Long range on a budget. Best option under $500 to shoot past 500?

elicitone

elicitone

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As the title says, I am on a budget (wife imposed).

Picking up a Savage 10TR from Cabelas in 6.5mm Creedmore next week. Comes factory with a 0 MOA rail.

Looking to stay under the $500 mark but want to be able to reach out to paper past the 500 yard mark. Range goes out to 1000 yards.

There are a few budget entries in the 6-24 range from Bushnell and Vortex, as well as the Cabelas Covenant which also get great reviews.

Or if there is something with a bit less magnification but better glass that would be better suited I'm open for options..
 
I've been using a Primary Arms ACSS HUD scope out to 700 yards and it is more than adequate for that range.
 
I wouldn't venture into anything 20x or more under $500. You will find the higher magnification useless as the eyebox will be crappy or it just won't focus.
4-16 Convent on sale at $299 is not terrible, usable at 16x and the reticle is decent, 60moa of adjustment.
$550 you can get a 5-15 Japanese Bushnell Elite which is a reasonably clear and decent scope.
$650 Sightron S-Tac in 3-16 is nice in that range.
 
Also have to leave some room in the budget for decent rings. I really like the precision-matched ring sets that Vortex sells (they're Seekins Precision-manufactured), and my expensive optics live in SPHUR mounts that themselves cost over $500.

Optics in particular are one of those "buy once, cry once" purchases - more so even than the rifles themselves in many cases. I have a couple of really good scopes (Nightforce and S&B) that I saved up for after going through several cheaper scopes. I rotate these among several rifles depending on the season or what caliber I'm shooting. Doesn't take long to re-zero when switching the SPHUR mount between rifles, and I get a consistent image and proven scope tracking/calibrated dial-ups when using these scopes.

If budget were a big factor, I would even be prepared to part with a rifle or two to invest in a good scope that I'll use for years...
 
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