Rifle Scopes Need help deciding on budget optic

[ssdrew]

First off, I have done a lot of research on different optics in my price range but have yet to find a thread that has compared the models I'm interested in. I have recently ordered a RPR in 6CM as a budget rifle into the precision shooting world. I am in need of a decent budget optic to complement it. My budget is about 1200 and I don't mind used as long as its a quality optic. I do not have any experience with high end optics and I have been using a Leupold Mark AR Mod1 4-12x40 for 3-4yrs on my SPR and I know its pretty bad. My eyes seem to fatigue really fast when looking through it for extended periods of time.

Must haves are FFP, mil/mil, holdover reticle, 10mil rev with zero stop, decent glass. Use will be 90% steel paper shooting, 10% hunting from a stand or blind until I get a dedicated hunting rifle. Would prefer to be able to order as soon as possible (receiving a refund in 1-2wks to fund it)

The scopes I have been looking at are:
Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50 - this is the one I am leaning to the hardest. I can have this one new at my near max budget price. Its in stock
Bushnell ERS/XRS - seems very robust and I like the magnification levels a little better, not sure on glass compared to Razor. Can find them on a regular basis in the PX.
Bushnell DMR 2 - seems like the best bang for buck, can get a good deal on it through Experticity, but it hasn't been in-stock to order in a month and street price is outside of my budget.

I did get to look through a PST Gen2 5x25 the other day and the glass looked nice through my untrained eye. Really don't like that its a 30mm tube and afraid it might not have enough travel at long distances.

Let me know your thoughts on these choices or if you have one that I may not of thought of or considered.

 

[IanHusaberg]

I would buy a PST Gen 2 5-25. Why? Thats just what I did for my 6 Creed. The PST is the best bang for the buck in IMHO. The Gen 1 Razor will be better. If you buy it from Mile high with the sphur mount, I don't think you could do better for the $.

If you go the PST route I'd look into a Spuhr mount with 20 Moa or Vortex/ Seekins rings. I owned a Gen 1 ruger RPR and forgot if it comes with a canted 20 Moa rail or not. If it does just buy the PST Gen2 and rings.

 

[blbennett1288]

First off, I have done a lot of research on different optics in my price range but have yet to find a thread that has compared the models I'm interested in. I have recently ordered a RPR in 6CM as a budget rifle into the precision shooting world. I am in need of a decent budget optic to complement it. My budget is about 1200 and I don't mind used as long as its a quality optic. I do not have any experience with high end optics and I have been using a Leupold Mark AR Mod1 4-12x40 for 3-4yrs on my SPR and I know its pretty bad. My eyes seem to fatigue really fast when looking through it for extended periods of time.

Must haves are FFP, mil/mil, holdover reticle, 10mil rev with zero stop, decent glass. Use will be 90% steel paper shooting, 10% hunting from a stand or blind until I get a dedicated hunting rifle. Would prefer to be able to order as soon as possible (receiving a refund in 1-2wks to fund it)

The scopes I have been looking at are:
Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50 - this is the one I am leaning to the hardest. I can have this one new at my near max budget price. Its in stock
Bushnell ERS/XRS - seems very robust and I like the magnification levels a little better, not sure on glass compared to Razor. Can find them on a regular basis in the PX.
Bushnell DMR 2 - seems like the best bang for buck, can get a good deal on it through Experticity, but it hasn't been in-stock to order in a month and street price is outside of my budget.

I did get to look through a PST Gen2 5x25 the other day and the glass looked nice through my untrained eye. Really don't like that its a 30mm tube and afraid it might not have enough travel at long distances.

Let me know your thoughts on these choices or if you have one that I may not of thought of or considered.

I dont think you can go wrong with any of your three choices Razor GEN1, ERS/XRS, DMR2. In my opinion they all would be any upgrade to the PST GENII. Given that the price points of the Razor GEN1, ERS/XRS, and DMR2 are within $100-200 of each other I think it really comes down to features and reticle selection. If it were my money I would go DMRII

 

[long range sponge]

You mention experticity. Why not a 4.5-18 LRHS or LRTS?

 

[blbennett1288]

You mention experticity. Why not a 4.5-18 LRHS or LRTS?

I was talking about the DMR2 price in the PX; without the Bushnell 25% off rebate the LRHS and LRTS are about the same price as the DMR2...

EDIT: My bad OP mentioned experticity, but I think his thought process is the same as mine...they are about the same price

 

[ssdrew]

I haven't ruled out the PST gen2, would prefer a larger tube to know i would never run out of adjustment. It would leave me some extra money for other things which is a plus.

If they were all in stock, dmr2 would be first choice, but I don't want to wait several months. It might just come down to what is available in a week or 2 when I'm ready to buy. I've seen 2 sell around 1100 in the px. So if one pops up, I will snag it.

I'm not sure how I feel on the LRTS/LRHS, its a 30mm tube which kind of puts it in the consideration pile with the pst gen2 and I wish it had a slightly wider range of magnification. I don't know much about it, so I will research it.


I'm also thinking I might like the vortex reticles over the bushnells, but not sure. Might be nice having the fuller christmas tree, maybe not. I appreciate all of the suggestions so far.

 

[long range sponge]

I was talking about the DMR2 price in the PX; without the Bushnell 25% off rebate the LRHS and LRTS are about the same price as the DMR2...

EDIT: My bad OP mentioned experticity, but I think his thought process is the same as mine...they are about the same price

I'm also waiting for the DMR2 to become available. I just mentioned those for other options since they seem to be in stock more often. And since the illuminated versions of those scopes are nearly the exact same price as the non-illum version as the DMR2... That's all.