I always get a kick outta these threads!
My scope is the best because I paid $2K for it! Have you ever tried a $5K scope? Nope, cause this $2K scope is the best! Ah, okay!
They make and have alpha glass for a reason, and it’s not just to strip you of $$$$. If I could I would have and only use alpha glass, but like most I can’t, so have to be smart with my funds. I applaud those that do, not because they flaunt it, but because they know the difference and appreciate it.
While you don’t need alpha glass to shoot far, or accurately, it does make a difference when it matters most. My dedicated hunting rifle wears alpha glass. My bench rifle wears alpha glass. I have many other rifles that I have that I don’t require alpha glass on, but would like it if they did, but funds don’t allow. I take a few hunting trips a year, for a week or two. Take time off, pay for things to make the trip happen and simply refuse to use cheap a## glass. I may get a once in a lifetime opportunity that I have to work hard for, and pay for, and there is no way I’m going to squander that using cheap optics. I see and hear about it all to often already.
Heck my 10/22 sported an STAC 4-20x50 scope for a few seasons for grouse duty. The amount of light gathering on that optic far surpassed others of that price point. The very last light in the evenings made for great grouse slaying with that optic. This was before large optics became a mainstay on small rifles like they are currently.
Do you need or require alpha glass to shoot out to 500m at the range off the bench? No! But if conditions are right, that alpha glass makes a difference in what you see! I have set up my youngest daughter to come and shoot distance with me, but she gets a $600 arken scope that is more than adequate and capable to have us hitting out past 1000m regularly. But my alpha glass outshines that scope when the conditions warrant it. Mirage, is but just one factor. I just screw on the mirage ring my glass came with, boom improvement that is noticeable. Say pouring rain, like posted above while out on the range, boom, my alpha glass again has the advantage. Now, my ability may not perform up to others, but I can’t blame my equipment for that, and means I need more range time to practice.
A $600-$800 arken will serve you well for years at those ranges to target shoot. Will alpha glass do it better? Sure will. Buy what you can afford, and still leave you funds to shoot rounds down range, cuz there is nothing to compare to blow 1k of rounds a month on range trigger time! That trigger time will always put BIG smiles on faces. Especially when you take newbs to shooting and have them hitting out to 1000m in 10-20 minutes of shooting time!
