Rifle Scopes Sub $500 Scope

[PearlWhiteGT]

Looking for some advice on a scope for my budget build. Really want to keep it under $500. Rifle is a Howa 1500 barreled action in .308 sitting in a MDT Oryx chassis with a Diligent Defense Enticer S can. Trying to keep this build at or less than $2K total. Purpose of the rifle is hunting deer, hogs and target shooting. Highly doubt I’ll be shooting it over 400 yards. I’d like an illuminated reticle and don’t need anything fancy. Just a good all around optic. My buddy has a new Arken EPL somewhere in his shop that will let me have cheap whenever he can find it but no telling when that will be. And advice would be much appreciated.

 

[BobinNC]

This one hits well above it's price class:

Athlon Helos BTR GEN2 2-12x42mm AHMR2 FFP IR MIL Riflescope 214105

And if you qualify for a military or veteran's discount it's well under $400. here.

 

[camocorvette]

You can find strike eagles for 500 in the px if you keep your eyes peeled.

 

[Ronws]

EPL-4 4-16X44 FFP Illuminated VHR - Zero Stop - 30mm Tube

The EP-L (EP Light) is our Light Weight Hunter version of the EP (Extreme Precision) series. It is built on a streamline 30mm main tube to reduce overall weight with our toolless, easy to operate capped windage turret that lets you set and forget.

www.arkenopticsusa.com

If you order with a discount code, you get the kit that has the flip caps and mounting rings.

You can order from Amazon and get it quicker and you will need to order rings and caps separately.

Amazon.com

All the Arken scopes have illumination.

Also, the turret style is similar to others in that it is held with set screws. These set screws will back out from vibration. I had contacted Arken tech support and they suggested Vibra Tite VC-3, which has worked.

I normally use a different brand of scope a bit more than your budget here but Arken can work well as a hunting scope.

However, I have seen it performing well enough at the Texas Plinking 1 MOA @ 1K challenge. South Texas wind is where feelings and self esteem go to die. That wind will humble a person.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

Thanks. I have a DNZ Game Reaper scope mount sitting somewhere in my safe that I could use. I believe it’s a 30mm. I’ll keep an eye on the px and see if anything pops up. If not, might just give the Arken EPL-4 a try.

 

[JS8588]

Natchez

www.natchezss.com

I picked up one of these recently. Damn nice for the $

 

[Basher]

EuroOptic has a pretty solid deal on several Athlon models, many of which are at or below your budget.

Great deals on Athlon!

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

Thanks, I purchased a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 from the PX so will give that a try.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

Should I use Medium or High rings with the 56mm lens? I do like my scopes sitting a little higher than just above the barrel.

 

[camocorvette]

I think you'd want a 1.45-1.5 height mount.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

I think you'd want a 1.45-1.5 height mount.

Thanks.