Rifle Scopes Scope around the 500 dollar range

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stonewall308

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Aug 18, 2011
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#1
Hello, I am not new to shooting, but new to long range shooting. I am getting a Remington 700 .308 heavy barrel from my wonderful wife as an anniversary present. I am planning on topping it with a scope in the 500 dollar range, and I was considering the Nikon Monarch 6-24x50 with the Nikoplex or BDC reticle.

I don't really know much about long range shooting in general. I'd like to have adjustable turrets, but don't know much about that either. Before I make a purchase I will be browsing around this forum for information, but in the meantime can anyone suggest me a scope and tell me why it is preferable over the Nikon?

Also, what kind of base would you use?
 
#2
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

How are you going to use scope? If for shooting targets you will not like the BDC. Nikon good scope you might want to look around for Ziess used alot better glass. Burris make a decent scope also.

As far as base gets into how much you want to spend. EGW is a decent lower end around $40.00. Then you have Seekins, NF and Near at top end pushing $200.00. Go 20 MOA on your base will save you from buying again.

The other thing is dont go cheap on rings. It can cost you a good scope and your state of mind. Tried to go cheap on first set scope moved everywhere scared it up and could not get groups.

I guess the old saying you get what you pay for. Oyea welcome to sight.
 
#3
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

Thanks for the reply. I would like for the scope to be good for target shooting as well as hunting, so I guess the BDC reticle is out.

I was mainly looking for suggestions on specific brands and models of scope. So far the only nice scope I have is a leupold 4-12x40 on my .30-06.
 
#5
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

Look at the SWFA SS series. If you're willing to go a bit higher in your price ($600) you can get their 3-9 scope. Great glass, FFP, mil-dot or mil-quad reticle with matching turrets, and excellent customer support. I had one on my .308 for over a year before moving it to a .300 blackout and was very happy shooting it out to 600 yards.

Check into it, you get a lot of quality for the money.
 
#7
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

Do people shoot to 1000 with 3-9 power scopes? I have a 4-12 on my .30-06, but I was thinking of at least 4-16 for the .308 and possibly 5-20.


What is the verdict of falcon menace 5-25x50?
 
#8
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

Vortex Viper, not the PST, just Viper 6.5-20x50mm. I have one and glass is good for the money and it tracks very well, i use the turrets a lot going from 100 to 300 to 600 and back down and it hasn't failed me in the two yrs i've had it.

+1 on a 20moa base
 
#10
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: stonewall308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do people shoot to 1000 with 3-9 power scopes? I have a 4-12 on my .30-06, but I was thinking of at least 4-16 for the .308 and possibly 5-20.


What is the verdict of falcon menace 5-25x50? </div></div>

Depends on what you're intending to do. If you are shooting a man-sized target, you should be easily able to make it out (just as you would a man sized target at 110 yards).
 
#15
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

Just better scopes out thier for same price range. Glass is not as clear as most others. Go to a good shop and look thru them. Its what you like not us.
 
#16
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

The Buckmaster 6-18x40 has 50MOA adjustment.

I've got the mildot version on a Savage 12FV .223...functions flawlessly, has plenty of adjustment (especially with 20MOA base), and the glass is clear, especially for the $230 shipped I paid for it.
 
#19
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

Right now there aren’t many good scopes in the $500 range. There are some ok entry level scopes in the $300 range and decent scopes starting around $700 but not all that much in-between if you want tactical features like matching turrets and reticules or FFP. The good scopes in the $500 range tend to be scopes with good glass but few features. You are looking at something that will have MOA adjustments and SFP with a mil dot.
 
#24
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

Nikon makes good "hunter" quality scopes in the 200 to 400 price range. They generally don't compare well, in terms of glass quality and construction, with the Vortex or SWFA Super Sniper lines in the 400 to 800 range which are more purpose built for long range shooting. You really don't need a 6-24 power to shoot long range. A 3-9 would get you started just fine. 3-15 is plenty for most applications.

We all end up being glass snobs in the end. Once you spend time looking through high end glass you won't go back.

Years ago I was standing on the edge of a meadow at dusk with a fanatical hunting buddy. I looked into the shadows of the other edge of the meadow, peering into the brush two hundred yards away, and could see a buck through a Leupold Vari XIII. I tried to point it out to him but he saw only darkness through his low end bargin scope. The point is, there is a practical difference in glass quality. This is especially perceptable in low light or at long ranges. You do get what you pay for. Although, at the high end ($2000 plus), you tend to pay a lot more for subtle increases in glass quality.

Do buy a 20 MOA sloped base as suggested above. Quality rings are really important as well.

SWFA Super Sniper or Vortex products are always a good value.
 
#26
Re: Scope around the 500 dollar range

can't go wrong with swfa ss scopes. Great CS also. I have the ss 10HD and it is amazing how clear it is. I have shot to 1320 yards with out an issue with clearity. Just waiting for my ss5-20 now for my edge build.
 
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