Best scope for ME...?

[TroyMN]

Okay I know there is no such thing as one BEST scope, but I am looking for another one. It will be used for mostly paper punching 100 to 600+ yards, maybe some varmint shooting. I an trying to switch most of my scopes over to Mil-dots. I want to use for ranging and possible hold over. My current scope history/collection. Had 2 fail 15 plus years ago <$80 scopes, but the current all work as designed & hold zero. I do not have total faith in any of my that are not Leupolds, the Vectors Brand are proving themselves but still a cheap China scope. Everytime a group opens up or shifts I start thinking scope vs. cold bore, dirty bore, poor rest, poor load, or I just pulled it.
6.5-20x40 vari x-III ao, target dot, target elv. turret
2.5-8x32 vari x-III duplex (older)
4-16 x 40 oa target turrets Tasco older
3.5-10 x 40mm Mil-dot mil/mil turrets Leupold mk4 Clone-Vector Brand, tracks well
4.5-14 x 50mm Mil-dot moa turrets Leupold mk4 Clone Vector Brand, tracks very well
6-25 x 56 Mil-dot, FFP, Ill reticle moa turrets, Vector Brand, tracks very well
36x 44mm Target dot 1/8 moa turrets (about 80 moa elevation) FM brand POOR optics. Tracks perfect
not used ,3-12x40ao mil-dot moa turrets, illum reticle, 1" Firefield, 4x 32 duplex bushnell banner OLD

Most important features to me in a new scope.
Mil-type reticle
Very clear glass
Repeatable-accurate tracking, (handle recoil .308 and .270 maybe more)
FFP
COST
High magnification 20x ish
Mil Turrets
Large amount of Elevation
Smaller than my current HUGE 6-25 monster 17inches and 36 ounces
Warranty in USA
Has all the bells and whistles like Iluminated reticle

Top scopes on the wish list.
Bushnell Tactical Elite 3-21 ET3521G , G2DMR, FFP non illum
IOR Valdata 3-18x42 or?50 FFP, MP-8 illum
Vortex PST 6-24 FFP mil/mil
Sightron III 16x or 20x 42mm mod mil-dot , non illum

The "cheap China scopes" the first one came on the gun and I was Very impressed with the clarity, fit, finish. Enough so that I bought the 6-25, that one also was very clear similar to the Vari-xiii at 20 x. I then bought 3 of the 4.5-14 and found the problem with China scopes. 2 of the 3 did not track well, reticle off center one could not even get to zero. The 3rd I kept but am not happy with the small FOV, clearity again is very good. I have not used a VX3, VX7, SIII, NightForce, Mk 8, IOR so my idea of good clarity may not be accurate.

Does anyone own some of the ones I am considering? They all have FFP mil-dot with the G2dmr being a upgrade... Glass clarity; IOR, Sightron III, Tact Elite, PST. Many may disagree with the ranking but I have not read anything that would indicate IOR and SIII would not be the gold standard?? The best prices are Bushnell $1100+, IOR $1500+, Vortex $950, SIII clearance $379. The SIII I could buy now and just find a gun for it or use as load testing scope. The other 3 I would have to wait til the 6-25 takes a dump or sell it to buy one of the more expensive scopes. The SIII 16x or the 20X? Someone from FL posted the problem with shooting through mirage Re: fixed 20x.....how common is that? I rarely see that as a issue. Is it much less of a factor in Minnesota? I may praire dog hunt in 100 degree temps but have not in several years so... When ever I pull my gun out of the case is is mostly on max power, so a fixed power may work well. Kinda hope I get talked into a SIII 16x or 20x, but let me know what you think. I am going to post this on another site with shooters of a different back round.
Thanks
Troy

 

[jonbearman]

You would love the 8-32 x50mm s111.My son in law bought one and it is a really nice scope. Buy quality once and dont look back. I really like my bushnell 4200's and they come up for sale with mil dot reticle all the time.I am not sure why you need ffp type scopes but I had one and did not like it. I dont own a vortex yet,but from what I have read on here is that the higher end scopes are real decent. I would stick with sightron for your needs as it will really impress you.

 

[Fordnutter]

Buy once...cry once....

Nightforce

Has everything you want....& nothing you don't need

 

[Gizmo575]

I have a SIII 10x50 mil-dot on my 6mmBR Savage, and one of my amigos has a 10x50 dot on his 22-250. Absolutely wonderful optic, tracks precisely, and mil-dot makes ranging and hold-off no problem. Sure, you can get a Nightforce or IOR, but I don't think you can do anything with one of them that the Sightron SIII can't do. The other guy are right, Buy once, Cry once.

Gizmo

 

[brian427cobra]

Buy once...cry once....

Nightforce

Has everything you want....& nothing you don't need

Not true, he wants FFP, and something with 20x or more of power, Nightforce makes no such scope.................yet, so today I would recommend a Vortex Razor, it has all the features you asked for, and the glass comes from the same building in Japan as Nightforce.

 

[acloco]

You really don't want an FFP scope for shooting targets or varmints. Reticle will cover up what you are trying to shoot.

Unless you are shooting varmints in low light or spotlighting....do you really need a lighted reticle?

Mil turrets while trying to shoot MOA or guess distance in yards......really does not work well, unless you carry a calculator with you.

Magnification over 16 or 18 x, with GOOD lenses, in the heat of the day, is almost useless.....you will not be able to see anything due to the temperature differentials.


Cost - spend what you must....but trigger time will get you more bang for your buck.

I find myself buying fixed 12 and 16 power scopes of the Leupold variety. You have to weigh what works for you, your application, AND your checkbook.

IMHO, I don't think you can beat a Leupold Mark 4 with M1 turrets....and 150 MOA of elevation adjustment...especially for the price.

 

[wyoming .260]

I have a 20x SWFA SS with a mil-dot reticle i am completely happy with... It does not gather the most light for a 20x ,but it is plenty good for my use(antelope). They are inexpensive and very reliable.

 

[brian427cobra]

You really don't want an FFP scope for shooting targets or varmints. Reticle will cover up what you are trying to shoot.

That will depend on the scope/reticle, but FFP is a valueable tool if used correctly.

Unless you are shooting varmints in low light or spotlighting....do you really need a lighted reticle?

Its been a long since I owned a scope that didn't have a lit reticle, it's better to have and not need than need and not have.

Mil turrets while trying to shoot MOA or guess distance in yards......really does not work well, unless you carry a calculator with you.

This makes no sense what so ever, Mils are not metric and MOAs are not inches, the reticle is used for way more than ranging, precise holds in any direction with rapid corrections are the meat and potatos of Mil reticles.

Magnification over 16 or 18 x, with GOOD lenses, in the heat of the day, is almost useless.....you will not be able to see anything due to the temperature differentials.

I live in TEXAS, I shoot year round, heat of the summer 100+ degrees to cold winter days in the 20s, learning to use and shoot thru mirage is just part of the game, I laid waste to golf balls this year with 5-25 FFP Premier Reticle at 750 yards, and finally made contact with 2 at 1000 while it was 108 outside with no little wind.

Cost - spend what you must....but trigger time will get you more bang for your buck.

Very True

I find myself buying fixed 12 and 16 power scopes of the Leupold variety. You have to weigh what works for you, your application, AND your checkbook.

IMHO, I don't think you can beat a Leupold Mark 4 with M1 turrets....and 150 MOA of elevation adjustment...especially for the price.

There was a time when Leupold Mk4 scopes were the best one could get, today they still have a great warranty but are far from great scopes, any scope with a Mil reticle and MOA knobs makes about as much sense as using a yard stick and calling out meters, MRAD and MOA are angular measurements, having knobs that match the reticle makes life so much easier, combine that with FFP and learning how to deploy the tools your eyes are looking thru is gold.

 

[Jet]

Spend the $$$ and get a Nightforce or Leupy MK4. In your write up you talk about low $ scopes not panning out. There is a reason they are cheap. The NF and Leupy will likely cost more than the rifle you put it on but they will last a couple lifetimes and the warranties are exceptional.

Jet

 

[acloco]

You really don't want an FFP scope for shooting targets or varmints. Reticle will cover up what you are trying to shoot.

That will depend on the scope/reticle, but FFP is a valueable tool if used correctly.

>>>>try shooting a prairie dog at 600 yards with a FFP scope.<<<<<<

Unless you are shooting varmints in low light or spotlighting....do you really need a lighted reticle?

Its been a long since I owned a scope that didn't have a lit reticle, it's better to have and not need than need and not have.

>>>>>>believe I asked what the user's intended shooting time is<<<<<<<

Mil turrets while trying to shoot MOA or guess distance in yards......really does not work well, unless you carry a calculator with you.

This makes no sense what so ever, Mils are not metric and MOAs are not inches, the reticle is used for way more than ranging, precise holds in any direction with rapid corrections are the meat and potatos of Mil reticles.

>>>>>>>Believe this will explain more than typing - http://www.opticstalk.com/moa-vs-mil-chart_topic32244.html <<<<<<<

Magnification over 16 or 18 x, with GOOD lenses, in the heat of the day, is almost useless.....you will not be able to see anything due to the temperature differentials.

I live in TEXAS, I shoot year round, heat of the summer 100+ degrees to cold winter days in the 20s, learning to use and shoot thru mirage is just part of the game, I laid waste to golf balls this year with 5-25 FFP Premier Reticle at 750 yards, and finally made contact with 2 at 1000 while it was 108 outside with no little wind.

>>>>>>What part of Texas? With or without humidity? My shooting temperature varies from -20 to 110...and humidity. <<<<<<<

Cost - spend what you must....but trigger time will get you more bang for your buck.

Very True

I find myself buying fixed 12 and 16 power scopes of the Leupold variety. You have to weigh what works for you, your application, AND your checkbook.

IMHO, I don't think you can beat a Leupold Mark 4 with M1 turrets....and 150 MOA of elevation adjustment...especially for the price.

There was a time when Leupold Mk4 scopes were the best one could get, today they still have a great warranty but are far from great scopes, any scope with a Mil reticle and MOA knobs makes about as much sense as using a yard stick and calling out meters, MRAD and MOA are angular measurements, having knobs that match the reticle makes life so much easier, combine that with FFP and learning how to deploy the tools your eyes are looking thru is gold.

>>>>>>>After the Leupy Mark 4's.......next step is a Nightforce. After that, S & B or IOR. NF is 1500 and up. S & B and IOR start at 2500...and go WAY up. <<<<<

Believe brian427cobra will agree......when I tell my wife, should something happen to me.....remove the scopes before you have the firearm auction....the scopes are worth more than the rifles.

 

[acloco]

Forgot to add this....and I do not know the seller. THIS scope will do VERY well for you. Add a elevation turret and you will be set.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3800026.0

 

[TroyMN]

Thank you for you response. After more thought, I am going to wait a little and take some advise. More trigger time! So just spend more of my moldy money on reloading supplies. I also took my 6-25 vector to a gunstore and compared side by side with a Vortex 6-24x50 SFP. Had a great test, a newspaper on the wall across the store (medium light conditions) @58yards but you could see some font size but not the smallest. The PST and Vector(china) scopes I could see the same. The Trijicon had higher contrast than either but resolution was about the same not fair test 20x vs 24x. To my eye I could not see the extra clarity with the PST. I did like the reticle in the Viper HS XLR (different store)but it is MOA. I just going to hold off buying until I find the RIGHT " christmas type" Mil reticle or I have a scope failure. This is just a fun hobby for me scope failure is not going to cost any matches or lives. Just would be frustrating.

 

[Leaddog]

Go with a Nightforce. MOA adjustments are (more precise) finer than MILS. The NP-R1 is a great reticle for ranging targets.

If you are just punching paper on a square range, it doesn't matter all that much.