Best Benchrest scope for money for 100-200 group shooting?

[smoke-um]

title pretty much says it all

 

[Mark M.]

Weaver

 

[AlNyhus]

The Sightron SIII Competition ED.

Lance at Buchanan Accuracy (lancexxx) is a sponsor here and where I got mine. -Al

SIII Competition36x45 ED

Built for competition target shooting applications up to and exceeding 1000 yards. Sightron's SIII 36x45 Competition Long Range rifle scope delivers superior optics and accuracy when it counts.

sightron.com

SIII Competition 45x45 ED

Built for competition target shooting applications up to and exceeding 1000 yards. Sightron's SIII 45x45 Competition Long Range rifle scope delivers superior optics and accuracy when it counts.

sightron.com

lancexxx

forum.accurateshooter.com

 

[JMayo]

I prefer a non fixed.
Helps set flags & deal with mirage.
NF 15x55 is my favorite.
Sightron is on my wish list.

The golden vortex has a reputation of not being very clear kind of a dark scope.

Old weaver t36 would do the job ....

 

[R.Morehouse]

March fixed or EPZ depending on how you are doing for weight. Off-set rings from over at PMA Tool....I have been using the mentioned Sightron 45x45 and it does everything it is supposed to do and tracks perfectly.

Regards
Rick

 

[BartsBullets]

I use Valdada 40 for short range Br. They are 22oz and are THE best scope I’ve ever had for holding zero. They were instrumental in getting 11 of my 19 Hall of Fame points (must have a National win for a point)
I shot my best 200 yard group with one at the East/West .088. (Link included).

Jason Wolf won the 600 yard Nationals twice with a 36 power Valdada.

Sunday Gunday: Bart’s 6PPC Drills Five Shots in .088″ at 200! « Daily Bulletin

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[jackieschmidt]

For short range 100/200 yard group shooting, weight becomes a factor because two of the classes set the weight limit at 10.5 pounds.
I agree with Bart, the Valdada is hard to beat.

keep in mind, the single most important item, (by far) in a short range Benchrest scope is it’s ability to hold exact point of impact time after time.

 

[6bra1k]

do not forget the night force 12-42x.
most solid tested in the past
i have 3 12-42 and 3 15-55
do not buy used start with new and do not look back

 

[Kyle Schultz]

There used to be a simple answer- a Valdada 36X. They were like $1300 new but there was a period of time when you could buy them used for $850 to $900. I bought 2 and still use them for 100/200-yard benchrest. Unmatched clarity and rock solid mechanicals.

Now, the new Valdada 40s are like $1800. For that kind of money, I'd rather (and do) have a March 48X High Master.

The Sightron 45s are good scopes and at ~$900 street price, a pretty good value. But to my eyes, they're not as clear as my Valdads 36s. I have 1 on my 22RF.

The Nightforce 42s have beautiful glass. I had 2 but just could never trust them to hold zero even though I never proved to myself that they were wandering.

If my budget was $1k, I'd look for a clean used Valdada 36X. If my budget was $2k, then I would look for a March 48X HM. Good luck.

 

[Kyle Schultz]

Need to add that if you do look for a Valdada 36, make sure it has the 2nd generation ocular. The oculars on the 1st generation scopes were very large. In additional to adding a tad more weight, the large ocular could, depending upon how you mount the scope, interfere with the bolt handle as the bolt is cycled.

 

[6MMsteve]

the weaver T36 is good BUT some are grainy in the optics, so watch what you buy I have one that is very clear best one I ever looked through, NF 12x42 is great, sometimes a March High master in 42x comes along used snatch it, I don't shoot comp anymore just going by my doings these days, I really like my Kahles 10x50, like it better than the NF comp 15x55

 

[JimPag]

For the money you can't beat a March 48 HM. I've noticed in the last 2 years some really good well know IBS group shooters are using these. Harley Baker, Larry Costa, and Jeff Peinhardt to name a few. I heard from a reliable source at March in Japan that the 48 is actually a 50X. March put the 48 moniker on because of the bad reputation that the old straight 50 had. It was a marketing strategy. I own about 25 benchrest scopes including Marches, Valdada's, NF, Sightrons, Weavers, Leupolds, B&L's, Kahles, IMO the Kahles, Valdada's and Marches hold POI better than any other scopes. I don't like the power of a 36 or 40 Valdada. I need more magnification for my aging eyes. IMO and the opinion of many others, Valdada made a big mistake going from 36X to only a 40X, that's why a bunch of people who I shoot against said that they wouldn't buy one.

 

[22BRGUY]

Older Burris 8x32x44 Peep Plex if you can find one.

 

[jnr88]

These are all good suggestions. The most important choice is what reticle works for your eyes.

 

[stavey]

One of the 2 golden eagles listed rite here in the classifieds would be great . Tough to beat at <$1200 .For me I prefer the golden eagle SCR-1 with fine crosshair.

 

[6MMsteve]

find a match somewhere and see if someone will let you look through their scope, but you need to adjust everything to your eye, can't just look that don't work

 

[JohnyO]

Older Burris 8x32x44 Peep Plex if you can find one.

Seconding this, reasonable option. But hard to beat Valdada and March as many people stated above.
I'm running my old Valdada 36x on benchrest, or if I'm actually hunting - with my Leupold Alpine hunting tripod from https://gritroutdoors.com/optics/optic-accessories/tripods/ . So far didn't let me down a single time, so if it's withing your budget - go for it.

 

[22BRGUY]

Seconding this, reasonable option. But hard to beat Valdada and March as many people stated above.

That's true but I didn't know what price range the shooter was in so just thought I'd
throw in a lower priced option.

 

[Mark M.]

title pretty much says it all

An established budget would be helpful

 

[smoke-um]

under 2k