Top Tier Varmint/Target scope recommendations

[RAG]

Edit...okay, okay...I'm settling for "almost top-tier" in the $1K-$2K price range...

I haven't done in Benchrest or sage rat shooting in a very long time...15years I suppose. The good news is, my guns still like to punch one-hole groups (sometimes, lol). But my glass is old...my 3 varmint guns are all running 6-20x40 Weaver Grand Slam scopes. I am on the hunt for side focus and an upgrade to optics quality and click repeatability.

I was aiming for about $1,500/scope, but maybe I'd be satisfied with $1K...or maybe I go $2K if it would really make my eyes happy. But I'm encountering paralysis by analysis right now.

I'm open to suggestions! I really like the idea of FFP with hold-over dots/bars. But darn-it, most of these high end reticles seem busy...geared towards 1,000 yards and beyond...and many times the dots/bars don't start until 4 or 5 MOA; I seem to recall my 5MOA on my TAC 20 is 450 yards. Point being, I'm concerned most of these options are just too much for my purpose...to coarse, and too busy.

Use will primarily be sage rat shooting, but I moved and I'm not equally distant to Prairie Dog country, so I have an eye on getting dialed into that. I mention this because, most of my shooting is done at closer ranges (300yds and in) on squeekers...they are tiny little suckers, and they are abundant, so I rarely find myself playing around with 400 yard shots on them. Of course, with Pairie Dogs, my limited experience tells me most of my shooting will be done between 150-450 yards.

 

[RAG]

Two directions I'm looking at.

1 - Get tactical scope with holdovers (christmas tree" type reticle) as is common with Vortex, Tract Toric, etc. (but I'm blinded by the array of options). I like the look/simplicity of the Burris Veracity varmint christmas tree reticle, but not sure how "top tier" the scope/glass is. I also like look of Sightron MOA-H reticle for varminting).
2 - Get simple reticle, such as fine crosshair with fine dot (which is what I use on my current Weaver scopes) as is available from the likes of Sightron III, and then use turrets to dial in shots past 300 yards. Most shots will likely be 300 yards and under anyhow, especially for tiny squeekers.

For those of you that have the "christmas tree" reticles, does the clutter not bother you for varmint shooting?

 

[Mark M.]

In my opinion, the best bang for the buck would be the Optica6 line from Meopta, particularly the 3-18, the glass clarity is easily comparable with the Nightforce Swarovski Z5 and the entire level Ziess, Meopta is often overlooked, but once you get one in your hand you'll wish you'd looked sooner

 

[Indianhead15613]

Vortex strike eagle is an absolute winner as well as the viper's. Sightron 6-24 SIII is another fantastic scope !

 

[RAG]

I definitely WAS looking at the Meopta Optica6, though I hadn't yet looked hard at the Strike Eagle. Thank you for input.

Any other "high value" recommendations?

 

[Kracken McGraw]

If your really looking for a first plane optic the new Nightforce NX8 is popular.
I have a picture of the new Sightron PLR scope down in another thread that is a second focal plane scope. The moa2 reticle is a not so busy one that you can also do holdovers with.

 

[RAG]

If your really looking for a first plane optic the new Nightforce NX8 is popular.
I have a picture of the new Sightron PLR scope down in another thread that is a second focal plane scope. The moa2 reticle is a not so busy one that you can also do holdovers with.

Well, I'm not set on FFP...never had one. I suppose I'm just looking for the best varminting scope/reticle. I realize best is objective, but seems to me most people now prefer FFP, but I'm not set. I'll have a look at those options as well...thank you.

 

[mchees1]

Well, I'm not set on FFP...never had one. I suppose I'm just looking for the best varminting scope/reticle. I realize best is objective, but seems to me most people now prefer FFP, but I'm not set. I'll have a look at those options as well...thank you.

I only use FFP scopes now. Here is a link to a great site that covers pretty much all FFP scopes:

https://sageratsafaris.com/master-list-ffp-long-range-rifle-scopes/

It is a good place to start.

 

[Schutzen2]

$1500 would get you an athlon cronus and several reticle choices

 

[357Mag]

I haven't done in Benchrest or sage rate shooting in a very long time...15years I suppose. The good news is, my guns still like to punch one-hole groups (sometimes, lol). But my glass is old...my 3 varmint guns are all running 6-20x40 Weaver Grand Slam scopes. I am on the hunt for side focus and an upgrade to optics quality and click repeatability.

I was aiming for about $1,500/scope, but maybe I'd be satisfied with $1K...or maybe I go $2K if it would really make my eyes happy. But I'm encountering paralysis by analysis right now.

I'm open to suggestions! I really like the idea of FFP with hold-over dots/bars. But darn-it, most of these high end reticles seem busy...geared towards 1,000 yards and beyond...and many times the dots/bars don't start until 4 or 5 MOA; I seem to recall my 5MOA on my TAC 20 is 450 yards. Point being, I'm concerned most of these options are just too much for my purpose...to coarse, and too busy.

Use will primarily be sage rate shooting, but I moved and I'm not equally distant to Prairie Dog country, so I have an eye on getting dialed into that. I mention this because, most of my shooting is done at closer ranges (300yds and in) on squeekers...they are tiny little suckers, and they are abundant, so I rarely find myself playing around with 400 yard shots on them. Of course, with Pairie Dogs, my limited experience tells me most of my shooting will be done between 150-450 yards.

Rag -

Howdy !

I myself, just ran this drill.

I had been shooting a classic T-36 w/ 1/8" dot, fitted w/ a Gene Davis 2X optical " booster ".
My varmint shooting is on groundhogs, and the same scope / rifle is also used for target shooting .
The booster worked well for me & my eyes. Read someplace that in optics' math, my upper magnification level would be 52X. I use it for groundhog shooting and for target work. The scope along w/ my 20MOA
scope base had me set for even 1,000yd work, shooting my 6mm wildcat. I have never shot a BDC or otherwise " busy " reticle.

When retirement approached, I had in-mind to buy a high-end ( also high magnification ) Nightforce, Leupold; or March. The March 6-60X zoom holding some appeal. I fer sher wanted a 30mm side focus.

Initially had myself all talked into a $3,500 NF, but had to sell the wife on outlaying that kind of cash.
*** Did then see that many scope vendors offer the NF 12-42X 56mm @ $1,473, which is right in the price range you mention. ***

I told the wife about my revised plan, to go w/ the $1,473 NF scope, and she was delighted.
But, none of the reticles offered were jumping out at me. All I really wanted, was a 1/8" dot crosshair, or just a plain one. The price of this scope sat better w/ my wife.

I looked around the net somemore, and found out Weaver makes their T-36 now in the " XR " format, which is 30mm. It also has 3 knobs, but the one is used for " side parallax adjustment ", and not " side focus ".
Cursiously, a sentence in the scope manual states that the same knob adjusts focus.

Found out Wally World offered the T-36XR on their site, and had 2 left in stock. I ordered the black scope instead of silver, which bought the all-up scope price to $603 . I told my wife, and she was ecstatic !

I also ordered a Bullzeyepro 2.5X booster, which the offer for the T-36XR ( and others ).
The scope' glass appears to me.... to be clear, and adjustments positive. It has a 48mm objective.

I found a set of 30mm Ken Farrell rings on the net, that were un-lapped and had not been mounted; and were a good price.

I'll be mounting the scope soon, during a varmint/target trip to NE Indiana the end of Apr - early May.

Best of luck w/ your decision !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[CharlieNC]

I love my Sightron scopes, the optical quality is a better fit for my eyes than other brands I have owned. The 6-24ffp has a simple, functional reticle and for that type of scope is much lighter weight than competitors. I've tried others costing more than twice as much, but settled on it for my tactical and field shooting.

 

[RAG]

I only use FFP scopes now. Here is a link to a great site that covers pretty much all FFP scopes:

https://sageratsafaris.com/master-list-ffp-long-range-rifle-scopes/

It is a good place to start.

ahh, cool, and it's designed by a sage rat shooter!

gosh, so many options. I would say this is the glory days of shooting...IF you could get some freak'n supplies, ha. hard to shoot a lot when you get get S@#$

 

[RAG]

$1500 would get you an athlon cronus and several reticle choices

Yeah, I was looking at the Ares before, although I'm dizzy from all the research and choices. I take it you feel Athlon has great glass for the buck?

Only problem I see with their reticles, and most of these high end tactical scopes, is they are clearly designed for shooting bigger guns, at bigger targets, at longer range. With my Tac 20 and 40-max at 3900 FPC, that first elevation line of dots ought to have me out at 450 yards. other than playing around, I'll be shooting 99% of my squirrels and p-dogs above that 5 MOA line. I would really like to see those elevation lines at at every 2 MOA.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I haven't done in Benchrest or sage rate shooting in a very long time...15years I suppose. The good news is, my guns still like to punch one-hole groups (sometimes, lol). But my glass is old...my 3 varmint guns are all running 6-20x40 Weaver Grand Slam scopes. I am on the hunt for side focus and an upgrade to optics quality and click repeatability.

I was aiming for about $1,500/scope, but maybe I'd be satisfied with $1K...or maybe I go $2K if it would really make my eyes happy. But I'm encountering paralysis by analysis right now.

I'm open to suggestions! I really like the idea of FFP with hold-over dots/bars. But darn-it, most of these high end reticles seem busy...geared towards 1,000 yards and beyond...and many times the dots/bars don't start until 4 or 5 MOA; I seem to recall my 5MOA on my TAC 20 is 450 yards. Point being, I'm concerned most of these options are just too much for my purpose...to coarse, and too busy.

Use will primarily be sage rate shooting, but I moved and I'm not equally distant to Prairie Dog country, so I have an eye on getting dialed into that. I mention this because, most of my shooting is done at closer ranges (300yds and in) on squeekers...they are tiny little suckers, and they are abundant, so I rarely find myself playing around with 400 yard shots on them. Of course, with Pairie Dogs, my limited experience tells me most of my shooting will be done between 150-450 yards.

I'm not clear on what sage rate shooting is, but one item that drew my attention is that the title of your thread is

Top Tier Varmint/Target scope recommendations​

And then you specify a top price of $1500, more likely $1000, but could be pushed to $2000. I'm sad to inform you that is not "Top Tier", that's more like middle tier. Before I get accused of being a scope snob, let me just say right now: guilty as charged but that's because I have been infected with using top tier scopes for several years now.

Good look in your search.

 

[Dub]

why FFP?

 

[RAG]

why FFP?

not set on it, but...so the hold-offs will be consistent even when I'm not fully zoomed in...that was my reasoning. But maybe I'd be happier with a a simple, fine crosshair scope with good glass and good turret/click repeatability. Maybe I'll try one of each.

 

[Schutzen2]

Yeah, I was looking at the Ares before, although I'm dizzy from all the research and choices. I take it you feel Athlon has great glass for the buck?

Only problem I see with their reticles, and most of these high end tactical scopes, is they are clearly designed for shooting bigger guns, at bigger targets, at longer range. With my Tac 20 and 40-max at 3900 FPC, that first elevation line of dots ought to have me out at 450 yards. other than playing around, I'll be shooting 99% of my squirrels and p-dogs above that 5 MOA line. I would really like to see those elevation lines at at every 2 MOA.

View attachment 1248749

I have my Cronus on a Bergara. 22. It has the aplr5 reticle and it works very well for me on that rifle. I shoot it out to 300 yds. I'm not sure why you think it's for larger calibers.

 

[Schutzen2]

And not all Athlon glass is equal. The cronus is the only one made in Japan by LOW. My midas-tac is not the quality of glass that the cronus is IMHO.

 

[KY_Windage]

I'll be shooting 99% of my squirrels and p-dogs above that 5 MOA line. I would really like to see those elevation lines at at every 2 MOA.

Yup, you might as well, because in the typical wildly varying breeze I shoot p-dogs in, it is pointless to try to put the "5.5 moa" hashmark on the squirrel anyway, because by the time you get that lined up, the breeze has changed and now you need the 4.5 hashmark. So you move it over to the squirrel and get it lined up, just in time for a stiffening in the breeze that means you need the 7.0. And so, on and on.

I take a reading, find the distance and then quickly dial for that. Then I shoot the bugger with Kentucky Windage. No time for anything else, because things change too fast.

I don't want FFP because I don't want that ball of twine blocking the center of my picture when I power down to scan for targets. Like I said, no need anyway. I have all these fancy reticles and don't use them.

Buy what gives you the best picture and that is hell for stout -- Nightforce. Anything else is a wannabe. Just sayin'.

For critters, make mine a 5-25 ATACR with an MOAR-T reticle. For targets I might prefer a 7-35 or a 15-55 Comp, but you want one that does it all. My 5-25 ATACR, on a 204:

 

[bullfrog]

I tried the Leupold VX3-LRP 6.5-20 with the CCH reticle in the FFP. Love it for prairie dog shooting. The hold over lines and dots are close enough you don't have to guess. It was awesome not having to dial. If I missed at long range it was easy to correct and shoot again using the reticle. The CCH reticle is perfect. This scope is discontinued but you can still get this reticle in the Mark5HD. I also have sightrons with the moa-2 reticle that work very well for close work but not having the christmas tree windage marks kinda sucks at longer ranges when holding off for wind without reference points. I have sold all my fine crosshair scopes I previously used for prairie dog shooting.