what's a good scope to start out with for long ranging?

[dh300wm]

hey guys. I've been wanting to get into long range shooting and really don't have a big budget for shooting equipment. I have a Remington bolt 300 win mag and was wandering what may be a good scope to start out with that will be fine at least up to the 500 yrd range? thanks guys! David

 

[stinnett1981]

Hello there. A 300 Win Mag will do the job for long range for sure! Now for a scope. The MOST important thing is NOT to buy a junk Chinese scope that doesnt hold zero and the adjustment are not true. You will literally be throwing your money in the trash can if you buy a cheap walmart Chinese scope. I would recommend a Leupold scope for your application. They are good quality and have great customer service if you would ever need it. Look at the VX-2 and the VX-3 models. A max power of 18, 14 or even 12 would get you out to 1000 yards with the 300WM. Also go the the classified ADs on here. There are lots of scopes for sale on here that would be perfect for your 300WM. Good luck.

 

[2506]

With the 300 Win mag you will not have to do all that much dialing to shoot 500 yards. For the money it is hard to beat a Vortex scope. They have the Viper HS 5 - 15X44 Mil Dot reticle 30mm tube that is a lot of scope for $500. With scopes you get what you pay for. Like has been said DON'T waste your money on a cheap BSA, NcStar,Mueller,Leapers,Barska and the like. I have found that it is much easier to cry once when you shell out the $$$ than it is to shell out $$$ two or three times and cry many times. Save up and get a NightForce and only cry once and you will NEVER need another scope. ;D

 

[mac86951]

Agreed, a good scope is the way to start. Variable power helps if its what you really want, but fixed power can save you some $$. Military once upon a time decided 10x was a good balance of fixed power at common ranges, buy match shooters tend to like more power. At 600y I like 30x+. But 20x will work. Sightron, vortex, leupold, Burris and others make good scopes. I found used Weaver T-36 and love them.

I did do a lot of shooting at 20x with a barska varmint. Mine was $60, so not much crying there. I got lucky and wouldn't recommend it for specifically long range, but it did get me to the range which is the first step.
-Mac

 

[DogBuster]

First place I would look is at Cameraland NY....can not beat

one of the 'open box demos'.....6-24x50 PST Vortex is a good start

 

[mr45man]

A "Japan" Tasco scope if you can find one in good condition
Was my first real scope 35 years ago,
John H.

 

[L1986]

If you do decide on a fixed power be sure and take a look at SWFA Super sniper scopes. I was in the same boat as you not long ago and got one of thier fixed 16x with mil reticle. So far with about 500 rounds through it on a 308 I could not be happier for the price. It is built like a tank, holds zero and tracks amazingly, and the glass is very decent for the money. There have been times when when i wished I could dial the power down a little for mirage but for what it is and what I payed iI am super satisfied. Also these scopes are rated for 50 cal recoil so no worried in that department.

 

[bsumoba]

Vortex PST Line is good in the 4-16 or 6-24x power range

The SWFA scopes are good as well

 

[dh300wm]

what about this vortex? it's the crossfire II 6-18x44 for $219.00 or maybe the crossfire II 4-16x50 for $279.00. would either of these be good ones to use? which size would be better? thanks guys for the help! David

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261794971012?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[Ledd Slinger]

what about this vortex? it's the crossfire II 6-18x44 for $219.00 or maybe the crossfire II 4-16x50 for $279.00. would either of these be good ones to use? which size would be better? thanks guys for the help! David

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261794971012?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

No. Crossfire is the bottom of the barrel Vortex optic. Mediocre glass, mushy adjustments, no side focus, etc... Not a serious optic. I wouldn't trust it on a large magnum for a second.

If considering Vortex, a Diamondback "HP" would be the minimum I would recommend. But a Viper model will be better and surely do everything you need.

If the rifle in question was chambered for a small caliber varmint round, things would be different and just about anything would work. But since it is a high recoiling large magnum rifle, you can't just put any old scope on there and expect it to hold up.

The cheaper scopes will never give you good optical clarity at long range either as the higher powers become very milky and strain your eyes terribly.

To get something reliable and clear for long range shooting while handling the recoil of a 300 Win Mag, you might as well be prepared to put down close to $400-$500 as a minimum for an optic. Not much out there that costs less will give you the reliablity you need.

 

[dh300wm]

ok.. so what about the swfa scopes? would this one work or do I still need something better or better built?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SWFA-SS-6x42-Tactical-Riflescope-Mil-Dot/151591332044?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29383%26meid%3Db25ef36e9bf64fdd932e737e4d722e5c%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D141441688018

 

[L1986]

ok.. so what about the swfa scopes? would this one work or do I still need something better or better built?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SWFA-SS-6x42-Tactical-Riflescope-Mil-Dot/151591332044?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29383%26meid%3Db25ef36e9bf64fdd932e737e4d722e5c%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D141441688018

I believe a swfa scope would be great for what you want. If it were me I would look at a little higher power then 6, maybe a 10 or 12 power would be better if you wanted to get out to 500 yards and farther. Also I would go with one that has turrets that match your reticle. The one in your link has moa turrets and a mil dot reticle. SWFAs mil hash reticle is quite nice. Check out their website at swfa.com and you can look at the different models they have.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I have never shot a rifle with an SWFA scope so I can not attest to their durability, but I have handled them a few times in Mom & Pop sporting shops that had them in stock. For the money, I was not impressed to say the least. Not even with their most expensive models. Glass was low/mid-range quality, maybe equivalent to Leupold VX-2 at best. Turrets were very hard to turn and clicks were very mushy. From my limited experience playing with a few in a shop, I personally will never buy one.


Nikon Monarchs are good glass for the mid priced scopes and they hold up to recoil very well. I have a 4-16x50mm that has been taking punishment from a 358 Norma Magnum for about 10 years now. I push the 225gr Nosler Partition at 3030 fps so recoil is quite vicious. They are not the best glass in the world, but very nice for the money and perform very well in low light.

Vortex Viper glass is good, maybe not quite as good as Nikon Monarch or Leupold VX-3 (especially in low light), but Vortex has the best warranty in the business right now and they are a company that's here to stay so you will never have anything to worry about should anything happen to your optic.

Another great recoil proof scope with good mid-range priced glass is the Zeiss Conquest. Hard to go wrong with one of those.

Bushnell's Elite line is also very good. On par with the other optics mentioned above and hold up to high recoil very well. They have a good warranty, but Ive heard Bushnell customer service is very hard to deal with at times.

 

[padom]

I had the SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 and it was a solid scope. Good glass and never failed. Ran it for about 2 years through matches and long range precision shooting out to 1100. I would not hesitate buying a SS HD or their SS fixed power scopes. Can't say the same about the 3-9 or 3-15 scopes. I would buy a Vortex Razor HD if I were you. They dropped in price $600-$700 about 4 months ago because the Gen2 came out. They are probably the best scope for the money buy at the moment in my opinion.

 

[Sniper338]

SWFA mil/mil fixed 10x with parralex adj

 

[brxbrad]

These are problably the biggest bang for your buck.....
I bought one and it's a fine scope

http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-riflescopes-vpr-m-06fp.html

Add the Shade and Bubble and there you go...

Brad

 

[dh300wm]

yes. it's a good looking scope. I was hoping I could find a good used one somewhere. still digging...lol

 

[dantiff2]

+1 on the swfa super sniper in 16x mil/mil.

 

[TC260]

I have never shot a rifle with an SWFA scope so I can not attest to their durability, but I have handled them a few times in Mom & Pop sporting shops that had them in stock. For the money, I was not impressed to say the least. Not even with their most expensive models. Glass was low/mid-range quality, maybe equivalent to Leupold VX-2 at best. Turrets were very hard to turn and clicks were very mushy. From my limited experience playing with a few in a shop, I personally will never buy one.

I've seen Chinese knock-off SWFA scopes on ebay before and AFAIK nobody retails SWFA scopes other than SWFA. It's possible those may have been knock-offs they were selling.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I have never shot a rifle with an SWFA scope so I can not attest to their durability, but I have handled them a few times in Mom & Pop sporting shops that had them in stock. For the money, I was not impressed to say the least. Not even with their most expensive models. Glass was low/mid-range quality, maybe equivalent to Leupold VX-2 at best. Turrets were very hard to turn and clicks were very mushy. From my limited experience playing with a few in a shop, I personally will never buy one.

I've seen Chinese knock-off SWFA scopes on ebay before and AFAIK nobody retails SWFA scopes other than SWFA. It's possible those may have been knock-offs they were selling.

Very well could have been the case. Though I dont recall seeing where the SWFA "labeled" scopes I handled were made, the first thing I remember coming to my mind was "this is cheap Chinese junk"