Rifle Scopes Which Scope Would You Buy

[Wilkinkc]

Looking to put some glass on my Rem 700 SPS Tact finally tomorrow. Have it narrowed down to a few.

1. USED - Sightron SIII 6-24x50mm MILDOT. Says MINT. Included is: Sunshade, Seekins Precision Ultra 30mm Alum Alloy Rings, Medium Precision Ultra Alum ALloy 20moa base. $800 shipped

2. NEW - Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50mm in either moa or mrad (which would be best for beginner?). $750 & pick up rings and base.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-viper-pst-6-24x50-rifle-scopes.html

3. NEW - Bushnell Elite 6500 2.6-16x42mm. Mildot. $670 & pick up rings/base.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-elite-6500-series-2-6-16x42-matte-riflescope-652164t.html

4. NEW - Bushnell 4200 Elite 6-24x50mm 1/10 MIL Adjustments First Focal Illuminated Green Mil-Dot Reticle Matte. $650 down from $999. & pick up rings/base.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/default.aspx?productnumber=262045

Open to any other suggestions as well. Will be shipping targets primarily 100-200 yards, would like to be able to do 300+ if I wanted, but like I said it will be less often.

 

[The Shottist]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

#3

You don't need more magnification than that for 300 yards.

I would look at IOR scopes in fixed 10x power or 8x power range for 300 yards.

An 8 x 56 would be my choice, with IOR, you will get better glass in the same price point as the ones you listed.

 

[The Shottist]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

http://usaoptics.net/iorva10tasc.html

http://www.iorvaldada.com/iorvaldata8x56.html

It looks like they stopped importing the 8 x 56.

I have their 6 x 42 on a .243 and it is great for shooting up to 300 yards.

 

[RollinCoal11]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

3 or 4.....

 

[SScott]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

#4, I have had it and sold it to help pay for a Nightforce. It was a very good scope for the money.
Great CS of you have problems.
SScott

 

[Saiga76]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

#2, Vortex is great!

 

[crnkin]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

SS 3-9 FFP.

You dont need or want 24 power for 300 yards unless your doing benchrest.

Shooting targets and steel, 1x per 100 yards is acceptable, but more is nice. 24x at 100 for sighting in is ok, or shooting legs off flies.

Ive shot at tahr at 600m on 4.5x, tahr are about the size of whitetails.

If that helps

Chris

 

[daveog]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

Vortex every time. I have several and love them plus their customer service is second to none.

 

[TallShot]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

My Vortex 4-16 FFP mil has been pretty good.

No experience with Bushnell, yet; and I hear good things about them all the time.

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

#4 hands down for me i have 2 of them.

 

[bronco_buster]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

I had #4, I loved the glass and turrets, the reticle, green illumination and coloring of the turret etching were minor cons to me.

I am a little bit of a mildot hater, I'll admit. For the money, +1 to The Shottist's comments, the glass on the IOR's are OUTSTANDING. They really sit on par with my Premiere, head and shoulders above the glass on your list. The MP8 reticle is kick ass too!

I now have a PST 6-24x50 FFP, and it would be my choice on your list because of the features and the reticle. If clarity is of primary importance and reticle is unimportant to your needs, and I could only choose a scope on your list, then I would go with #4.

 

[JFComfort]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

#2, MOA/MOA

 

[head2h2o]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

#2. Vortex makes a good product and stands behind it. I would also consider #1 if it had mil adjustments, but I doubt it does.

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

Yeah, Vortex make very good product. I don't have any experience with anything but the original Vipers but I've had several and all have performed without a hiccup.

Out of what you've listed, I've owned a couple of Sightron SIII's, several Bushnell 4200's in 6-24x40 and looked through a buddy's Bushnell 6500 4-16 yesterday. Out of those choices, the Sightron has the best glass but mismatched turrets IIRC. Bushnell makes a good scope too. You won't go wrong with any of the choices.

Eventually, you will probably move up in glass. If you think that may be the case, then consider either an IOR 10x42 or 2.5-10x42. Both are superb scopes and will serve you well until you decide to move on, then you can sell them for probably what you paid. I recently found a 10x42 here on the boards for $325. It was an older model but in excellent condition.

Also consider the Leupold 10x. Here was a Mark4 LR/T M3 and a set of Leupold high rings that went for $750. MK4 LR/T

The reason I bring this up is that you're only a few hundred dollars away from some very good used glass. Either the IOR or the Leupold will hold their value better when you get ready to sell.

Good luck!

 

[Wilkinkc]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

I'm talking myself down in glass lol. Wanting to be $600 in glass, rings, and base. Just don't want to be unhappy with my decision down the road.

 

[josephberry]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

Sightron

 

[erslll]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jdberry</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sightron </div></div>


+1


Sightron is very good glass for the money. The dials not matching the reticle is probably not such a big deal if you are only shooting to 300.

 

[Gruff]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

The Sightron is the best of the ones you listed. Considering the Seekins rings and the 20 moa base, looks like a fair deal.

 

[LibertyOptics]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

No real losers here, depends on what features are most important to you, most guys are buying up the milrad scopes, but about 10% are MOA guys, nothing wring with MOA, if you can think in IPHY, close enough for most with a flat learning curve.

Vortex Viper PST is the most feature rich scope of the bunch, and best imitates the style and design of the higher end scopes, so down the road, if you step up in price, the transition will be easier.

Scott

 

[Eznutz]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

I've had a sightron before and it performed flawlessly. My one gripe with it was that the reticle was a little thick but it was only a duplex and a 3x9 so it isn't comparing apples to apples.

I now have the Vortex razor and have absolutely loved it. My friend just picked up the PST in the MOA version and it looks great. So my vote would be the PST then sightron but that is only because I have had experience with them and not with the bushnell. I know that bushnell has done some pretty great things lately and have a lot of things going for them.

Hands down i will say that Vortex stands by their product. No hassle whatsoever. So if you want confidence and a warranty if you get a lemon for a scope they will fix/replace it no questions asked.

On the subject of MOA and MRAD it depends on your history and your future with your optics. If you have other rifles they are probably MOA adjustments and if that is the case I'd stay consistent and remain MOA. If you don't have any other scopes then I'd invest the time in learning the MRAD system. I am in process of converting to the MRAD and it is a simpler system but because I learned MOA to begin with it is taking me a bit to be comfortable with my calculations at distance.

I hope this helps, Vortex has some great reading on their site on the reticles and the difference between the MOA and MRAD. So look at what you have and what you think you might end up with before you decide. Again those FFP PST's are pretty sick for the money. let me know what you decided on how you like it.

 

[Wilkinkc]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

Guys thanks for all the information and opinions. I appreciate it. Makes this a lot easier when you know nothing about scopes. I had a 30-06 rem 700 with a cheap 3-9 leupold years ago and that is about the extent of my high powered rifles. Gonna go check out the bushnell outlet today before I make my decision.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Re: Which Scope Would You Buy

Again, I like the Bushnell Elite for "bang for the buck"! It seems that you extra features and quality for a bit less money when you buy the higher end Bushnell products. And, if ever needed, their customer serice is exceptional!

3. NEW - Bushnell Elite 6500 2.6-16x42mm. Mildot. $670 & pick up rings/base.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-elite-6500-series-2-6-16x42-matte-riflescope-652164t.html

George P.