Need Help, $500 max, 6-18 ish, good reticle.

Jeff000

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I am looking for a little more range then my 3-9 x 50mm Nikon is giving me. Would also like a reticle that has some sort of marks to compensate for distance and windage. Would like to avoid mil-dot if I can.

I am thinking something in the 6-18 zoom range, and a 50mm objective would be nice, bigger is better.

And would like to keep it under or around 500. Although if I need to could stretch that a bit.

I like the nikon, 4-16 x 42, with the BDX reticle, but I am not sure if that reticle is that good. Or if I am getting the best bang for the buck. It is $520


EDIT:
Coyotes, gophers, target. No particular order.

On a tikka t3 lite .204 ruger.
 
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millet? they're made in china, maybe mid-300s, and actually pretty damn good from my look at LeBaron
 
OSTS - one shot tactical, see banners up top

what's your aversion to mildots?
 
OSTS - one shot tactical, see banners up top

what's your aversion to mildots?

Ah ok, they seem quite inexpensive. They are good though?

I don't really like the dots, I more like fine cross hairs, almost feel like the dots block too much of the target.
 
are the millets good? well, i don't own one, but looking through one was pretty nice in the store environment. it wasn't the right combo of magnification & features for my rifles, so i didn't buy it, but it's something i'd look at again. some models have dots, some have lines / hash marks, so you've got options there. i own bushnell (plain duplex) and sightron (mildots) and love them both, but they're both $500-plus and they're both on 22LR guns. i think the viper PST comes with hash marks instead of mildots, and maybe if you're really lucky you can find someone who makes hollow / empty mildots for your price range (i think nightforce does that, but they're $1k-plus)

personally, i try to look through stuff before buying if at all possible, cuz different people might have different priorities when it comes to scopes and the view they give.

heck, you're in Ed, walk into P&D and look at stuff.
 
heck, you're in Ed, walk into P&D and look at stuff.

I have been in P&D, but while they have lots of scopes, they are mostly 3-9 or $1000+. They only had a couple in the 6-18 ish range and they were target reticle.



Looks about perfect for what I need :)
Wonder if there is one in Edmonton that I could actually handle?
 
Is 50mm objective worth anything over the 40mm?

unless you plan on hunting at max power at night, not really for most scope power ranges. 3-9x40 or 3-9x44 or 3-9x50 would all be adequately bright in 95% of conditions. the 4-12x?? might be better in the 44+ range, and something that does 4-16 or 6-24 would probably be good with 50. but in all cases, it's only really beneficial if you will use the higher magnifications in the dark.
 
Get a used Leupold VX-II 6-18x40. IF you are not happy with the reticle it comes with, send it to Korth and they can swap out the reticle for whatever you want.
 
Get a used Leupold VX-II 6-18x40. IF you are not happy with the reticle it comes with, send it to Korth and they can swap out the reticle for whatever you want.

And if you aren't happy with the eye relief changing by a full inch as you change the magnification from 6x to 18x you can either get used to it, or buy another scope.:rolleyes:
 
I have a Bushnell 4200 6-24x40mm SF/AO Mill dot
I really like it. I have it mounted on my Rem 700 LVSF in .204 Ruger.
It sure likes to kill yotes......LOL! Also great for punching paper. I also have a 4200 in a 4-16x40 SF/AO like it as well although it does not have the milldot reticle.
I bought both these scope on Gunnutz as new for under 375.00 each .
Really good optics, hard to beat for the money. I really like the side focus.
Good luck.
Tikka
 
I would have to say a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50. I have one and its great.

Its on my Savage M12 LRPV in 204 ruger.

It has caped turrets. I find that nice because you know they can't get changed in transport. The turrets are large and have very solid clicks. The turrets are "re-zero-able".

Remember that most $500 scopes are second focal plane. The reticle hash marks are only accurate at one power. So for consistent hold off you have to choose one power and stick with it, and under stand that the marks might not actually 1 mil or moa. Unless you are using the scope at the one power that they are accurate. I believe it is 14 or 16 power on the Viper 6.5-20x50. Mine is just a cross hair so I don't have to worry about that.

When your in the $500 price range worry about how the scope tracks before you worry about the glass.

With the Viper your in luck because it tracks very well and the glass is just as good or better then anything around that price range.

Don't forget the "If you ever have a problem, no matter the cause, we promise to take care of you." warranty. Even if you drop your rifle on a rock and smash off a turret. They will fix or replace the scope.
 
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