Scope suggestions for a 17HMR "gator gun" John Deere, not the dinosaur kind

[LRPV]

I'm going to buy me another 17HMR, Tikka, and it's pretty much gonna live in my gator for critter control and plinking around. I've enjoyed using the OLD Burris fullfield 2 with ballistic plex on my other 17's. The reticle matches up pretty well and the scopes are decent enough. Not really sure if I want to rely on a hold over reticle on this or have a turret to spin. If I do a turret, it'll be marked out for yardage with a tape strip.

Anyone have a recommendation or maybe tell me what you like for this? I don't want to get too carried away price wise on this one.

 

[CharlieNC]

For a quality budget scope a fixed power swfa does a good job and has a useable reticle plus nice turrets. I have a 10x on mine and shot 500yd steel targets easily, except the flyers you can hear! It's compact and light weight. Of course a heavy entry level variable like an Arken works well too. Depends of the total package you desire.

 

[drover]

I have a Burris Droptine 3-9x40 with the BDC on my Tikka, I used the Burris on-line drop calculator and it is close enough for me. I could not see putting a heavy scope on a lightweight rifle, I tried one and it upset the handling too much for me.

drover

 

[Knotwild]

I've tried a few different scopes on various guns I kept on tractors, ATV's and trucks. I I tried a Tract 2x10 and I love how bright it is, but the reticle was so fine, I could not use it in low light. I bought a Meopta 2x10 when some good deals were available and it is perhaps my favorite - bright, clear and the reticle works, plus it is a 1" tube which helps with weight and size. I personally would go with another Meopta. However, I have a Sightron STac 3x15, which can be had with a zero stop that I would rate really good too. I find holdovers are really great when I have to take a quick shot. Most shots of opportunity don't allow much time for dialing. I guess, if I had to buy another scope for a rimfire to haul around it would be a Meopta Optika 6 3x15 with a BDC reticle and illuminated red dot. A zero stop will serve you well.

 

[doclu60]

I have two NF NX8 4-32X50 SFP scopes on CF hunting rifles, but my 17hmr has an Athlon Midas BTR Gen 2 HD 4.5-27X50 on it and I couldn't be happier. The illuminated reticle function is much more user friendly than the NF (no button to push to turn it on or adjust how bright it is) and it has more than enough X-power for the cartridge, and the glass is very clear and sharp. It was a quarter of the price of the NF and using it on a P-dog hunt I was able to kill them out to just over 250yds. Yardage confirmed by laser range finder. For the price, it's very good, and I am a NF fan boy.

Scott

 

[jpx2rk]

I have an Athlon Talos 6-18x on my 17HMR and it works well for me out to 100-125yds on pdogs & sage rats. This is an entry level scope, but it travels on cross country trips to the varmint fields, has never moved/lost zero in 3 trips. Glass is clear enough for me for the caliber and use it gets.

 

[Schandler]

Plus one on the Athlon for the money. Solid scopes and take a peak at Riton or Arken. Have both and they all hold up well with a lot of riding around in rtv rack. Never any problems with the three and i consider them budget scopes well worth $. Yardage less than 200 can’t go wrong with any of the 3 brands imho

 

[Kracken McGraw]

My experience with 3-9 is far superior than the 4-12 in these types of scopes, you will need the lower end magnification.

 

[J.d. Popkes]

I got a Ruger 77/17 with a little Nikon 3-9 bdc

If you want the whole package

 

[LRPV]

I got a Ruger 77/17 with a little Nikon 3-9 bdc

If you want the whole package

I appreciate the offer. I’ve got a couple Savages that shoot really good already. I’m wanting a shorter barrel to stick a can on and a synthetic stock to beat up on. Want to try the Tikka.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Blind as I am, my gator gun-tractor riding, CZ wears the Athlon 10-40-… the hash marks on 18x matches my drops on the 20FB-

 

[ELR LVR]

I'm going to buy me another 17HMR, Tikka, and it's pretty much gonna live in my gator for critter control and plinking around. I've enjoyed using the OLD Burris fullfield 2 with ballistic plex on my other 17's. The reticle matches up pretty well and the scopes are decent enough. Not really sure if I want to rely on a hold over reticle on this or have a turret to spin. If I do a turret, it'll be marked out for yardage with a tape strip.

Anyone have a recommendation or maybe tell me what you like for this? I don't want to get too carried away price wise on this one.

What does your budget allow?
and do you want reticle hash's/Mildots or just a crosshair?
MOA or Mils?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
if its $100, I'd look on ebay for a Japan made Tasco
I really like my Japan Tascos
I have read the SWFA scopes are the same scope, same Mfgr/ Hakko Japan
which is why the SWFA scopes are actually good too

$300 would be the minimum I would spend to get something quality with more features
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The Arkens are great too for the money, even the lower priced SH4
otherwise for the area of $500 I could recommend some killer scopes which can be had on Ebay for like $500
such as a Bausch & Lomb 6-24x (better than leupolds)
-------------------------------------------
My personal Favorites are as Follows
Kahles
Bushnell Elites (what B&L got renamed as)
Vintage Bausch & Lomb's
No longer made but is a great scope and I have 3 of
Simmons 44 Mag 6.5-20x with Mildot, cler glass and fully AO adjustability at long range
I would not sell any of those Simmons scopes for suggested retail or what they originally sold for which is like $250 or something, they are comparable to $500-$700 glass
and way better than a Vortex 6.5-20x44 I have (which should not be)

 

[Shifty6br]

I've been looking hard at the Athlon heras spr 2-12 for a budget walking 22lr.

 

[hogpatrol]

If you can find a discontinued Burris Timberline, they have bdc settings for the 17 hmr.

 

[STOMP442]

For a rimfire, those Burris fullfileds really are hard to beat. They are really clear and seem to hold up well, I've got two or three of them on rimfires. My walk around 22mag wears a simple Nikon 3-9x40BDC and it works well too.

 

[AstroGuy]

I have a Savage 93 in 17hmr that I put an Arken SH4 6x24x50 on that I’m pretty happy with. If you’re going to shoot at lower power/magnification especially bright and sharp in the 10-15x range. Once you get up over say 18-20x the CA becomes noticeable but if that doesn’t bother you I think that would be a good option for you.

I’m a pretty loyal Vortex fan but I recently picked up an Arken EP5-5-25x56 and compared it to my Strike Eagle and was honestly surprised that it beat it in brightness, CA correction and clarity. When you put in the price factor I’m tending to lean towards the Arken line.

Just my 2 cents is all.

 

[snert]

I am a fan of the old Bushnell 3200 10x. Small enough, sturdy enough, has dots and repeatable turrets, no fuss and not expensive. Used market only however...

 

[LRPV]

I am a fan of the old Bushnell 3200 10x. Small enough, sturdy enough, has dots and repeatable turrets, no fuss and not expensive. Used market only however...

I just remembered I actually have one of those stashed away. Not sure how well the 10x would work but might give it a try. I generally like 2-3x on the bottom end for a hunting type setup.

 

[lawman29]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1094782088

 

[drover]

I'm going to buy me another 17HMR, Tikka, and it's pretty much gonna live in my gator for critter control and plinking around. I've enjoyed using the OLD Burris fullfield 2 with ballistic plex on my other 17's. The reticle matches up pretty well and the scopes are decent enough. Not really sure if I want to rely on a hold over reticle on this or have a turret to spin. If I do a turret, it'll be marked out for yardage with a tape strip.

Anyone have a recommendation or maybe tell me what you like for this? I don't want to get too carried away price wise on this one.

I made an earlier recommendation for the 3-9x40 Burris Droptine based on your proposed usage for the rifle. Since it is going to be a "Gator" gun I'm assuming that most shots will be a targets of opportunity and that the shots will often be taken quickly, that is where the BDC shines.
The 17 HMR is realistically a 150 - 175 yard cartridge after this it runs out of steam quickly, it is flat shooting enough out to those distances that the drop is easily handle with the BDC reticle.

If you doubt how quickly it drops or loses energy use JBM ballistic and run a chart. I know that folks have made shots past those distances but the cartridge is less than optimal for that.

The Tikka and Droptine combo is what I have used for the last few years as my pickup rifle, it makes a lightweight, fast handling package.

drover