Rifle Scopes Older generations of scope still worth the money

I

ichigo

Private
Minuteman
Jan 2, 2019
60
11
#1
Hello all,

I just finish building my AR10 after a couple of months shopping for some decent quality parts that were on sale. The rifle build came out nice and have not taken the rifle to the range. I’m still on the search for a budget scope that can provide decent FoV, exit pupil and have a decent image at 100-500 yards range.

The purpose of the scope is for practicing my LR shooting and probably in the future to try hog/boar hunting (if I become a good LR shooter).

Base from the readings that I have done, 1) some are recommending to get an older generation of scope 2) others recommend to get the SFP, since the FFP scope is great but of course does not come cheap 3) some recommends getting a smaller objective lens @ a 30mm tube.

Here’s a little info for my budget scope:
1) Budget: $350-400 (max)
2) SFP, but FFP is welcome
3) Range: 100-500 yrds
4) Weight: any
5) Purpose: Practice long range and hog/boar hunting (future)


Thanks in advance
 
#7
7060607

Here's one of my Athlon scopes on my AR10
 
#8
You can find good deals on used ones in the PX here if patient. That's a pretty low budget but if you kicked it up a bit you could get a much nicer scope used and with lifetime warranties, it's hard to go wrong. It's how I get a lot of my stuff. Recently picked up a 3.5-10x Mk4 for $650 or so. Nothing to write home about, basic but it gets the job done and it's a solid scope.
 
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#9
Go to Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop or a gun shop with a good selection and take a look. See what you like and don't like.

For your application, you don't need more than 10x magnification. 12 or 15x is fine but you pay for it one way or another. With a limited budget you are probably better off trying to buy quality than features you don't really need.

On my first large frame AR I put on a $800 Minox and it has done well out to 1,000 yards.

On AR15s I have a variety of budget scopes that do just fine out to 600+

I have recently stated moving up to FFP scopes which are nice and cool but in a different price range and not really intended as hunting scopes.

There are a lot of good choices in the $200-350 range. Look for the 3-9x value hunting models from name brands.

There is also the Falcon Menace and Athlon versions of the same scope. It's FFP but I hear the glass is unremarkable. I wouldn't buy unless I could look first. Best case you'll like the features but will be wanting to upgrade and that won't be cheap.

Be sure to budget for a mount. The cheek weld in an AR lines up well with a mount that's about 1.5" centerline over rail and depending on how you hold it, you might need a cantilever to move the scope forward.

This is where I think 30mm makes sense. If you go with a 1" tube scope and then upgrade to a 30mm, you will need a new mount. If you do upgrade to an FFP scope later, you are probably going to need a 30mm or 34mm mount to do it. Bottom line, there is a much better chance to reuse a 30mm mount so going that way makes sense unless you know you will not upgrade.
 
#10
Thank you for all your advise. I visited the SWFA site and some other sites and here's a list the I came up with. Do you guys know a good company that sell good quality used scopes.

Viva, nice setup.


------> within budget
Vortex 4-24x50 Strike Eagle 30mm Rifle Scope
Vortex 3-18x44 Strike Eagle 30mm Rifle Scope
VIPER PST 2.5-10X44 EBR-1 RIFLESCOPE MRAD
Athlon 6-24x50 Argos BTR 30mm Riflescope
SWFA SS 10x42M Tactical 30mm Riflescope
SWFA SS 6x42 Tactical 30mm Riflescope

-----> outside budget
SWFA SS HD 3-9x42 Tactical 30mm Riflescope
SWFA SS 3-15x42 Tactical Rifle Scope
 
#11
I was just looking at the clearance optics section of Natchez Shooter's Supply.

There are plenty of Nicon Monarchs, Bushnell Elite and other decent to very good hunting scopes in your price range.

Hell there was a Nikon Prostaff that would be fine for $130.

It's better to dip your toe in to the mid-range of hunting scopes than spend more to try the low end of "tactical".
 
#14
Lower power gives you a better FOV. Exit pupil is entirely dependent on the objective diameter divided by the power. 6-7mm exit pupil is ideal. Any less and it's hard to see, any more and it's useless. But you usually only worry about this in low light situations. With your price requirements, you have to give up something somewhere. I'd settle for a middle of the road model with minimal features. I find in hunting situations, hold overs and wind guesstimates are more common than dialing due to game moving. Pigs don't' sit still and will run after the first shot.
 
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#16
There are a lot of scopes in or under or just over the price mentioned in just a few min of looking i saw at least 10 . That really was with very little effort , and only a small segment of what is out there . I am sure you with a little poking around could find more and at cheaper prices either online or in the px . How well they look from my eyes will differ from your own view point on the same scopes . as one does not buy a Ferrari and assume it will be at a pinto's price point . Or at least to still be an intact proper Ferrari .

 
#21
While i could not comment on things i have not seen in person . I would think newer glass would be better , and pray that its made to last longer because , almost all new made things are not . If you are happy to pay a lot of money for an older scope and not be sad by amount you spent then you should buy it . I can not and will not pay more for what I want than what am willing to pay new or old . As an example , I am looking at a 3k dollar ish sharps rifle with lust and desire . Its not going to be better than a new more modern percision rifle , of that i am sure . I still want it and its not even original its a remake . lol , and so far I'm still dead set on getting it along with about 20 other fire arms of that period . Now I just need that winning lottery ticket or time to save . But paying full retail prices on slightly used and used hard items makes no sense to me .
 
#23
acudaowner said:
While i could not comment on things i have not seen in person . I would think newer glass would be better , and pray that its made to last longer because , almost all new made things are not . If you are happy to pay a lot of money for an older scope and not be sad by amount you spent then you should buy it . I can not and will not pay more for what I want than what am willing to pay new or old . As an example , I am looking at a 3k dollar ish sharps rifle with lust and desire . Its not going to be better than a new more modern percision rifle , of that i am sure . I still want it and its not even original its a remake . lol , and so far I'm still dead set on getting it along with about 20 other fire arms of that period . Now I just need that winning lottery ticket or time to save . But paying full retail prices on slightly used and used hard items makes no sense to me .
Click to expand...

This was sold to me as LNIB and it is. I was going to get the Quigley because of the real pretty color case hardening.
This was 500.00 more and I'm glad I got it. It also came with the sight set shown and I don't think the Q did. She should give me a lifetime of enjoyment. I will never have the money to buy custom.
I also bought a Dave Crossno .22 LR insert from buffalo Arms so that I can shoot it with my niece and do it cheaply. The last photo is a stock photo, not mine.
 

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#25
acudaowner said:
While i could not comment on things i have not seen in person . I would think newer glass would be better , and pray that its made to last longer because , almost all new made things are not . If you are happy to pay a lot of money for an older scope and not be sad by amount you spent then you should buy it . I can not and will not pay more for what I want than what am willing to pay new or old . As an example , I am looking at a 3k dollar ish sharps rifle with lust and desire . Its not going to be better than a new more modern percision rifle , of that i am sure . I still want it and its not even original its a remake . lol , and so far I'm still dead set on getting it along with about 20 other fire arms of that period . Now I just need that winning lottery ticket or time to save . But paying full retail prices on slightly used and used hard items makes no sense to me .
Click to expand...
Have you looked into a scope for your Sharps? Any advise you would care to share.
I have always bought nice things and I have lost everything three times now do to health reasons. I can tell you that if you buy quality things, like Lie Nielsen wood working tools, they can be sold for what you paid for them or more. just check on evil-bay.
 
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#27
I'll give another vote for the SWFA 10x SS. I'm new to the long range stuff, but in my first match, I did not feel disadvantaged by having the fixed 10x. In fact, it was one less thing to worry about.
 
#28
SWFA SS 10x42M Tactical 30mm in mil/mil for $340 is what you want for your stated goals/needs and price range. You'll appreciate the side focus, which it totally worth it (and in your budget) when it's on sale like it is right now.
 
#29
Thanks all for your advises which help me with my decision making. This is a much harder decision making than picking all the parts for the actual rifle build and finding the parts when they are on sale. After doing more readings and taking your inputs, I came the 2 options. I'll check my nearest local armory store and check if they have a better price compared to the internet. The deciding factors was glass, constraction, reticle, warranty and price.

SWFA SS 10x42 Tactical 30mm
Athlon Argos BTR 6-24 x 50 DD Side Focus Riflescope
 
#30
the older Bushnell elite tactical 2.5-16 are great scopes for what you're trying to do. Simple mildot reticle, SFP, good turrets and decent glass. if you search hard, you can find a 6-24 elite in FFP, but I haven't seen many. I run a couple of the 2.5-16x on my ar's, I feel like they're just about perfect for that purpose.
 
#32
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