Rifle Scopes What Scopes are under $1000, under 12", under 16y parallax, and over 13x magnification?

[JungleShooter]

Am I hunting for a unicorn? Maybe. And yet I have hope that maybe you have seen it galloping in the woods somewhere....

What variable scopes are:
▪ under $1000,
▪ under 12" (13"?),
▪ under 16y parallax, and
▪ over 13x magnification?


Just so you don't waste your time — all 4 requirements are non-negotiables.
Because I have found scopes that fulfill 3 of the 4 just fine — but they aren't what I need for my shooting scenarios.


Like the USO TS-12X 3-12x44, or the Athlon Helos BTR Gen. 2 2-12x42:
They check all 3 boxes, except they just go up to 12x — and I'll need a little more than than (14x, 16x, 20x).


Here are some scopes that lack 1 of the 4 boxes:
• The NX8 2.5-20x50 is all of it's 12" wonderful, but twice my budget.

• Riton 7 Conquer 3-18x50 is 1.6" too long, and $700 over budget.

• Trijicon Tenmile 4-24x50 is 2.5" too long, not going to work.

• Leopolds don't have the minimum 15y parallax I need.

• Burris Xtreme Tactical 4-20x50 has 50y parallax (and is 1.9" too long).

• Crimson Trace 3 Series 4-20x50 is 4" too long.

• The S&B PMII 3-20x50 Ultra Short is a work of art, but the sticker price would end me up in a divorce court....


Thanks for any hints you can give me to find my unicorn.

Matthias

 

[SniperBro]

None that I can think of. Have had damn near everything out there.

 

[st1650]

Bushnell DMR CR or DMR-3 is pretty close.
13in
25 yards focus (although if you don't use max mag you'd be fine at 15y)

 

[Russ257]

What is driving the requirements? Why only 12” long?

 

[obx22]

Am I hunting for a unicorn? Maybe. And yet I have hope that maybe you have seen it galloping in the woods somewhere....

What variable scopes are:
▪ under $1000,
▪ under 12" (13"?),
▪ under 16y parallax, and
▪ over 13x magnification?


Just so you don't waste your time — all 4 requirements are non-negotiables.
Because I have found scopes that fulfill 3 of the 4 just fine — but they aren't what I need for my shooting scenarios.


Like the USO TS-12X 3-12x44, or the Athlon Helos BTR Gen. 2 2-12x42:
They check all 3 boxes, except they just go up to 12x — and I'll need a little more than than (14x, 16x, 20x).


Here are some scopes that lack 1 of the 4 boxes:
• The NX8 2.5-20x50 is all of it's 12" wonderful, but twice my budget.

• Riton 7 Conquer 3-18x50 is 1.6" too long, and $700 over budget.

• Trijicon Tenmile 4-24x50 is 2.5" too long, not going to work.

• Leopolds don't have the minimum 15y parallax I need.

• Burris Xtreme Tactical 4-20x50 has 50y parallax (and is 1.9" too long).

• Crimson Trace 3 Series 4-20x50 is 4" too long.

• The S&B PMII 3-20x50 Ultra Short is a work of art, but the sticker price would end me up in a divorce court....


Thanks for any hints you can give me to find my unicorn.

Matthias

Yep, if you could step up in length to 14-15 inches, I’m sure the options would explode.

 

[Birddog6424]

Burris XTR3i 3.3-18×50

MAP is $1100. It does stretch you to 13" though. Has a 25yd parallax marking on the knob, but will parallax to 15 yards.

 

[JungleShooter]

Burris XTR3i 3.3-18x50:
Thank you, that looks promising!

The parallax all the way down to 15y — is that because the parallax knob turns beyond the 25y marking — or because you tried it out? Was that at 18x?

I understand that at 3.3x the scope easily will parallax closer, however, for my scope camming I'd need the 15y parallax at full magnification.....


Russ, you were asking about the driving requirement: A short bullpup — for a backpack — with a scopecam that extends the scope length by a lot....


Thanks for all your help.

Matthias

 

[Birddog6424]

Burris XTR3i 3.3-18x50:
Thank you, that looks promising!

The parallax all the way down to 15y — is that because the parallax knob turns beyond the 25y marking — or because you tried it out? Was that at 18x?

I understand that at 3.3x the scope easily will parallax closer, however, for my scope camming I'd need the 15y parallax at full magnification.....


Russ, you were asking about the driving requirement: A short bullpup — for a backpack — with a scopecam that extends the scope length by a lot....


Thanks for all your help.

Matthias

I dont think I was on 18x, I think I was on 16x or 12x. But I honestly can't remember. The parallax knob dials down to 25 yards. But I had focus and was able to hit my target. We were shooting wooden stick matches at 15 yards.

 

[JungleShooter]

Thanks, Birddog, for your reply. I'm researching this scope now.


Now, between the high priced options I mention in the OP — look at what I found on the other side of the price spectrum (all with the 10y parallax, MIL/MIL, exposed turrets):

▪ 10.6" OAL | 19.4oz: Discovery VT-3 4-16x44 FFP or SFP = $200

▪ 10.6" | 20oz: Vector Veyron 4-16x44 FFP = $200

▪ 11.7" | 20.5oz: Vector Veyron 6-24x44 FFP = $200

▪ 10.7" | 21.5oz: UTG Accushot OP3 4-16x44 Compact SFP | MOA = $250

▪ 12.2" | 22.1oz: Discovery ED 4-16x50 FFP | X-Mas reticle = $380

▪ 11.7" | 21.9oz: Hawke Airmax 30 SF Compact 4-16x44 SFP | Capped turrets = $400

▪ 10.8" | 24.3oz: MTC Copperhead F2 4-16x44 SFP = $450



I might not like it.... — but my conclusion from my search for the scope unicorn so far is that there are a couple of curious GAPs in the scope market:

(1) SHORT scopes are rare (variable scopes that go to at least 12x, and much rarer with more then 12x) ➔ the short-scope GAP.

(2) The short scopes that are available are either in the budget category (list above) — or in the multiple-thousand-$ category (list in OP). ➔ A GAP in the pricing middle ground....



I still have to review what SHOT and IWA have graced us with, so there is still hope!

Matthias

 

[JohnCarter17]

Sightron S-TAC 3-16x42​

Parallax Correction	10 yds - Inf.

Dimensions	12.9"

Product Description

Product Description | Camera Land NY

cameralandny.com

 

[S12A]

Element Helix

Helix Riflescope - Element Optics | Premium Riflescopes & Optics

The latest addition to our lineup, the 4-16x44 Helix FFP offers all the brilliant features and rugged reliability that the 6-24x50 does, but with a distinct advantage: This is the lightest, most compact scope we have made to date.

element-optics.com

 

[obx22]

Thanks, Birddog, for your reply. I'm researching this scope now.


Now, between the high priced options I mention in the OP — look at what I found on the other side of the price spectrum (all with the 10y parallax, MIL/MIL, exposed turrets):

▪ 10.6" OAL | 19.4oz: Discovery VT-3 4-16x44 FFP or SFP = $200

▪ 10.6" | 20oz: Vector Veyron 4-16x44 FFP = $200

▪ 11.7" | 20.5oz: Vector Veyron 6-24x44 FFP = $200

▪ 10.7" | 21.5oz: UTG Accushot OP3 4-16x44 Compact SFP | MOA = $250

▪ 12.2" | 22.1oz: Discovery ED 4-16x50 FFP | X-Mas reticle = $380

▪ 11.7" | 21.9oz: Hawke Airmax 30 SF Compact 4-16x44 SFP | Capped turrets = $400

▪ 10.8" | 24.3oz: MTC Copperhead F2 4-16x44 SFP = $450



I might not like it.... — but my conclusion from my search for the scope unicorn so far is that there are a couple of curious GAPs in the scope market:

(1) SHORT scopes are rare (variable scopes that go to at least 12x, and much rarer with more then 12x) ➔ the short-scope GAP.

(2) The short scopes that are available are either in the budget category (list above) — or in the multiple-thousand-$ category (list in OP). ➔ A GAP in the pricing middle ground....



I still have to review what SHOT and IWA have graced us with, so there is still hope!

Matthias

I believe the gap you are seeing is due to the optical requirements of the design. Long scopes are a cheap way to a clean image. Start shortening the optical path, and your accuracy of the lens surfaces, coatings, materials, and numbers of different types of glass to get the different spectrums of light to converge for the greatest clarity skyrocket.
Add in the way the optical path gets pushed off axis to account for elevation extremes, and still require a useable image, and you understand the compromises that have to be made.
High magnification increases the observable errors, along with target size.

 

[steve123]

The Athlon Talos BTR 4-14x44 might be a good compromise, 12.9" though. I love the reticle in these and its not hard to see at 4 x.

Or turn the diopter out as far as you can stand on the 2-12 and it might get to 13x

Or spend the big $1000+. The March 1.5-15 would be cool but i bet its very optically compromised being so short and the 10x mag ratio.

 

[fdkay]

Sightron 3-16 comes pretty close. Length is 13.1.

 

[fdkay]

MK5 3.6-18 is apparently what you seek.

 

[Birddog6424]

MK5 3.6-18 is apparently what you seek.

50 yard parallax?

 

[Aries64]

Am I hunting for a unicorn? Maybe. And yet I have hope that maybe you have seen it galloping in the woods somewhere....

What variable scopes are:
▪ under $1000,
▪ under 12" (13"?),
▪ under 16y parallax, and
▪ over 13x magnification?


Just so you don't waste your time — all 4 requirements are non-negotiables.
Because I have found scopes that fulfill 3 of the 4 just fine — but they aren't what I need for my shooting scenarios.


Like the USO TS-12X 3-12x44, or the Athlon Helos BTR Gen. 2 2-12x42:
They check all 3 boxes, except they just go up to 12x — and I'll need a little more than than (14x, 16x, 20x).


Here are some scopes that lack 1 of the 4 boxes:
• The NX8 2.5-20x50 is all of it's 12" wonderful, but twice my budget.

• Riton 7 Conquer 3-18x50 is 1.6" too long, and $700 over budget.

• Trijicon Tenmile 4-24x50 is 2.5" too long, not going to work.

• Leopolds don't have the minimum 15y parallax I need.

• Burris Xtreme Tactical 4-20x50 has 50y parallax (and is 1.9" too long).

• Crimson Trace 3 Series 4-20x50 is 4" too long.

• The S&B PMII 3-20x50 Ultra Short is a work of art, but the sticker price would end me up in a divorce court....


Thanks for any hints you can give me to find my unicorn.

Matthias

Too bad your OAL requirement is 12-13", or you could look at the Leupold VX-3HD 6.5-20X440mm EFR CDS-T Fine Duplex, which has an OAL of 14.49" and focuses down to 10 yards (per Leupold). I still own several of the old Vari-X III 6.5-20X[40] EFR, and those focus down to 10 meters (33 feet vs. 30 feet for the new scopes), all at full (20X) magnification. MSRP is $799.99.


Keith

 

[Rougarou504]

I would recommend a Gen 2 Viper but they are 13" and change plus slightly over 1k, but I have seen them go for 1k before. Aside from what other people have said, voodoo makes shorty scopes for NV clipons, but last I checked they were over your price range, but you might could find them under msrp somewhere. Really the problem is your length requirement, it takes a lot more effort to make the hi mag clear glass that short, hence they will significantly bump the price up. If you can live with 13 and change grab a Gen 2 Viper.

 

[JungleShooter]

Rougarou,

thanks a lot for your input!

I checked out the Vortex Viper line, and there was something about Vortex that wasn't a match that I couldn't quite remember.
And yeah, Vortex in general is usually not favorable to those who want close range parallax (10 or 15 yards).

6.5-20x50
50y parallax (not 15y), 2" too long

4-16x50 HS + HST + HS LR
50y pax

6-24x50 HS LR + HST
50y pax, 2.4" too long

3-15x44
20y pax, 1.3" too long



I'll keep my eyes open!

Matthias

 

[chutinlead]

I have several Helos 4-20 BTR Gen2 scopes and would highly recommend. Parallax down to 10yds and only 13.3". Glass is on par with the Athlon Midas line and the locking turrets are a bonus.

 

[acudaowner]

well the sightron s3 10x50x60 sfp was 899 , But like everything else their price has gone up around 1k or more . Arken optics 5x25x56 ffp sort of fits some of that and it's still at a nice 600 .00 dollar range that's way cheaper than 1k . best of luck getting which ever brand scope that makes you happy .

 

[XP1K]

I would recommend a Gen 2 Viper but they are 13" and change plus slightly over 1k, but I have seen them go for 1k before. Aside from what other people have said, voodoo makes shorty scopes for NV clipons, but last I checked they were over your price range, but you might could find them under msrp somewhere. Really the problem is your length requirement, it takes a lot more effort to make the hi mag clear glass that short, hence they will significantly bump the price up. If you can live with 13 and change grab a Gen 2 Viper.

Voodoo, as in eotech ?

 

[JungleShooter]

chutinlead,

looking again at my options, specs, prices, I think the Athlon Helos 4-20x50 Gen. 2 would be my best bet.
(My size requirement of sub 12" is just not doable, not in 2022.)

When you're getting ready to upgrade one of your Helos scopes, shoot me a PM!

Matthias

 

[deersniper]

Used Vudu 5-25?

 

[chutinlead]

chutinlead,

looking again at my options, specs, prices, I think the Athlon Helos 4-20x50 Gen. 2 would be my best bet.
(My size requirement of sub 12" is just not doable, not in 2022.)

When you're getting ready to upgrade one of your Helos scopes, shoot me a PM!

Matthias

I like mine too much to part with one, but I think cameraland just got some back in stock.

One scope that meets all your technical specs is the NX8 2.5-20. 12", 11yd parallax, and you can maybe find one used in the 1200-1400 range if you're lucky. Not sure what Mil/LE pricing is if you qualify.

 

[FuhQ]

Arken SH4 4-16x50 is only 13.4" long, and parallax goes down to 25 yards, is FFP, has MIL/MIL turrets, tons of elevation adjustment, solid turrets, zero-stop, good glass, and is under $500... Just throwing it out there as an option since it fits CLOSE to your criteria.

SH4 4-16X50 GEN2 FFP MIL VPR Illuminated Reticle with Zero Stop - 34mm Tube

8-12 Week Backorder Lifetime Warranty Precision Tracking Guaranteed HD Glass First Focal Plane (FFP) Zero Stop Specification: Magnification: 4-16 x Objective Diameter: 50 mm Eye Relief: 3.6 inches Field of View: 30 -7.5 ft @100 Yards Tube Size: 34 mm Turret Adjustment: 1/10 MIL Reticle Position:…

www.arkenopticsusa.com