to sell it.