I'm looking for a scope for my Tikka T3 .223. I will be using it for varmint hunting and not planing on shooting past 600 yards. I have a few scopes in mind but wanted some opinions. A Zeiss 4.5-14x44, Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x40, Sightron SII Big Sky 4-16x42. Also thought about a Leupold VX-2 6-18x40 but don't think I really need that much magnification. Looking to keep price under $700. Also what reticle do you perfer for hunting?
Which Scope
- Thread starter righttoown
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Get the Nightforce SHV. It has amazing glass clarity. Just as good as the NXS. Here is 1 for under $900. I bought 1 last week and love it. Went to the range with it and im very impressed with it. Its 100% Nightforce! I know you dont wanna go over $700, but this is a scope that you buy and keep forever. Nightforce warrenty is lifetime and you will never have to worry about it. The MOAR reticle is great and you can get it illuminated. Like that say "buy once cry once". Dont waste your money on some cheap chinese junk.
http://www.opticsplanet.com/nightforce-shv-4-14x56-250-moa-30mm-riflescope.html
http://www.opticsplanet.com/nightforce-shv-4-14x56-250-moa-30mm-riflescope.html
stinnett1981 said:
I have to admit that's pretty tempting. I never thought I would see a new Nightforce under $1000.
phil said:
I thought about the Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x50 AO MC which can be bought for $599 but I have read mixed reviews about the turrets being CCW and people returning them for other problems. Do you know anybody that has one you have looked at?
phil said:
Have you seen any with the varmint hunter reticle for sale thats not $825 or more?
Mine is the new Nightforce SHV 5-20x56 with the illuminated MOAR reticle and it has zero stop. 20 power is PLENTY powerful enough for my Rock River AR15. I think 20 power is powerful enough for most hunting unless you are popping off prairie dogs at 1000 yards with a 6 dasher or something in that nature. I think 5 power is low enough if a coyote or varmint gets close to me. Some guys really like their hunting optics to go down to 3 power and some even lower. Since you are looking for a scope for a .223 and shooting to 600 yards max then 20 power is plenty powerful enough IMO. I think the Nightforce SHV 4-16x56 with the non illuminated IHR reticle would be a good choice for you. You can get that one for under $900. Call up Sportoptics out of Hammond, Louisiana and they will work out a deal with you if you buy your rings from them. Thats where I bought mine and I think I paid a total of $1400. The Nightforce UniMount 1 piece base/rings are expensive, but they are very nice and light weight. Either way good luck on your choice bud! Again I REALLY like my SHV! Everything about it is great! Here is a pic of it mounted up on my Rock River ATH with a 18" stainless match grade barrel. Im using the 20moa Nightforce UniMount which is 1.375" tall. Its all aluminum and titanium. It sits perfect on a AR15. Im shooting 53 grain Vmax bullets exclusively out of this rifle. I dont plan on shooting any other bullets ever out of it. 100% killing and plinking gun! Lol!
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
I know your budget is set around $700, but if you are willing to look at scopes in the next price bracket above that, the Zeiss HD5s are very nice scopes. I now have two of the 5-25x50 models and they are wonderful optics. With target turret option, they allow for 18 MOA per revolution and a total of 65 MOA of elevation adjustment. Which is quite amazing for a scope with a 1" body and that large of a magnification range.
In that same price range, I believe the NightForce SHV would be another great option as others suggested. The NF has less magnification range and less MOA per turret revolution, but the zero stop design is better and there is more elevation adjustment than the Zeiss. Both have great glass. If you like to fiddle with turrets when shooting at different ranges, the large exposed lockable turrets on the Zeiss definitely give it the upper hand. I also believe Zeiss has a better reticle selection as well.
For the $700 and under price ranges, I think some of the Vortex optics are definitely worth taking a good look at.
In that same price range, I believe the NightForce SHV would be another great option as others suggested. The NF has less magnification range and less MOA per turret revolution, but the zero stop design is better and there is more elevation adjustment than the Zeiss. Both have great glass. If you like to fiddle with turrets when shooting at different ranges, the large exposed lockable turrets on the Zeiss definitely give it the upper hand. I also believe Zeiss has a better reticle selection as well.
For the $700 and under price ranges, I think some of the Vortex optics are definitely worth taking a good look at.
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
What about the sightronIII 8-32x56 with the crosshairs or target dot. The mil mil sucks in my humble opinion.
Check out the predator hunting scope picks on Master Predator Hunting youtube channel.
Any of those you mention would be great choices. 14x would be about the most you will need under most scenarios. I have a variable 6-24 on my AR. I usually use 12-14x for yotes and 24x for prairie dogs. Lower mag for coyotes is better because of low light and the often need to find a running yote in the FOV.
Been using the zeiss 6.5-20 conquest for 5 yrs and it is a great scope for the money. My wife shot a pig with it at 825yds!
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
I have several of the 6-18 Leupolds and I love mine. I actually wnt from a VX3 6-20 down to teh 6-18 and find so little difference it has not bothered me. I use the fine plex for hold over and dial up when I have time. They are listed in catalog with a varmint reticle and I would suggest that. I buy mine used and never paid over 450 shipped...some even under 400. Not heavy either.
OTOH, I also have a 6020 Viper that I just got for 300 at cameraland. I love it. Heavier and bulkier though. For the Tikka, I would stick with the Leupolds, 4-14 or 6-18. Under-rated scopes.
snert
OTOH, I also have a 6020 Viper that I just got for 300 at cameraland. I love it. Heavier and bulkier though. For the Tikka, I would stick with the Leupolds, 4-14 or 6-18. Under-rated scopes.
snert
Thanks to everyone for the replies. I ended up going with the Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x50 AO MC from Camera Land for $599. For the amount of money I had to spend I thought this was the best deal.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Good choice. You'll like the Zeiss.
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