Rifle Scopes Thinking myself in circles

[savages]

I hate to post this because of the other posts like it. But I keep running myself in circles and need help out of it.

Working on my Tikka T3 Lite build and need a scope.
Needs to stay under $1k for the optic and intended purpose is primarily hunting out to ~550yds. Looking to upgrade the stock and add a scope, rings, base and sling all while trying to keep it less than 10lbs.

I really wanted a illuminated reticule for low light hunting and 14x or so in power for observing prey. The issue is the only one that almost fits those needs is the Burris XTR 3x12x50.
I've come to the point where I'm not sure if going with good glass Like Zeiss 4x14x50 will outweigh the benefit of the illumination on a Burris XTR 3x12x50 or not.

As one person mentioned to me "A Burris on a Tikka? That's like doing a full frame-off restoration on a Cuda and then painting the body with Krylon spray paint!" Laughing

So I'm asking you guys for an opinion on what optic to get. Illuminated with good glass or non illuminated with really good glass? Also how does the Zeiss glass compare to my Leupold Mark4 4.5x14x40 PR?

I plan on heading to a gun store after Christmas to check out a Zeiss in person.

And for you NightForce lovers, I REALLY want one and was looking into them but its not in the budget for this build and I think it will push me over my weight limit.

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

it is not....better to look good than be good,....rather
it is better to see well and hit what you are aiming at



so get the Burris and go forth and prosper.....then there are the proprietary rings for the Tikka

 

[savages]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">it is not....better to look good than be good,....rather
it is better to see well and hit what you are aiming at



so get the Burris and go forth and prosper.....then there are the proprietary rings for the Tikka </div></div>

Nothing an EGW base and Nightforce Ultralite rings can't take care of.

 

[RobertB]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Good glass is hard to beat. Sometimes I think great class on a halfway decent rifle is better than a perfect rifle with bad glass. I always think to go with the very best that I can afford.If I could afford to put a nightforce on everything I had I would so a few of my rifles didn't get as good of attention as others I did the best I could.Used to settle with cheap stuff but after getting 5-6 cheap things and ONE good piece I saw that is better to cry once than buy a cheap scope and want to and possibly upgrade to that anyway. Just my way of thinking.And Look Used you should be able to find a decent scope for that price.

 

[Magnumdood]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">it is not....better to look good than be good,....rather
it is better to see well and hit what you are aiming at



so get the Burris and go forth and prosper.....then there are the proprietary rings for the Tikka </div></div>

BOLTRIPPER,

I believe the sentiment is, no matter what you do, look good doing it.

 

[JimbugIII]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Honestly, I have to agree with RobertB. I purchased a cheap scope to get me by until i could afford a very nice one, i kick myself in ass every time i go to the range.

Buy what you really want the first time around.

 

[fdkay]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

I believe this will fulfill your needs:
http://swfa.com/Weaver-3-15x50-Super-Slam-Rifle-Scope-P40566.aspx

Or this:
http://swfa.com/Burris-4-16x44-Signature-Select-Rifle-Scope-P3605.aspx

Unless you are requiring a mil-dot, then it becomes more difficult. Or just get the burris you were looking at and be happy.

 

[strick9]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Wait for the new vortex line to come out in april, it has illum. But for hunting personally illum does not trump good glass. I can't say that I need illum with any of my glass.

 

[savages]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Well the reason I think Illumination would be nice is because on the other hunting rifle with a Leupold vx II 4-12x40 i loose the cross hairs on a dark dark target in low light. Plenty of light to observe and verify the target, just frustrating when I'm unable to find the cross hairs on target.

My Mark 4 will do the same thing but not as bad. So if I go with a Zeiss in 50mm objective, it should be leagues above my other scopes?

Thanks for the option STRICK9 but April is to far out.
I hope to be punching holes in targets and coyotes by the end of February.

 

[fdkay]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Well, if you can scratch a few more dollars to just over 1k, there is this:
http://swfa.com/Trijicon-5-20x50-Accu-Point-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P12887.aspx

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Your wish for variable power and illumination aren't going to jive well with your weight limit (if its a hard limit-like silhouette rules or something).

I second STRICK9's vote, if I were spending under $1k on glass right now I'd look at the new Vipers coming out.

 

[Graham]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Wait until after the SHOT show.

 

[savages]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Graham</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wait until after the SHOT show. </div></div>

That is probably a good idea.

 

[savages]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Your wish for variable power and illumination aren't going to jive well with your weight limit (if its a hard limit-like silhouette rules or something).

I second STRICK9's vote, if I were spending under $1k on glass right now I'd look at the new Vipers coming out. </div></div>

No hard limit, just one that I have for this build.
I've been lugging my Savage 10fp around the woods and fields for the last 4 years and I would like something lighter.
On an average day of deer hunting I walk 5-7 miles and after a couple days of doing that with a backpack and a 13lb rifle it starts to feel pretty heavy.

 

[strick9]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

I know its hard to believe but with good glass, and I am not knockn leupy or burris, but you will be able to see the reticle even later than you should probably umm well umm shoot.

 

[savages]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

I decided to go with the Zeiss Conquest 4.5x14x50 target turret scope with the mil-dot reticule.
Picked it up for $800.
Also picked up an EGW base and TPS 1" low rings.

Almost time to break in the rifle.

 

[Magnumdood]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jimbug</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Honestly, I have to agree with RobertB. I purchased a cheap scope to get me by until i could afford a very nice one, i kick myself in ass every time i go to the range.

Buy what you really want the first time around. </div></div>

You can't.

You think you can, but you can't.

You “think yourself in circles," and finally make the absolute best ever selection...

…until you get home. The first seeds of buyer's remorse begin when you leave the store, or when the Urban Postal Santa drops the scope off.

It's not that the scope you finally paid for was wrong...it's just...there are so many others that you came so close to buying.

About now you're mentally adding your depleted slush fund to other sacred items you swore you'd never sell, to come up to the number needed to buy that other scope too. It will be your wife's scope. She just won't know you have it… but it’s hers.

Buy what you really want the first time...HA!

 

[savages]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magnumdood</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jimbug</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Honestly, I have to agree with RobertB. I purchased a cheap scope to get me by until i could afford a very nice one, i kick myself in ass every time i go to the range.

Buy what you really want the first time around. </div></div>

You can't.

You think you can, but you can't.

You “think yourself in circles," and finally make the absolute best ever selection...

…until you get home. The first seeds of buyer's remorse begin when you leave the store, or when the Urban Postal Santa drops the scope off.

It's not that the scope you finally paid for was wrong...it's just...there are so many others that you came so close to buying.

About now you're mentally adding your depleted slush fund to other sacred items you swore you'd never sell, to come up to the number needed to buy that other scope too. It will be your wife's scope. She just won't know you have it… but it’s hers.

Buy what you really want the first time...HA!
</div></div>

Very true, So very true...

 

[Austan]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Thinking about your weight limit leaves me wondering, why the burris xtr 3-12? It weighs 26 ounces. The new vortex viper in a 4-16x50 comes in at 22 oz. If your comfortable with the 12 magnification, maybe you can get away with the 2.5-10 at 18.4 oz, and they both come in less expensive than the burris.

I'm talking about the new PST models here.

 

[916Plinker]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

give us an update on dawn/dusk performance and 800+ yards.
Zeiss is nice stuff.

 

[savages]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Austan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thinking about your weight limit leaves me wondering, why the burris xtr 3-12? It weighs 26 ounces. The new vortex viper in a 4-16x50 comes in at 22 oz. If your comfortable with the 12 magnification, maybe you can get away with the 2.5-10 at 18.4 oz, and they both come in less expensive than the burris.

I'm talking about the new PST models here. </div></div>

I ended up going with the Ziess that weighs in at 19.75oz.
Thinking that if the new Vipers turn out to be great scopes that I will get one for me Savage 10fp and get rid of the Leupold vx II thats on it.

I will report back with a range report and my impressions.

 

[srpopeye]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

Nothing wrong with the Burris, forever warranty,great light gathering, even on the 1 inch tubes steel on steel components and posi lock system for after zeroing. Get the Burris and be happy.

 

[Magnumdood]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savages</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I ended up going with the Ziess that weighs in at 19.75oz.
Thinking that if the new Vipers turn out to be great scopes that I will get one for me Savage 10fp and get rid of the Leupold vx II thats on it.
I will report back with a range report and my impressions.</div></div>
The new Vortex will be a much better scope than your older VX II. I’d plan that replacement just ‘cuz it needs done.

 

[Austan]

Re: Thinking myself in circles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bullets&Brass</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nothing wrong with the Burris, forever warranty,great light gathering, even on the 1 inch tubes steel on steel components and posi lock system for after zeroing. Get the Burris and be happy.</div></div>

My post wasn't a knock on the burris scope. They are very well made and very clear. I was just pointing out that he could save a 1/2 pound by getting the 2.5-10 viper, not to mention saving a couple bucks in the process.