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What scope in a $700 budget

Another vote for the S-tac. I also have two Athlon 6-24x50 Midas-tacs that I really like and I think they perform above their price. One on a .22lr and the other on my RAW air rifle. Nothing against Sightron because I like the ones I have but IMHO Athlon has a better selection of reticles. Just my 2 cents.
 
Just to throw this out in the ether....

I wish the sightron S-Tac had a reticle choice that was some sort of combination between the MOA and the duplex. I really want to hunt with the S-tac, but the duplex is missing features for long range shots, and the MOA is invisible at low light. I do not like to dial turrets when hunting, so a reticle with visual hash marks is great.... but I need to be able to see it at low light.

Yes, I want my cake and eat it too.
 
Dimner said:
Just to throw this out in the ether....

I wish the sightron S-Tac had a reticle choice that was some sort of combination between the MOA and the duplex. I really want to hunt with the S-tac, but the duplex is missing features for long range shots, and the MOA is invisible at low light. I do not like to dial turrets when hunting, so a reticle with visual hash marks is great.... but I need to be able to see it at low light.

Yes, I want my cake and eat it too.
Click to expand...
I agree with this. Which is why I really like my Vortex Viper PST Gen II, the EBR-2 reticle is great. I don't remember the last time I touched the turret on this scope, I just use the reticle. The glass is a little better on my Sightron SIII, but much prefer the reticle on the Vortex.
 
The OP said intended purpose was varminting. Get a RF and SFP scope, job done. Who needs a big fat reticle for small targets at distance?
 
Dimner said:
Just to throw this out in the ether....

I wish the sightron S-Tac had a reticle choice that was some sort of combination between the MOA and the duplex. I really want to hunt with the S-tac, but the duplex is missing features for long range shots, and the MOA is invisible at low light. I do not like to dial turrets when hunting, so a reticle with visual hash marks is great.... but I need to be able to see it at low light.

Yes, I want my cake and eat it too.
Click to expand...
Eurooptics has some Meopta has illuminated reticle scopes about $100 more than you indicated. Some have red dots in the center and most are BDC type reticles. Although they do have one called the Dichro reticle that also illuminates the BDC reticle. Cameraland and BHphotovideo.com had some great prices on illuminated reticle scopes last Christmas. But it seems inflation is hitting them now and it appears they must be waiting on shipments as most places are out of stock on many models.

Here is a link to an image of a Dichro reticles - Meopta Dichro Reticle

I have a Nightforce 3x15x50 with a MOA reticle and it illuminates the entire reticle. It's too busy for my eyes to use at night- I've tried. I also have a Japanese 3x15x50 Weaver MIL reticle and most of it lights up when turned on. It's a little more subdued than the NF. I've tried them on deer at night with a permit and they just aren't fast enough for me. (I use a green light.) I kick myself for not buying one of the Meoptas with a red dot at the center of the cross hairs when they were cheap.

I personally can't range at very low light and find that feature useless. When I do have to shoot deer at night, I try to know what ranges I am dealing with before I take the shot.
 
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May l suggest a quality USED scope in the 6-20 power range. More for your money buying used. Virtually all scopes have a LIFETIME warranty. All my scopes are USED. Same quality as NEW. Same warranty as NEW. Lower price. Buying used is a WIN WIN for me
 
Until the OP narrows it down to at least FPP or SPF as well as style of reticle, there’s really not much point in throwing out all kinds of options.
 
Dgd6mm said:
This says it all.
Click to expand...
Yup lot of good suggestions. The s tac looks really promising
Night force is out of my budget and nice to see something other then the leupold or vortex line (nothing wrong with them I have several)
 
I vote the S-TAC as well. I have had a couple of them and I really like them. I don't like the FFP version for hunting though, the reticle disappears in the woods, even with the illumination on the max setting. I also wish Sightron would make the MOA reticle more course on the S-TAC, or offer an entirely different reticle. I also would like a SFP version of the S-TAC with illumination and zero stop. I would have a Sightron on every rifle if they had the above changes added to their scope lineup. I would also LOVE an SIII model that was 4-20x instead of the 6-24x being the lowest zoom range available.
 
vortexoptics.com

Venom 5-25x56 FFP

Please Select Reticle | 34mm Tube
vortexoptics.com vortexoptics.com

I have one of these. Very nice optic and solid adjustments. Look around for price. You can find it marked down further than the mfg site above.
 
Schutzen2 said:
Another vote for the S-tac. I also have two Athlon 6-24x50 Midas-tacs that I really like and I think they perform above their price. One on a .22lr and the other on my RAW air rifle. Nothing against Sightron because I like the ones I have but IMHO Athlon has a better selection of reticles. Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
I have 2 Athlon 10x40x56 Argos on 22lr and a Sightron SIII 8x32x56 on another 22lr. We have other Sightron scopes and for the money they are very, very good scopes. I will be replacing the Athlons with SIIIs over the coming months.
 
Guess it depends on what you really need in the scope and how far you are shooting. Need fancy reticles and turrets? Only shooting shorter ranges? Theres lots of options

For more tactical/exposed turrets, semi fancy reticle, and good glass, my athlon midas btr gen 2 4-27 is the best for the dollar. Ive had trijicon tenmile, zeiss v4, sightron siii, some old leupold vx3, and my brother has a swarovski 4-12x….the athlon is as good or better than all except the sightron but the sightron is 56mm vs the 50 of the athlon.

And you can get a sightron siii for 700-800 in the july sale they usually have every year
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. I ended up putting one of these one it.
www.midwayusa.com

Zeiss Conquest V4 Rifle Scope 6-24x 50mm #93 ZMOA-1 Reticle Matte

The Zeiss Conquest V4 is based on a 4x zoom ratio and incorporates a 30mm main tube. Each model delivers 90% to the-eye light transmission, offers 1/4...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
I have a zeiss conquest on my model 70 and always been happy with it. Friend had ordered two of them and took one off his hands lol
Glass is very clear and happy with the reticle
 
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