Rifle Scopes LVPO Ballin’ on a Budget

slothlacrosse

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Oct 19, 2010
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My only experience with LVPO’s has been with VCOG’s and Razor HD’s, and I’m not looking to drop that kind of cash on a personal weapon.

So is the Bushnell SMRS 1-8.5x24 a $1700 that’s on sale for $680 or is it a $680 scope for $680?

I’ve looked through the Vortex Viper 1-6x and for my needs it seems adequate, and I can buy it for $200 less than the Bushnell.

This is going on a 14.5” rifle. It’s just a fun gun for mostly 25m to 300m so I won’t miss the extra magnification, but I’m down to spend the extra cash if it gets me better glass or reticle.

Is there another scope I should be considering?

Or should I just say “fuck it” and get the VCOG?
 
I just put the PA 1-6x24 with ACSS for 7.62x39/300BO and I could not be happier. The etched hold overs are spot on for my x39 ammo. $290 and no I'm not trying to compare this to a Razor HD, but if all you are doing is having fun banging steel out to 300 this will do it no problem. They make other reticle specific calibers as well. I bought it mainly for my dad to be able to easily pick 2, 3, 4, and 500 yard steel and just hold over exactly, but heck I'm loving it too!
 
I just put the PA 1-6x24 with ACSS for 7.62x39/300BO and I could not be happier. The etched hold overs are spot on for my x39 ammo. $290 and no I'm not trying to compare this to a Razor HD, but if all you are doing is having fun banging steel out to 300 this will do it no problem. They make other reticle specific calibers as well. I bought it mainly for my dad to be able to easily pick 2, 3, 4, and 500 yard steel and just hold over exactly, but heck I'm loving it too!

How’s the illumination?
 
The SMRS is built around the concept that you're dialing mils for your long-range shooting (or doing holdovers on a mil scale). If you are on-board with that, it's pretty good for the money. I was impressed with the glass for $680, but I think my Tango6s were a touch better (not surprising, given the age of the SMRS and a higher max magnification). Illumination, maybe not so much (think "daylight visible", albeit in the sun). The reticle has good intentions but not executed so terribly well on the windage/ranging side.

The Sig Tango6 scopes are also pretty good for the money, and frequently go on scale at OP/Dvor. Illumination on those is pretty damn solid, and is genuinely daylight bright.
 
I have the Viper 1 to 6 and that is a great scope. The glass is plenty good enough and the illumination is flawless. It’s not quite as good as the razor but I believe it to be a duty grade scope.
 
This guy. I have a discount code that gets it down around $800. There isn't a sub $1k scope I've seen yet that competes with it.