Scope advice.

[FlyingSweede]

NJ Shooter, I just sent you a PM.

 

[JBT47]

I would go with the SWFA SS HD
5-20x50. Tracks well. Glass is absolutely outstanding...you will not find better glass for under $1500.

 

[swd]

Watch the classified section here. Used and new NF NSX’s come up frequently.

 

[ms6852]

One thing that I have learned in more than my 50+ years of shooting and hunting is this. Depending on atmospheric conditions all that a scope with a high zoom factor will do is also magnify those conditions whether it is haze, or mirage. For me when I have shot beyond 500 yards whether target or hunting I always end up dialing down to between 6X and 9X. In my opinion a fixed zoom scope will always give you the best clarity. If you majority of your shooting will be targets than a higher magnification will give you an advantage to some extent if your goal is to shoot small groups.

 

[fourpower]

Agree on Sightron glass and tracking. not a big fan of their retical but, it's hard to beat for the dough.
a Member on this site ran one at KO2M couple of year ago. Mine is on a VarTarg.

6x24 sightron great glass and there new zero stop is great and easy. put on 6.5 creedmoor and went right out to 900 yds.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

One thing that I have learned in more than my 50+ years of shooting and hunting is this. Depending on atmospheric conditions all that a scope with a high zoom factor will do is also magnify those conditions whether it is haze, or mirage. For me when I have shot beyond 500 yards whether target or hunting I always end up dialing down to between 6X and 9X. In my opinion a fixed zoom scope will always give you the best clarity. If you majority of your shooting will be targets than a higher magnification will give you an advantage to some extent if your goal is to shoot small groups.

For the most part this is true, but there are a couple exceptions to this rule. Scopes with glass that will cut through mirage on high power like a hot knife through butter.

 

[Larryh128]

Hello. My first post on this forum page.
I am just starting to get into long range shooting. I have a RPR in 6.5 creedmor that I need to put an optic on. I will be shooting a maximum of 600 yards. It will only be used for paper and steel. I am not looking to do any competitive shooting yet. I just want a good consistent optic. I would like to spend less than $1500. I know there's a ton of choices out there but I was hoping for a little advice and guidance from some more experienced shooters. Thanks.

Look at the Athlon Ares BTR. 4.5 x 27 front focal, ill reticles, zero stop for about $900. Good optics that track well. I have 2 of them, one on a creed and one on a 338 Lapua. NO issues holding on the Lapua.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

6x24 sightron great glass and there new zero stop is great and easy. put on 6.5 creedmoor and went right out to 900 yds.

That’s good to hear about that new Sightron SIII. I’ve been considering that model or the 8x32 56mm one.

 

[johara1]

One thing that I have learned in more than my 50+ years of shooting and hunting is this. Depending on atmospheric conditions all that a scope with a high zoom factor will do is also magnify those conditions whether it is haze, or mirage. For me when I have shot beyond 500 yards whether target or hunting I always end up dialing down to between 6X and 9X. In my opinion a fixed zoom scope will always give you the best clarity. If you majority of your shooting will be targets than a higher magnification will give you an advantage to some extent if your goal is to shoot small groups.

You are a young guy.... but don't believe that a high powered variable scope can't shoot through mirage on the top end, There are a few that you can dial out mirage as you dial out parallax....Plus they shoot small, very small. A good scope for the money but not the greatest in heavy mirage is the Vortex GE. and it is well in your price range .... jim

 

[NJshooter]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I appreciate the help. I should be picking up a scope soon, just have to narrow it down to one.

 

[muleman69]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I appreciate the help. I should be picking up a scope soon, just have to narrow it down to one.

I have Leupold ,Sightron, Ziess,vortex gen ii and ATHLON ARES ETR and if I had to choose it would be the Athlon hands down

 

[johara1]

I have Leupold ,Sightron, Ziess,vortex gen ii and ATHLON ARES ETR and if I had to choose it would be the Athlon hands down

Those are makes of scopes but when you pick out a model of a scope to compare apples to apples. Vortex Golden Eagle would be my pick in his price range.... I shot very small at 600 and 1000 yds. with them.... jim

 

[Mr.Knowit all]

I can recommend good scope. It is ATN X-SIGHT II HD 3-14x day & night smart scope. I found it here. I had a chance to shoot with it and it was so cool! I would definitely like to get them for me!

With all do respect- my friend bought one and it was JUNK!!! Maybe it was just a bad scope and the rest are great but it didn't seem to be very good quality. It has been my experience that you have to pay if you want a good optic. Thermal, conventional scopes, NV, etc.... the more you pay the better product you get. Generally speaking.

 

[muleman69]

Those are makes of scopes but when you pick out a model of a scope to compare apples to apples. Vortex Golden Eagle would be my pick in his price range.... I shot very small at 600 and 1000 yds. with them.... jim

The Athlon and vortex are pretty much apples to apples to me (Same price) the Vortex reticle was the only thing I didn't care for over the Athlon so far

 

[johara1]

The Athlon and vortex are pretty much apples to apples to me (Same price) the Vortex reticle was the only thing I didn't care for over the Athlon so far

Is it a 10-60x52?.... jim

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yeah I'm not sure which Athlon you are talking about @muleman69? Athlon doesn't really make a scope to compare with the Vortex GE. I know they started making an Argos 10-40x56, but the Argos line is their bottom level quality. Good glass for the money, but cheap mechanical properties. The Vortex GE is on another level than the Argos.

There is one thing is in common with Athlon and Vortex scopes.... They are all made in China.

 

[muleman69]

Yeah I'm not sure which Athlon you are talking about @muleman69? Athlon doesn't really make a scope to compare with the Vortex GE. I know they started making an Argos 10-40x56, but the Argos line is their bottom level quality. Good glass for the money, but cheap mechanical properties. The Vortex GE is on another level than the Argos.

There is one thing is in common with Athlon and Vortex scopes.... They are all made in China.

I have the new Ares ETR, whole different scope then the Argos. I here you about China,I was told by a smith last week that most all the glass is from Japan?

 

[muleman69]

Is it a 10-60x52?.... jim

Ares ETR 4.5-30x56. Not a bad scope, I couldn't find a bad review on them prior to buying it

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I have the new Ares ETR, whole different scope then the Argos. I here you about China,I was told by a smith last week that most all the glass is from Japan?

Not necessarily. China makes plenty of their own glass to varying levels. Glass would most likely be from China unless they specd' to have glass from Japan. Which Athlon may have done, I dont know. Usually a manufacturer would mention that a scope is using Japanese glass to take a bit of the taint away from the scope being made in China.

Except for Nightforce. They dont like to tell the public that their glass and a lot of scope components come pre-made from Japan.

 

[muleman69]

Not necessarily. China makes plenty of their own glass to varying levels. Glass would most likely be from China unless they specd' it have glass from Japan. Which Athlon may have done, I dont know. Usually a manufacturer would mention that a scope is using Japanese glass to take a bit of the taint away from the scope being made in China.

Except for Nightforce. They dont like to tell the public that their glass and a lot of scope components come pre-made from Japan.

I think what the smith was relating to is the med to upper range scopes