need an affordable high-power scope for a 22LR

BP7

BP7

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ok, here's what i need, please suggest something worthwhile (keeping my uses and limits in perspective)

gun = 22LR bolt Savage Mk II TRR, bipod, standard (not fancy elite super match) 22LR ammo like Win555 or maybe CCI Stinger if i need to reach out a bit further. pretty low recoil stuff, the scope will NOT get moved to a .308 later on or anything like that - once it's on the gun it's on it for life.

target = a dime at 100 yards (at first i'd like to be able to hit it reliably 9 times out of 10 at the 50 yard distance, and then once i get better with marksmanship do the same at 100 yards). i guess this is more of a benchrest thing than a quickly-lock-on-and-kill-a-hopping-gopher thing. the target sheets i use are all 8.5"x11" printouts so i'd never have to be able to see more than a portion of that.

distance = 25yd is the closest i'd ever consider with this setup, and i'd maybe like to reach to 150yd and peg a loonie some of the time.

money = less is better, but i'm thinking 150-400 is the dollar range (incl taxes and shipping if i can't find locally (LeBaron and SAIL only)), and i'm hoping to really find something in the 250-325 range. ok, to clarify, 400 doesn't mean 399.99 plus taxes plus shipping and wait for that one sale at christmas to get it, and it doesn't mean spend 250 and the rest on rings etc. i'd rather pocket what i don't spend, the 400 is the MAX and not a "have to spend every penny of it". and i'd need it soon, so i can't wait for june sales or delivery in ___ months from the distributor who doesn't know if/when he'll get it.

scope stuff = i like a BRIGHT image, so i'd prefer a large objective, but i'm guessing i'm looking at a 8-32x or 10-40x so realistically i doubt i'd have the funds for anything beyond 50mm front objective. i don't care about illumination or rangefinding - just mildots or lines (hashmarks / ticks) are fine. i THINK i'd zero the scope at 100yd and never touch the turrets after - just learn to hold-off at closer distances or with wind. so, tracking isn't really a priority and neither are easy-to-use or easy-to-read turrets. parallax adjust is kinda mandatory, though.

other = hmm, the gun has top AND side rails so maybe i can use a good quality fixed 40x as the main scope and toss on a cheap ($40) 4x or 2-7x on the side as a "point it roughly there" spotting scope?
 
For 100m you will not need anything bigger then 24x. Look up on EE forum. I will go with minimum Elite3200, glass is good, only complain is the poor quality of reticle.
I think used scope is the way to go for you. Decent new one, you need to look at least 500.
 
PeterPan said:
For 100m you will not need anything bigger then 24x. Look up on EE forum. I will go with minimum Elite3200, glass is good, only complain is the poor quality of reticle.
I think used scope is the way to go for you. Decent new one, you need to look at least 500.
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OP is shooting dimes at 100 yds.

36X would be minimum. Weaver or Sightron good choices

NormB
 
Dantes Sports has the Elite 3200 5-15x40 on for $277. I have had no issues shooting sub 1/2" groups at 100 yards with less than 15x. Given that he wants to use bargain priced ammunition, the ammunition will be the limiting factor, no matter what scope he uses.
 
hmm, ok, i've given the various bits of advice some further thought.

1 - nothing made in china. based on the last budget scope i have and online reviews of other stuff - and contrasted with my camera lenses (mostly Nikon, mosty Japan-made) - i don't want to take a chance on chinese-made crap UNLESS i can physically see it and look through it in a store before buying it. so, maybe i'd need to accept being at or near the top end of my budget - and maybe even a bit over.

2 - hmm, i think i'd want something i CAN buy (and look through!!!) locally, so based on LeBaron and SAIL stores it's basically Bushnell, Nikon, Leupold, Burris, Redfield, and maybe Millet (and maybe Tasco if it happens to be good). can't recall what else SAIL has. i've thought about driving outside of town, but the closest is either Montreal or Kingston, and if i go to either place i'd expect it to have stuff worth actually buying on the spot. (admittedly, lately i hate driving around a bunch of places and wasting my time like that - i went to GunMart just outside of Brockville yesterday and it was horrible). convenience and ability to inspect the item i'm buying trumps price for me lately - at least when it comes to optics (i've been shooting Nikon camera lenses for over a decade, so i've gotten used to a certain standard)

3 - ammo. ok, i can accept that i may need to find better-than-budget ammo for the days that i really want to be serious about punching dimes. i'm sure i'll have days when i'll just punch used shotgun shells or even dollar-store crackers for something that's more entertaining. but i think it's easier (and far cheaper) to swap / try different ammo than it is to swap / try different scopes. plus, i don't want it to become TOO boring and laser-perfect-every-time. i'm not getting paid to take out "targets", and i'm not entering any matches to win a trophy or prize.

4 - trigger. ya, it's stock for now, and i'm 98% sure i'm going to modify it to get it to be as light as possible (beyond just the 2.5 pounds that's in the stock adjustment range). probably will find ways to polish / smooth / lighten it at home to get it to under 1 pound, and maybe if i'm lucky under half a pound.


maybe i'll head to SAIL and/or LeBaron today and see if i come home with anything (it's only a 10min drive).
 
2 - hmm, i think i'd want something i CAN buy (and look through!!!) locally, so based on LeBaron and SAIL stores it's basically Bushnell, Nikon, Leupold, Burris, Redfield, and maybe Millet (and maybe Tasco if it happens to be good).
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You can always go to the local stores, find what you like, then order the same product online if you find a much better deal.
 
BP7 said:
1 - nothing made in china.
2 - hmm, i think i'd want something i CAN buy (and look through!!!) locally, so based on LeBaron and SAIL stores it's basically Bushnell, Nikon, Leupold, Burris, Redfield, and maybe Millet (and maybe Tasco if it happens to be good).
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The Bushnell Elite line is made in Japan and are very good quality. 3200 are not fully multi coated though. Redfield is just a name now, which Leupold bought to market low end scopes. Suspicions are that the components are from China. I believe most Millet are China, and Tasco is China for sure.

If you want a true target scope, then I would suggest the lowest priced but quality one is the Sightron II 36X I suggested above. If you will put up with China quality to get a lower price, then you may want to look for the Tasco 6-24x42 AO. This Tasco is not too bad, but you should look through it. Make sure it is the 42mm objective model with the 1/8 target turret adjustments, and not the 6-24x40 model.
 
Not made in China will be hard at the price point you mentioned. But here are a few options for you...

Vortex Crossfire series--made in China.
4-16X50 AO V Plex Wide Illuminated, 30 mm tube, retails for about $250 new
6-24X50 AO Mil Dot, 30 mm tube retails for about $250 new
8-32X50 AO Fine Plex Wide, 30 mm tube, retails for about $250 new

Vortex Diamondback series--made in the Phillipines
4-12X40 AO with either a V Plex or Dead Hold BDC reticle, retails for about $320 new

In your area the closest store is across the river in Gatineau at a store called L'Archerot. I know the owner Dan well, he is a great guy and will bend over backwards to service his customers.

Oh yeah, all Vortex scopes come with an unconditional no fault lifetime warranty.
 
Crashman said:
Not made in China will be hard at the price point you mentioned.

...


In your area the closest store is across the river in Gatineau at a store called L'Archerot. I know the owner Dan well, he is a great guy and will bend over backwards to service his customers..
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ya, i have a feeling i'm gonna have to up the budget, cuz the combination of "high mag, cheap, china" just stacks more and more against me :p

i'll have to find out where L'Archerot is and what he's got in stock (http:// www .archerot-boutique-de-chasse.ca/). i made the terrible mistake of visiting GunMart in Brockville, but at least saw good potential at LeBaron and SAIL.
 
Be aware that it is really hard to evaluate a loose high power scope in a store. You just can't hand hold them steady enough at high power to evaluate the image. Also, sometimes the store is not big enough to even focus them.
 
Crashman said:
Also check out Gobble n' Grunt in Almonte, just west of Ottawa. He is a stocking dealer for Vortex.
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noted. guess i'll be driving around a bit this coming Saturday! hopefully GnG can be found on google or something, cuz i've never heard of these places...
 
BP7 said:
noted. guess i'll be driving around a bit this coming Saturday! hopefully GnG can be found on google or something, cuz i've never heard of these places...
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Go to vortexcanada.net and check the dealer listing. Call Reg first and see what he has. I was there a few weeks ago and he had just rcv'd a small order, I think some of it was already pre sold.
 
Crashman said:
Go to vortexcanada.net and check the dealer listing. Call Reg first and see what he has. I was there a few weeks ago and he had just rcv'd a small order, I think some of it was already pre sold.
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just found it same time as you posted (using the repair centre sticky cuz i was curious). seems there's a handful of places in the 613 area that may carry them! seems i'm gonna have a busy weekend......
 
I'm using the Vism centre beam 9x variable on my 10/22 and loving it. Canadaammo has them on sale for $129, might pick up another one for future projects.

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AWOL said:
1) Affordable
2) High power
3) Good quality

Pick any 2!!!
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ya, i'm beginning to adjust those criteria a bit, and for this Savage dime-puncher i'm gonna have to spend a bit more and be happy with either a lower max mag if zoom or a fixed mag, just to keep the optical quality at the "good / very good" level.

i think i've saved enough coin by shopping frugally over the last few months or so that i can sorta justify upping the $$ on optics. from experience (personal & professional), i know that optical glass is MUCH more costly to get right than electronics or other simple do-dads.

still not gonna spring for a Zeiss, though :p but maybe i'll get up to the Nikon Buckmaster stuff (once i put my eye up to one - i'm assuming that line is MIJ and not MIC)
 
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