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semi-budget (<$2k) PRS rifle scope

kravi

kravi

Private
Minuteman
Oct 24, 2024
88
26
People's Republic of Maryland
#1
Ok, so unlike a semi-tone kind of life, I'd like to figure out recommendations on an optic for a PRS rifle I'll be building. Right now, all of my optics are more budget. I've got a few Athlons (2 x Cronus - though one is the LPVO and Ares ERT), a Trijicon Accupower (LPVO, but I like it better than almost any other LPVO, including hte stupid Accupoint), a Vortex LHT - lovely glass), and some cheaper crap I'm not bothering to list (and like a gazillion red dots and magnifiers). But I'm looking for advice on the best optic I can get for sub-$2k (with a normal sale, not a freak once every 15 years sale). My priorities are eye relief and clarity of glass in the center. Less worried about CA, specifics of reticle (any tree will do, and to be honest, I'd be fine with a perfect german + reticle with marks in mils, I tend to dial windage too).

I know this is ambiguous, but I just can't see myself ever going for the top glass (I'm too cheap value minded).

Cheers!

EDIT: Not looking for used. This is street priced. Obviously if I somehow found a $3k+ optic on sale for $1900, it would be a no brainer.
 
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#4
Get on Leupold's core insider thing. I routinely see Mk4s going for 1-1.5k and Mk5s at 1.5-2k on their site. Finding it in stock, on Leupold's site, is another question.
 
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#9
If you shop around there are some models of the XTR Pro priced under $1500 again. That said historically there have been quite a few complaint posts on their quality/customer service, and a couple that would qualify as sagas. Burris cranked the prices of the XTR Pro and XTR III up quite a bit for almost a year now, I'd guess it sent a lot of folks in other directions. At $1300 for a XTR III and $2k for an XT R Pro, there's a lot of really good options at those price points. Back when the XTR III was under $900 and the XTR Pro was under $1500 they were much more competitive at that price point. I'd probably try an S3 just because it seems so generally well regarded.

My guess is we're going to see a lot of prices go up shortly due to tarrifs. DNT optics has already stated they are increasing prices due to the increased tarrifs this month. You can also bet that some companies are going to increase prices more than the tarrif cost them, easy way to increase profit margins while everyone blames the government.
 
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#10
Don't laugh at this recommendation... I'm being dead-serious. I own an LRP S3, NF ATACR F1, Burris XTR-2 & XTR-3, Kahles, etc... This scope is the best budget scope I've seen so far. I have 2 of them, and run both of them regularly. The glass and reticle are quite impressive.


I don't like Leupold, so I wouldn't suggest one to anybody... But that's just me.
 
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#11
I’m a mrad guy, like you, but if I were into MOA this Razor Gen2 4.5-27 is currently under $2k.

www.eurooptic.com

Like New Vortex Razor Gen II 4.5-27x56 EBR-7C MOA Riflescope RZR-42707

FREE SHIPPING on Like New Vortex Razor Gen II 4.5-27x56 EBR-7C MOA Riflescope RZR-42707
www.eurooptic.com www.eurooptic.com

I own the mrad version and the eyebox is yuuuge. Plus it’s super heavy, which is typically good for PRS (I don’t do PRS, however)

You could call Eurooptic and ask for a deal. That’s what I have done many times, and it usually works.

Gun.deals can be your friend (mrad version):
 
#12
carbonbased said:
I’m a mrad guy, like you, but if I were into MOA this Razor Gen2 4.5-27 is currently under $2k.

www.eurooptic.com

Like New Vortex Razor Gen II 4.5-27x56 EBR-7C MOA Riflescope RZR-42707

FREE SHIPPING on Like New Vortex Razor Gen II 4.5-27x56 EBR-7C MOA Riflescope RZR-42707
www.eurooptic.com www.eurooptic.com

I own the mrad version and the eyebox is yuuuge. Plus it’s super heavy, which is typically good for PRS (I don’t do PRS, however)

You could call Eurooptic and ask for a deal. That’s what I have done many times, and it usually works.

Gun.deals can be your friend (mrad version):
Click to expand...
Save a couple hundred more and buy a used Gen3 or something. That’s a >10yo optical design at this point; possibly good value, but no longer great value.
 
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#13
TheOE800 said:
Save a couple hundred more and buy a used Gen3 or something. That’s a >10yo optical design at this point; possibly good value, but no longer great value.
Click to expand...
kravi said:
I know this is ambiguous, but I just can't see myself ever going for the top glass (I'm too cheap value minded).
Click to expand...

OE800, I totally agree. But this dude self-described as value-minded cheap as hell lol and he doesn’t want to buy used.
 
#15
Based purely on the scopes I’ve used, you might want to look at a NF NX8 4-32. They’re right over $2k and sites are paying for your sales tax now. Definitely call to get the best deals.

Not as nice of an eyebox as the Razor G2, but not bad. Old ones had issues but new ones were stealth-upgraded through the years, it seems. Mine is sharper than both of my Razor G2’s, has has less CA (not that the G2 has much CA).

I don’t think it’s ideal for your use, but might as well give you options.

I haven’t used the Zeiss, Burris, ATACR, Kahles, or DNT. I did compile a pros/cons list for the DNT as nobody was doing that:
www.snipershide.com

Rifle Scopes - DNT 7-35x56 FFP Riflescopes

4a3e5d17-d3ed-47eb-bda3-9851cc5da668 I have to fine tune the Thermal Zero, the height over bore changes so you need two different zeros I have the digital dead on, I have to do that to the Thermal
www.snipershide.com www.snipershide.com

Price is going up on the DNT next week, I believe.

For the money it seems like people love the DNT.
 
#20
carbonbased said:
OE800, I totally agree. But this dude self-described as value-minded cheap as hell lol and he doesn’t want to buy used.
Click to expand...

TheOE800 said:
Buy used.
Click to expand...

Actually, I love buying used. But due to the unpredictability of finding something "right", I was trying to stay focused on a "real" number. Maybe someone will sell me that almost new Tangent Theta for $1999, but not likely. But I'd rather buy that S3 used (in good condition) for $1500, than new for $1950. This is more me trying to understand that "mid-tier". Right now I lurk at the "shittiest of the barely acceptable" range of optics but get frustrated, mostly, by the crappy eye boxes of the Athlons.

EDIT: And I get annoyed having to adjust the "paralax" when I change magnification on the Athlon scopes. It's more of a focus nob than anything else...
 
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#21
kravi said:
Actually, I love buying used. But due to the unpredictability of finding something "right", I was trying to stay focused on a "real" number. Maybe someone will sell me that almost new Tangent Theta for $1999, but not likely. But I'd rather buy that S3 used (in good condition) for $1500, than new for $1950. This is more me trying to understand that "mid-tier". Right now I lurk at the "shittiest of the barely acceptable" range of optics but get frustrated, mostly, by the crappy eye boxes of the Athlons.

EDIT: And I get annoyed having to adjust the "paralax" when I change magnification on the Athlon scopes. It's more of a focus nob than anything else...
Click to expand...
Gen3 Rzr, S3 636, Theos 636 all come from same pedigree in Japanese plant. The gen3 is a tank, I personally like the Theos tangibles(turrets, knobs, feel) best of the 3, the razor has tiny bit better glass due to coatings. I think the gen3 also has my fav reticle of the 3. S3 zeiss never did anything for me and moved out of it pretty quickly few years ago.

There's a black theos in classifieds for $1850 that's where I'd start.
 
#23
If you can find the XTR Pro for $1,500, then it is a good deal for the money. No way should you pay close to $2K for one though.

If you qualify for the LRP S3 for $1,850-2K, then they are a good deal for the money. For full retail though, I'd be looking elsewhere.

Those are the two that I have experience with owning. I also have a few optics over $2K, but am trying to stick with the OPs budget.
 
#24
Most of the advice in this thread is ass. Horrible recommendations for a PRS scope. Guys recommending Chinese garbage. Poorly featured optics for the game.

OP, find yourself a mk4hd 6-24 with a PR3. With pro deal or mil discount you can get them sub 1k. Simple, cheap, reliable, same glass as mk5 and used by a ton of people in this sport. You don't need a tree, in fact a lot of people are moving away from them, they take up and clutter your sight picture and make spotting your shot harder.

Use the other $1k on a class from someone like Andy Slade and you will come out way ahead of where you would be with anything else.
 
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#25
DeathBeforeDismount said:
Most of the advice in this thread is ass. Horrible recommendations for a PRS scope. Guys recommending Chinese garbage. Poorly featured optics for the game.

OP, find yourself a mk4hd 6-24 with a PR3. With pro deal or mil discount you can get them sub 1k. Simple, cheap, reliable, same glass as mk5 and used by a ton of people in this sport. You don't need a tree, in fact a lot of people are moving away from them, they take up and clutter your sight picture and make spotting your shot harder.

Use the other $1k on a class from someone like Andy Slade and you will come out way ahead of where you would be with anything else.
Click to expand...
I do like this less than conventional suggestion. 6 - 24 is plenty of magnification, and the Mark4HDs are very very cheap (for what they are). I might be able to call EuroOptic and finagle a lower than list price (current price is $1500), but I'm not sure how I could get it sub-$1k...? No mil discount for me until my eldest ships out in August ;)

Cheers!
 
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#26
kravi said:
I do like this less than conventional suggestion. 6 - 24 is plenty of magnification, and the Mark4HDs are very very cheap (for what they are). I might be able to call EuroOptic and finagle a lower than list price (current price is $1500), but I'm not sure how I could get it sub-$1k...? No mil discount for me until my eldest ships out in August ;)

Cheers!
Click to expand...
They also have tracking failures… Check this forum, you’ll find a whole thread about it.

Thread 'Mark 4hd Out of Alignment Reticle Help/Mounting Opinions'
https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...nment-reticle-help-mounting-opinions.7245961/
 
#27
FuhQ said:
They also have tracking failures… Check this forum, you’ll find a whole thread about it.

Thread 'Mark 4hd Out of Alignment Reticle Help/Mounting Opinions'
https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...nment-reticle-help-mounting-opinions.7245961/
Click to expand...
Stop. Every scope has tracking failures including ZCO and TT which I have sent both back for warranty work. Guess what, they are still amazing scopes.

I seem to remember you a few years ago telling everyone arken was the greatest thing ever. Then You bought a Kahles and that was the best ever. Then a gen 3 razor. Now back to Chinese garbage dnt or whatever shit you are on now.

You don't compete in PRS so what do you know about PRS optics?
 
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#28
kravi said:
I do like this less than conventional suggestion. 6 - 24 is plenty of magnification, and the Mark4HDs are very very cheap (for what they are). I might be able to call EuroOptic and finagle a lower than list price (current price is $1500), but I'm not sure how I could get it sub-$1k...? No mil discount for me until my eldest ships out in August ;)

Cheers!
Click to expand...
If you want to ride over to the shore you can take a look through a few next to ZCO, night force , vortex and a couple others. Should be hanging steel on the farm in the next couple weeks to start practicing for the season. IMO the MK4HD is 95% of the MK5HD for half the price. Also better mount options since it's 34mm.

I am a glass whore but every gun can't wear a $4k+ scope.
 
#29
DeathBeforeDismount said:
Most of the advice in this thread is ass. Horrible recommendations for a PRS scope. Guys recommending Chinese garbage. Poorly featured optics for the game.

OP, find yourself a mk4hd 6-24 with a PR3. With pro deal or mil discount you can get them sub 1k. Simple, cheap, reliable, same glass as mk5 and used by a ton of people in this sport. You don't need a tree, in fact a lot of people are moving away from them, they take up and clutter your sight picture and make spotting your shot harder.

Use the other $1k on a class from someone like Andy Slade and you will come out way ahead of where you would be with anything else.
Click to expand...
Most people are recommending s3’s, G3’s and Theos’s. How are those horrible recommendations?
 
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#30
DeathBeforeDismount said:
Stop. Every scope has tracking failures including ZCO and TT which I have sent both back for warranty work. Guess what, they are still amazing scopes.

I seem to remember you a few years ago telling everyone arken was the greatest thing ever. Then You bought a Kahles and that was the best ever. Then a gen 3 razor. Now back to Chinese garbage dnt or whatever shit you are on now.

You don't compete in PRS so what do you know about PRS optics?
Click to expand...
I seem to remember just last you were telling everybody the Razor Gen3 was the best thing ever… Now it’s Leopold. 🤣😂🤣
 
#32
How did this go from I want the best I can get at 2k or less, to I'll take a few steps down to a Mk4hd if I can save some money? Looking through a mk4 or 5, is like looking through a paper towel tube, the FOV sucks. They have good reticles because Pynch works with them. I've saw way too many Mk5hd failures to use one myself. Personally they're a 2nd tier optics in my book.

The LOW pedigree of 6-36 options(Rzr,S3,Theos) all punch with the $3500+ big boys, with very minimal compromises. There has been a lot of comparisons, and they hang in there pretty damn well. These are the best scopes you can get at the 2k price point.
 
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#33
4O6shootist said:
How did this go from I want the best I can get at 2k or less, to I'll take a few steps down to a Mk4hd if I can save some money?
Click to expand...
That’s what dudes who are value-minded cheap do.

While I’m giving the OP a little light-hearted crap, I’m sure his nest-egg is bigger than mine!
 
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#35
DeathBeforeDismount said:
You are making stuff up again. Its ok. Thats what happens when you can win an argument on its merits.

I shoot ZCO, Tangent, Leopold, Vortex and a few others.

Sorry it hurts you feelings people with actual experience using these optics in competition have relevant info.

And who is shilling again? DNT, I mean Arken? LOL
Click to expand...
🤣😂🤣 Anybody can go search your past comments from thelast year or 2. You posted the Razor Gen3 almost every time someone asked about a scope over $2,000, and told numerous people in posts that the Razor Gen3 was better than your ZCO’s… It’s there in black & white. I’m thinking you’re the one with the memory issues. 👌🏼
 
#36
FuhQ said:
🤣😂🤣 Anybody can go search your past comments from thelast year or 2. You posted the Razor Gen3 almost every time someone asked about a scope over $2,000, and told numerous people in posts that the Razor Gen3 was better than your ZCO’s… It’s there in black & white. I’m thinking you’re the one with the memory issues. 👌🏼
Click to expand...
Now that I think of it, you were on ignore. How did you get off? I can deal with people who want to argue but those who just plain make up lies....BYE.
 
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#37
DeathBeforeDismount said:
Now that I think of it, you were on ignore. How did you get off? I can deal with people who want to argue but those who just plain make up lies....BYE.
Click to expand...
IMG_9119.jpeg
 
#38
DeathBeforeDismount said:
Now that I think of it, you were on ignore. How did you get off? I can deal with people who want to argue but those who just plain make up lies....BYE.
Click to expand...
So the ignore works when on the forum, but it doesn't work when you receive an email notification with someone quoting someone who is ignored. At least that is what I've noticed with me.
 
#39
back before NRL was even a thing, and lr wasnt popular, i had a supe r sniper, then 2, then 3. was not a rich guy but darn those scopes just worked. few years later got a better job,decided to buy one of the feature laden flavor of the month chinese super scopes. mounted and zeroed it, drove 3 hrs to the nearest place i could shoot LR. got then gun outta the case and the reticle had turned in the scope 45 degrees. packed up, drove home, got a warranty replacement. never even unboxed it, just sold it on ebay.

kept my super snipers. had one replaced on warranty decades later. got a better job, bought a Premier 3-15. still have it and love it! still have my super snipers. I cant get worked up over any of these new scope brands probably all cranked out of the same chinese factories, not really produced by the name on the box.

got into nNRL and won alot of matches w a stock cz and a super sniper. watched guys w variable chinese junk scopes futzin with them rather than shootin, usually they time out playinw their scopes. I dunno, just an old guy venting a bit. got my vudoo, dont even take it to matches round here.

thinkin about an 4x20 ATACR, MIL R or C Reticle. Interesting to hear folks moving away from trees, im no fan, not even in my PH.
 
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#41
BigGameJames87 said:
Keep an eye out and you might be able to pick up a demo Zeiss S3 from Eurooptic in your price range. I've bought a couple of demos from them over the years and have been happy with both the scopes and my experience with Eurooptic.
Click to expand...
Funny you mentioned that. I did exactly that and it is arriving on Wednesday... Got me a 6-36 S3... I'm just hoping the eye box is better than the Cronus or I'm returning it, no matter how good the glass is ;)
 
#44
I have been running 3 xtr pros on my PRS rifles and have had excellent results with them. I really like the reticle, it makes sense to my head and I can understand it quickly. I came from a kahles 6-24 and feel I upgraded overall. Kahles had smoother controls but I actually like the glass better in the xtr pro.

I also really like the tool less turrets and the white board turrets for certain stages. It’s nice to be able to throw the white board on for certain stages and then be able to toss the black one back on for the rest of the match.

I have seen the pros around $1500 many times so with a little patience should be easy.

I have not kept up with the new offering from the last year roughly but previously there wasn’t anything I saw that I would want to trade my pros for including the gen 3 razor (don’t like the reticle)

My advice for what it’s worth, pick a reticle you like and makes sense in your head and that you can quickly interpret and adjust using the reticle. Glass quality, smoothness of the turrets, focus, magnification in pretty much any scope over $500 is not going to hinder your scores unless you’re at the top of the pack. Good reticle and repeatable/reliable adjustments matter.
 
#45
kravi said:
Funny you mentioned that. I did exactly that and it is arriving on Wednesday... Got me a 6-36 S3... I'm just hoping the eye box is better than the Cronus or I'm returning it, no matter how good the glass is ;)
Click to expand...

kravi said:
I hope so too. I leaned towards the 4-25, but only the 6-36 was on a super ninja sale. Now I've just got to figure out what I need to do to drop weight for my NRL Hunter match next month ;)
Click to expand...
I think you will like it. I picked one up a few weeks ago, probably on the same "like new demo" deal from Eurooptics you got. The glass, turrets, and everything else are awesome. The eye box is a little tight at 36x but manageable, super nice in the 25-30x range. I'll be interested in your review when you get it. I don't think you can do better for under $2k.
 
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#46
kravi said:
I hope so too. I leaned towards the 4-25, but only the 6-36 was on a super ninja sale. Now I've just got to figure out what I need to do to drop weight for my NRL Hunter match next month ;)
Click to expand...
6-36 is more balanced and forgiving optical design than the 4-25 with its short body and 50mm objective. My only complaint is the heavier thicker reticle in the S3 line. I still have the 4-25 on my rimX due to its massive amount of internal elevation atop the 40moa rail.
 
#48
kravi said:
Funny you mentioned that. I did exactly that and it is arriving on Wednesday... Got me a 6-36 S3... I'm just hoping the eye box is better than the Cronus or I'm returning it, no matter how good the glass is ;)
Click to expand...
i just got one recently and love it. i have a Cronus as well and i do think the Z a it better in eye box, much better in glass, but where it really shines in the mechanics. The power ring is slick as a whistle. Enjoy
 
#50
Maggot said:
i just got one recently and love it. i have a Cronus as well and i do think the Z a it better in eye box, much better in glass, but where it really shines in the mechanics. The power ring is slick as a whistle. Enjoy
Click to expand...
That was my exact thoughts as well. Excellent glass. Mag ring and parallax feels like butter and the turrets are excellent.
 
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