I’m looking to buy an optic for my Nucleus build. My budget is $1500-$1700. Right now I’m can buy a used Razor gen 2 3-18x50 or a new Sig Tango 6 4-24x50 for about the same price. Is one of these better than the other or about the same? My Nucleus is going to be a 308 and used for steel out to 600-800 yards. I feel the power range of these scope are perfect. Is there another scope I should consider? I’d like a Leupold Mark 5 but it’s just out of my price range for the tremor 3 reticle in the 3.6-18. Thank you
Rifle Scopes Which Scope?
- Thread starter Mossyoak44
- Start date
I do have a Cronus BTR on my 6.5 creedmoor that I like a lot. Yeah I’ve been thinking about the T Series too I just mentioned the two above because they are a buy now before they are gone type of situation.
Understand that the strength of the T3 reticle is "no dial" shooting ... and other reticles might not have this as a strength. So "how you will shoot" is critical to reticle selection, to make sure the reticle supports how you will shoot.
I see Mk5s with T3 on Amazon for $1,930, so that is $230 higher than $1,700 ... but if that is really what you want, how long would it take to save another $230 ??
I don't think I would pass on the scope I wanted if I was $230 short !!
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The wind dots in the T3 reticle are great ... but hard to appreciate until you use them!
If we can assist you at all please feel free to give us a call. We have our sale running through the end of the month and just received some NRA show samples from both Steiner & Athlon.
Understand that the strength of the T3 reticle is "no dial" shooting ... and other reticles might not have this as a strength. So "how you will shoot" is critical to reticle selection, to make sure the reticle supports how you will shoot.
I see Mk5s with T3 on Amazon for $1,930, so that is $230 higher than $1,700 ... but if that is really what you want, how long would it take to save another $230 ??
I don't think I would pass on the scope I wanted if I was $230 short !!
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The wind dots in the T3 reticle are great ... but hard to appreciate until you use them!
I understand where your coming from. I appreciate your point of view
Note the $1,930 price for the Mk5 3-18x T3 on Amazon is for the non-illuminated T3. Both the T3s I have are illuminated .. BUT for my use case, having used the illuminated and turned it off and used as non-illuminated, I do not think the illumination on the T3 is worth paying extra for.
The illumination only covers every second mil dot out to 10 mils of up hold. My use case is to use thermal clipon in front of the day scope ...
Cow laying down at 400yds (click on the pic to see it larger)
... fuzzy due to crappy camera phone ... but I can invert the thermal from blackhot to white hot if I can't see the reticle well enough ... so at best the illumination saves an inversion ... which buys a few seconds at most ... and there is not enough of the reticle illuminated (hard to illuminate a T3) to make it worth the cost of the illumination.
So I recommend non-illuminated T3, if there is a choice!
The illumination only covers every second mil dot out to 10 mils of up hold. My use case is to use thermal clipon in front of the day scope ...
Cow laying down at 400yds (click on the pic to see it larger)
... fuzzy due to crappy camera phone ... but I can invert the thermal from blackhot to white hot if I can't see the reticle well enough ... so at best the illumination saves an inversion ... which buys a few seconds at most ... and there is not enough of the reticle illuminated (hard to illuminate a T3) to make it worth the cost of the illumination.
So I recommend non-illuminated T3, if there is a choice!
Unless Leupold has changed something the 3.6-18 T3 is only offered without illumination. The 5-25 is both ways. personally I haven't needed it even behind my LWTS either. I just switch to white hot too. I bet you can still beat Amazons price though.
Thanks for the information and pictures wigwamitus. If I do end up going for the Mark 5 it’s going to be non illuminated, with your help it’s confirmed that decision
The Razor II 3-18x50 is an excellent optic and the one I have on my match 6.5 Creedmoor. Have taken shots to 1250 yards without issue. Nice clear glass and excellent knobs. Also the reticle is simple and not cluttered but has plenty of hold points. Whole reticle illuminates as well.
Aye, my brain had the NF 4-16 T3 in mind, which IIRC is only available illuminated
so if you wanted something in the 3-18 or 4-16 space with T3 reticle you might find yourself comparing the mk5 3-18x t3 to the ATACR 4-16x t3 and in that case you would start thinking about whether the illumination is worth it (I went through that exact thought process )
so if you wanted something in the 3-18 or 4-16 space with T3 reticle you might find yourself comparing the mk5 3-18x t3 to the ATACR 4-16x t3 and in that case you would start thinking about whether the illumination is worth it (I went through that exact thought process
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Here's a pic of a similar Vortex 2C reticle in my PST at 400 yards. The steel is 8". The sight picture is not as clear as the Razor II as it is a Gen 1 PST but it gives you an idea of what it looks like on targets. The small open center is nice for very small targets.
I appreciate all you guys and the knowledge you are sharing with me. I can get the Razor mentioned above for $1550, is that a good enough price to buy that and stay in my budget rather than saving more for the Mark 5?
I'd rather have the Mark 5. The Tremor 3 is a better reticle and the optic is way lighter. I also give the Mark 5 the nod for glass quality.
The T3 uses a variation on the "hole in the center" idea ... starting with a hole ... but then putting a tiny black dot in the center of the hole to help with aiming at small targets ...
click on pic to see large version
click on pic to see large version
Yeah that's an excellent price on that optic even used. Even better as it's in your price range. You can;t go wrong with the Razor II scopes but you need to choose the reticle you like as that is important. I personally don't like a more cluttered reticle as too many lines gets confusing for faster shots but it's going to be your scope.
Thank you for your input. I’m going to head over to one of my lgs and look through them both side by side again to see. I have compared them before but I was short on time so so I’m going to do at again.
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